New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-29

THE POLICE WAITING FOR THE CORPORA
TION COUNsEL'S OPINION.
THEY WILL, NOT ENFORCE THE RAINEs LAW
TILL MR. SCOTT rs HEARD FRoM-PAsSIN1
OF THE FREE LUNCH.

TILL MR. SCOTT rs HEARD FROM-PASSlNi
OF THE FREE LUNCH.
The police did not begin the enforcement OF
the Raines law in this city yesterday. because
Chief Conlin had not received advice from the
Corporation Counsel. All the inspectors and pre-
cinct commanders were called to Headquarters
again to receive copies Of the new law ana IN
structions to read all the provisions carefully.
Chief Conn inquired IL any OF them had got
the impression that they were to go ahead and
enforce the law without further orders, and they
said they had not thought OF such thing as
moving without instructions Some Of the cap
tains said they had told iquor-dealers what
they might expect when the law was enforced
Il expect to receive the opinion OF the Corpora
ton Counsel on Monday" Chief Conn said,
"and then shall know when the provisions OF
the new law go into effect. Many saloonkeepers
will have to make alterations so that the whole
interior of their places will be exposed to view
from the outside during prohibited hours. 1t Is
only fair that they should have proper and
ample notice TO comply with these require
ments."
President Roosevelt made the following state
ment:
There appears to be some misaprrehenson
Our object is to warn everybody so that they may
!
TO obey IT, We have asked the opinion OF the
Corporation Counsel on several points In the iaw'
and notably as to what provisions take effect at
once When we receive this opinion. we shall be
'obged to act upon It. and 20 We wish to give
all warning possible In advance We shall DO
everything in our power TO prevent the change
being made in a harsh or unreasonable manner
and shall give oil reasonable time. all the time
that we legitlma tely can. for any Individual or
association to comply with the provisions or the
new law. and shall proceed with great caution
and with scrupulou5 care for the rights OF Ill
parties concerned. but when reasonable time mas
been given II must be understood that, 20 far as
the powers OF the police &C. the law will be en-
forced. exactly other laws are enforced
whether against saloons or clubs
Chief Clerk Kipp had n conference with CHIEF
| Conlin about drawing up the form OF a oiank 10
be used by the police in reporting violations OF
the new Law 10 the Ostrict-AttoTney Office
Under the Raines law any violation OK the pro-
vision o, the act must be Immediately orought 10
the attention OF the District-Attorney- Inc p'
lice will have regular blanks for that purpose.
Hereafter II the sccnes In the cares ana p'i :
rocnn, OF the city are to be taken as evidence
from, annearanc. Yesterday n free lunch and
glass Of beer will no longer go hand IN hahd
There ia n wall heard on all sides. The saloon
keener saws that II hurts his business and the
patron misses his lunch. All over the Town
| Yesterday there was "A scarcity OF lunch. some
I Z the saioonkeepe.s held out and served iunch'
( This was particularly noticeable uptown ou'
. majority closed down. and II a patron got a
lunch with his drink he paid for 1t. The sale OK
f,od with drink ought to prove bonanza 10
he n. I.-c.-r. Nhat be formerly gave
feway II ~os able 20 charge for' but he de-
ta1 fof
bite OF something nourishins and were trihe
,htrs,v hey would come In and get drink.
ond then take bite OF lunch. Now they VIII
! g., IN a restaurant and overlook the drink. and
In this way the barkeeper says his business
goes.
/ u, Parl, Row cafe that Is known for the excel
Ienee OF IFS clam broth and the other free lunch
! that II has given out In the past was In full
/ operation yesterday. but a charge was made
! FOR everything served. In the first place. a
sandwich served for five cents was better than
one would ordinarily get In restaurant for 10
cents Two facetious patrons entered the place
In the afternoon and one saw the signs all over
| the erstwhlle frce-lunch counter. They read.
| Sandwiches Five Cents" CLAN Bouillon Five
| Cents" and so on one OF the patrons said.
oh That is all bluff They are not charging
anything" The other walked up and made an
| attack on the luncheon offered. he had CON
sumed two sandwiches and cup OF bouillon
when the attendant handed him check for 10
cents That settled tho controversy about the
| sincerity OF the signs.
The uptown hotels always try to obey the law
TO the letter. and. while there was concerted
protest against the law. the management deter
mined to obey II. Therefore the freedmen coun-
ters in the hotel cafes were not In operation yes
| terday. The Broadway stroller and the IRE
uuenter OF the cafes found this out. There Is no
| class OF men In the world who adapt themselves
| TO circumstances more quickly than these men,
and after the first few comments not IA ripple OF
| protest was heard. The hotel men declare that
| IL will hurt their business and that they VIII hght
| the law TO a finish. but now they VIII obey H.
| To the small restaurant keeper. and especially
the manager OF n small table d'hote who Is IN
| the habit Of serving dinner with wine for 90
or - cents the stroke falls the hardest. The
profits ~ serving meal like this IRE meagre In
deed. and the increased price OF license practi-
cally wipes these dealers out. Yesterday they
were too daZe,. over the proposition to make much
| comment. There many or this KIND OF res
| taurants uptown and around Bleecker-st. The
| pr0prietors contend that they are not serving
regular drinks: that thev DO not cater TO any
trade but that OF those who drink bottle or
| claret with a meal They do not believe that the
| lew covers them and they intend to fight II.