New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-20
ARE FREE LUNCHES IO uO'
WHAT L1oUoR-DEALERs SAY AS ~
PROVISION OF THE RAINES BILL"

COST OF THE MEALS SERVED TO CUSTOMERS Nv
BARRooM REsTAURANTs- 5000 MEN SAID
TO GET THEIR FOOD IN THIS WAY
II have been In the saloon. hotel and restaurant
business all over the Union for over '"'''' ~,
years." said popular downtown caterer ~
cussing the features OF the Raines bill prohpi''"s
the service of free luncheons with drinks anu.
while 1t is early TO predict its enforcement, -
possible. 1t will certainly make revolution III w
RETAIL liquor traffic Why. as matters no" 49,
millions Of money annually expended !" w."
seeming gratuity. and over fifty thousand res"'".
depend upon what they can gather from our co"''
for their daily subsistence These hgures 'o'' az
very low indeed. Now. you can calculate Tor your
self know by face II not nearly by name over
twenty five regulars who eat Of my hot iuhch ''>
days In the week The majority OF these foreis"'''
are very improbable customers.
you mean they do not spend enough none!
I'm one way yes; another. no. II they come III
by themselves a glass of beer Is their limit pu.
these human fixtures have insnuating manners anu
a wide ACQUAINTANCE. One of them has not been io"s
in the saloon before he greets newcomer ne
y and this time he takes a 15-cent drink win MS
friend. oftentimes ringing in two or three OF Ms
fix. Such men add to the bar receipts and as 'o's
as the place avoided by hgh-toned patrons
from such cause. cannot complain Ihey a'e'
vulgarly speaking cappers for the house. More
over in frst-cass places like mine. these menus
look like gentlemen. we-dr essed. anable care
full not be offensive. and generally know wnen TO
stop eating. OF course they have their routes ana
all they seem to care for is enough to ride up ana
down down with and have a place-Cod knows
where-to at night Some of the most famous
politicians. known widely the country. belong
10 this brigade and they very adrot IN thrust
ing a popular topic In barroom that VIII p'eas' '"e
head treater of group. and thus they are assureu
OF drinks. luncheon and cigars rms Is d" ~"
game familiar to US in the business. and is prac-
tised by old-time politicians. actors out OF el,poi
ment and brokers. who. In their palmy days III
Wall Street: were reckless spenders Of none ,a;.
What will become Of this class in the cry
The Lord knows: it Is the actual uproot'ns o. a
fxed institution founded generation ago III , Hrn
bits 25 cents and full dinner besides. ne,i @
tide rolled Eastward S we IooE II s IN
and has gone to great and expensive east.s f.
one Of the odes propreors Of bar and
in the Waist region so known ne sa,n 20 hem en
an expensive luxury for The various dishes !
set ont in those blazers every day as free 'unc"
TO my patrons cost me SIS day"
That is 10000 year -. u,.
Yes. that is so; but II would cost me much more
II II were prepared outside my restaurant
do you do 1t for phi!anthropy? J.. -. ching %
Not much. serve IT because it Is the ,bd hn mo 80
fourishing business In this part OF me cry. WI.
holiday occasions my free layout VIII cost "e
49,: DO you call this making or losing money?
ws are ar not v ii n but Da S fG lunch
is part OF ou- legitimate expense as sur gas or ice
bills. ,,.
"Dnn't speak OF H." Billy" said. Win SAD lace
and gesture OF profound sympathy. i pity theh'
pity them ,,,cb.o,
for dinner is given away daily TO the pa,'ois
brokers lawyers men-about-town: clerks ahi
grown-up messenger boys-revealed the iact tha' me
Expense amounts fully TO IS day chm. in the
Free lunches for the lager beer shops IN, ~ ,',s
avenues and side streets cost the proprietor rom =
day TO $50 and almost all me articles are pu' ~
nv catering companies some OF which nav" a. iila.s
as 100 delivery wagons. They provide eyeryth'nE
from pork and beans and potato salad - IN,
greatest delicaces The food is usually distributor
earl I'm the morning ~. - ,-o.
There have been various attempts TO MAKE nc
rcpast an elegant affair. II has always heeh hk"'s
.sful I'm gamb ing houses: but TWO years ~ "
snortsman OF wealth opened the largest ana uit-t
he in the city near West Twenty cighth-st rom
noon IN O'Clock regular Inner was gwen ~
With drink beer five cents, The iate DE- ~ SUI
Two or three roasts vegetables. s3Ads anu '"r's'
The nlare was crowded during these hourS, an
r,hen a became known The Actors fsrenl7s
IN summer the owner raised the price OF AZ dilnh'
n 2; cents each and the quantity ana quaHV OF '''
luncheon were decreased a., 49,.
Well-known lawyers tod the reporter uit -"
nrohIbtjon in the Ralnes bill. OF course "ouit De
lnoneratiye Aside from its doubtful cohsu,u-
tLonalty they said proprietor say LOT Nv ~,
could sell man al he w~ts 10 eat even Il ''S
h.