New-York tribune., 1896-04-21


POLICE BLAcKMAII.
Many persons In this city yesterday expressed
an inclination to change their views on the
Raines Liquor Tax law on account OF the way
IN which 1t had permitted many saloonkeepes
with brand new hotel licenses TO drive thriving
trade in Sunday beer Saloonkeepers like "Sil-
yer Dollar" Smith and Mike Callahan ana
their customers and friends declared that
FOR 'hayseed" Senator Raines was great
man, and that his bill was good thing" They
appeared to think Tuch better OF the Haines Dill
than some of the temperance people did.
number of well-meaning persons who had been
declaring that the Ranes law was an advance
in the direction OF Sunday observance ana tenn
perance shook their heads yesterday and ao-
mitted that there was an unexpected oeiect
somewhere when saloonkeepers couio get ou'
hotel licenses and sell all the beer there was
demand for ON Sunday
- Excise Commissioners Harburger and WOOD
man. who have been grinding out hotel licenses
for the saloonkeepers to aid them IN resum'hs
their Sunday trade which had peeh nearly
stopped by the police. said yesterday that 'hey
had merely complied with the law Natura'ly
they do not think we'll Of the law which Is 70
turn them out Of office at the end OF THIS moh'"
Mr.. Hamburger said ne happy to be instru-
mental in giving 20 the poor men OF the city
the same privilege Of getting drinks on sunday
that had been enjoyed by the rich men VINO
went to the high-priced hotels. When ne was
asked II he did not grant hotel licenses 10 '"e
ssa,oonksene,s with the understanding that the
saloonkeepers merely wanted TO evade the sui
day law. he said:
~Oh no. We took /. for granted that the
eaIoonkepers wanted to conduct hotei busi-
ness In every case proof was presented that
the applicant for the hotel license had ten rooms
for iodgers."
Mr. Hamburger did not appear to be quite sure
that the selling Of beer with sandwiches on sun
dav constituted a hotel business but he said
the police would have to settle that point III
proof is presented to MS that any saloonkeeper
has violated the law We will revoke his license
he said Mr. Hamburger has made the discovery
that under the Raines law hotels are exempt
from the rule that license for the sale OF liquor
cannot be granted for place which Is "''hn
200 feet Of church or schoo. SaIoohheepeiS
who want to sell liquors next door 70 churches
and puSlic schools therefore. need only take
out hotel licenses. according to this theory.
Several New-Yorkers said yesterday that the
Raines law would be an inducement for revivai
of police blackmail The police will have to de-
eide II saIoonkeepers who provide ten bedrooms
and some kitchen utensils In order to sell un-
Sunday are really hote-keepers within the mean
ing of the law. and the police will also decide II
tho keeper Of fake" hotel has disorderly
dodgers and polite discretion and police black
mail went hand in hand before the day OF the
Lexow Committee.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
Acting Captain Hogan. O. the Eldridge st po
lice station, said yesterday. speaking of alleged
fake" hotels in the Eleventh Precinct. that he
had enforced the law as II had been interpreted
TO him In his instructions from Police Headquar-
ters sandwich was said to constitute a meal
and, therefore, the police could not interfere
where a sandwich and beer were served to
customer Capt I'm Hogan said further that
there were no disturbances in these houses. and
consequently there were no arrests. Wherever
violations of the lew we're discovered in the pre-.
cinct the offenders were promptly arrested
Chief of Police Conlin said. yesterday that un-
der his instructions the police made special efforts
on Sunday to compel the observance of the
Raines law By the liquor sellers, and obtained
what he believed to be conclusive evidence
against some fifteen fake hotels. Among
them was Mike" Callahan's saloon. under the
Progress lodging house, in the Bowery. Ar
rests were made In these alleged hotels because
drinks were served without meals. Chief Con-
lin said that as Judge DAILY had decided that
sandwich constituted meal. the police had taken
the same view. "A man." he said. may be
hungry enough TO eat side Of beef or a sand
wich. He must be the Judge OF MS own appe-
tite." :.
Chief Conlin said that on Saturday he gave
Instructions all the police captains 10 inspect
the hotels IN their precincts and find out whether
or not they were provided with the aecommoda-
tions required by the Raines law. He said that
in about twenty places where the proprietors
had hotel licenses the law had not been COM
piled with. Some Of them had not the nereseary
number OF rooms while others had 20 cooking
mtenSYls "In every case" said the Chief, where
we found the law violated on Sunday.
have had affidavits prepared and sent to the
District-AttOrney's office. as required by the
hw. The police will see that the law Is enforced
strictly, ani that hotels operating under the
provisions OF the Raines law ore genuine hotels.
There can be no polics interference. however.
with a saloon which has a hotel license. has