The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-12
THOSE SOCIAL. CT. uBs
1hoy Are at Present a Subject Of Great
Interest In Norfolk.
REFLECT ON EFFICIENCY OF POLICE
Chief OF Police ana Police Commits.
sioncrs Express themselves Very
flatnts on the Subject e'nusc Of
Much street drunkenness on sun.
day--CtHbs DIiitemtt 10 Prosecute.

The Official letter OF Chief Dornin to
the Police Board on the subject Of so
cial clubs, has brought again to public
attention these institutions which were
chartered by dozens some two years
ago At that time the Prohibition 20
lice commissioners claimed that the
clubs had been organized merely to
violate the Sunday liquor law and sew
eral OF them were raided but convic-
tons were difficult to secure
The same state OF affairs seems 10 cX-
ISL today, and in order to prevent as
pcrSion being cast upon the Police De
part'ncnt for seeming incfliccncy in sup
pressing the cause OF Sunday drunken
ness. Chief Dornin sent his official com
lmunicatiun to the Board OF Police Com
missonerS Wednesday.
The Chief was seen by q Virginian
man yesterday and he talk as follows:
CtlIEF DORNIN'S OPINION.
Judges having granted charters >
said Chief or Police Dornin Il have no
general opinion TO express on the sub
jcct OF social clubs. Any half dozen men
would have n right to form Il social club
without a charter. They may pur-
chase on Saturday all the wines ana
liquors they desire, carry it to any room
thcy choose to rent and drink it on Sun
day, dividing the cost among ,hcinsel-
YES under the terms Of what is called
communicative purchase"
! u have no hesitation in saving OF
these social clubs, that the criticism. !.
as an official have to make Of them is;
| that they in some Instances occupy The
! same building with licensed saloons
| The reason for this objection is clearly
| apparent. The fact that they occupy
such buildings creates Il very Just S,ls-
picion III the mindssbf the public, that
| the saloon keeper is not obcying the
,Dt
the law. was to relieve tho depart
mcnt Of this stigma that | made my
communication to the bourd
| Il realize the fact that the Police De
| partment IS not above tho law ana sub
| ScqurnUy any steps we take AGAINST
social clubs would be regarded by them
as persecution instead of Il simple en-
| Increment OF the law"
THE. MAYOR WON'T TALK
Mayor Mayo. who expressed himself
rather cmphatically on the subject il,
MS official capacity Of president OF Tie
Police Board. declined Ia have any
| thing for publication
The socials," he said ARE legally
| chartered and enter into no controversy
touching the authority Of the courts"
| COMMISSIONERS DAWES.
! Police Commissioner George II. Dawes
said hat he did not desire to enter into
I IL newspaper controversy. He, how
ever had thought much on the subject
Ioi social clubs and considered them :,
prolific cause of Sunday drunkenness
lie recalled an incident OF a man going
from n club on East Main street Ia one
ION church street one Sunday. at bot h
OF which he obtained liquor. His attcn-
ion has often been called 10 large bodies
OF men going from one place 10 anoth-
CT, or the kind anu evidently drinking
tat both places.
TO my mind" said Mr. Dawes. .fhi,
/ is evidence either that the Sunday liu-
uof law is being violated or The social
clunS are the cause Of this practice
i was surprised when | learned that
t"p Of these clubs existed ana that II
charters are on tho books for similar
institutions.
II don't know that The board will act
officially iii this matter. hut individ-
ually. | would like the court to consider
the locality OF these clubs in granting;
licenses, 50 rs 10 Keep thom separate
from bars