Evening star., 1899-03-29
How Mr.. Sulzer Viii Dispose of the
Dinner Question.
BE is TIE ORIGINAL aSll" DEMOCRAT
Dissatisfaction-of Chicago Platform
Men Over the ST Banquet.
OTHER GOTHAM GOSSIP
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, March %, 1899.
There's a new kind of democrat in New
York these days, and he is called the
'eleven-dolar democrat" 1t is because he
will be in attendance at the $40 banquet of
Croker and the 81 feed of the other fell
lows. And every day from now until
April 10 will see an increase in the number
or eleVen-dollar democrats" Congress
man Sulzer was the original eleven-dcllar
democrat. 1t was he who first saw the pos
sib1lity of making the new class in dem
ocracy, and those who know the congress
mans undying friendship for both Croker
and Bryan believe that he is responsible
for the arrangement that now makes it
possible for a man to attend both the feast
of Richard Lucullus Croker and the meal
in the Grand Central Palace
While Hill at Albany was playing pos
sum to see which invitation he should ac-
cept Sulzer was shaking hands with both
sides and agreeing to attend both dinners
set FOR the same night. Mr.. Hill, in his eff
IortS to get into the eleven-dollar class, has
failed. He will be invited to the dollar din
ner: In fact, he has Deen. Attached to the
invitation, however, is string 1t is as
serted that in a few days it will be inti-
mated to Mr.. Hill that letter from him
declining to attend will meet with the
nearly approval of those in charge of the
table dhote. 1t is even said that the
invitation was not sent until he had
agreed to decline. The reason for this is
said to be that Mr.. Bryan, while of 4 rug
ged constitution. has weak stomach. The
last time he dined with Hill was in VOL
fert's Roost. The senator met Bryan at
the portico Of his home while on the hill
sides the populace was gathered to cheer
the greeting. They dined for an hour and
the question of politics was not mentioned
Bryan had gone there under the impression
that Hill had sent for him that ne might
pledge to him his support in the campaign
Inc memory of this meal at Hills, it is as
serted, causes Bryan to have a fit of ind;-
gestion.
trouble Among the Dollar Diners.
But all is not peace in the ranks of the
81 dlnnerites. What was originally planned
as a free silver love feast is rapidly shading
on to a .so-called non partisan, everyday
democratic banquet. Dr. Thompson f. Cav
anaSh and Richard j. Malloy have this to
say about the change: "We feel that as
Chicago Platform democrats we have not
been treated justly. The sentiments of the
many people are certainly in favor of max
ing the dinner representative gathering
of Chicago platform democrats, yet many
of those in charge have done their best to
strangle any reference to Mr.. BRYAN. 1t
looks to US as if certain people, masuuer-
aiding under the cloak of labor leaders, are
trying to kill our dinner in the interests of
d. certain pOlft1cai leader In New YORK CITY,
OF course that means Croker.
Eugene V. Brewster, who was for a time
at the head of the proposed dinner, says
that, although the dinner had been intended
as a Chicago platform demonstration, it
had now been decided that it was to be
non-partisan. Mr.: Brewster says there are
many rumors that certain labor men had
sold out the dinnersto Tammany. He fears
there may be some truth in the rumors.
Charges Against Clearing House.
Complaint, l. is asserted was recently
made in an open letter to Attorney General
Griggs that the New York Clearing House
Association had violated the express pro-
visions of the antitrust law, and a request
followed that If this be true the richest
the United States be declared an Illegal
body, menace to trade and commerce, and
that it be dissolved. This statement it is
said was laid before the Attorney General
with specifications minute and leading. 1t
was alleged that the clearing house of this
city had broken the Sherman antitrust law
of 1880, in its arbitrary orders regarding
the charges to be imposed in the collection
of country checks: that it had overstepped
the bounds of this law in it's most impor-
tant specifications in fixing these charges
on checks sent here for collection from
other states: that 1t approached a cOnspr-
acy against individuals when it provided
punishments and fixed penalties where its
orders are not obeyed, and that its recent
rules are DIS ulIeCliy against tie lultTeSIS
of trade and commerce were those of
the TransMiSsouri Association and the
Joint Traffic Association, both of which
We're dissolved under the operation of the
antitrust law.
Pool Rooms Are Thriving.
One branch of industry is thriving as it
never thrived before in this vicinity. There
are more than 300 pool rooms in Greater
New York about 10 of which are in Man
oil a6 in
of the provisions of the penal code against
and the proprietors clerks and
hackers of the rooms are liable to fine and
Imprisonment upon conviction. Nearly all
the rooms are under the contro! of four
syndicates, which have a powerful backing
politically and financially. There is no |
secret about their existence and operation. |
The doors are practically wide open. Busi- |
ness is done six days in the week from 2 |
pm. until about pm. The police do not
pay the slightest attention to them, and |
few if any, of the rooms have been raided |
since the close of the legitimate racing sea-
son in this vicinity last fall. In opening a |
pool room the hacker or proprietor does not |
have to obtain the personal consent of the |
police captain in the precinct where the |
room is to be opened, as was the custom be- |
fore the LeXow investigation, but the con-
sent and support of Il special agent of one |
of the syndicates has to be obtained The |
regular tariff on each room which has 10 |
be paid for the betting privilege averages |
500 IA week, and the disposition of this |
fund depends entirely upon the discretion |
Of the syndicate.
Police Fund Goes to Albany.
There has been a good deal of talk in |
street among the lesser lights of |
the police force on the subject of the "En-
dowment and Benevolent Society,"" which,
according to Chief Devery is for the bene5t |
Of policemen's widows, but according TO
others, is Doodle for the Legislature at Al
bany. The latest news from legislative
headquarters is that Roosevelt police bills
will not pass, and police headquarters, now
that the danger is passed, are grumbling
with charactistic perversity at having been
compelled to pay the piper One thing is
said to be certain. 1t" has gone to AL
bany.
For the Theft of Clothing
Alice Beckett, the young colored woman
who was recently arrested by Detectives
Baur and Muller in Virginia and brought