New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-22
SUNDAY LAWS ENFORCED.
DEvERY SHOWS HOW EASY 1T is WHEN
HE WANTS TO.
CONCERT HALLS RESTRICTED IN THEIR
SACRED" CONCERT PERFORMANCES
DRINKING PLACES KEPT
WITIIN TIIE LAW
WITHIN THE LAW.

WITHIN The LAW.
It seems to be the fate Of Tammany Hall that
whenever that organization does take spasm
of virtue and makes a real effort to enforce the
statutes the thing recoils upon Its head like a
boomerang thoroughly convincing all beholders
OF the utter dishonesty Of the plea offered by
such police chiefs as Devery that it Is a physical
impossibility TO have the laws respected. Devery
only gave one twist or at most a twist and a
half to the police screw yesterday. yet not a
concert hall in the whole city. from Coney ISL
and to Yonkers, sold liquor with impunity al
lowed any performer to appear in other than
ordinary street costume, or had anything on
the programme but music. vocal or instru-
mental.
One bold man. Maurice Stack who keeps r.
concert hall at No. Is West-st.. relying upon the
fact that he is Tammany politician Of weight
In his district tested the power Of his pull" and
served drinks with his music Two men who
had ordered beer and another who had ordered
whiskey suddenly In the hall and removed
Mr.. Stack from the scene of alleged revelry to
the Church-st. police station. Two were de-
tectives; the third Captain Westervelts
own ward man. Beesley. Another arrest was
made for the same reason at Aschauer's Con-
cert Hall, No. Battery Place No one who saw
the with which the police suppressed. at
day law which week ago being almost
wholly ignored could doubt that II they wanted
10. they could make ordinary gambling and pool
selling as hazardous occupation in this city
as is arson, for instance and
It is not Intended to convey the impression
here that yesterday was Blue Sunday by any
means. Raines law hotels supplying the
thirst of their customers on all sides as the law
permits. The concert halls were well attended
sightseers and amusement seekers displayed
their usual zeal. and met with fair share Of
success in lawful ways but the fact remains
that the laws were respected as to closing
hours. and in the other particulars already
mentioned in a way which, If it became the
rule instead of the exception. would seriously
diminish the revenues of Tammany by cutting
off the tribute paid for protection" by one
large class of amusement caterers
or course, there was lot Of kicking by citi
zens at the laws themselves and many remarks
were heard to the effect that III this is the law,
the sooner it is changed the better" Many
found out for the first time yesterday what the
law really was, and not few were led to in
dorse the remark that the best way to procure
the reDeal Of unpopular law is to enforce 1t.
For instance, the many persons who journey to
Coney Island on Sundays to indulge In dancing
were disappointed. At no place on the island
was dancing allowed In the concert halls also,
a change noticed the female performers
wearing long evening dresses, instead Of short
which are worn by them '"eekdays.
Policemen and detectives seen In all parts
OF the Bowery and the walks leading to the sea-
shore.
The change was the result OF orders which
were issued on Saturday by Police Commissioner
York TO the police captains Captain Kenney.
who is in charge Of the Coney Island precinct
evidently intends to carry out the Commission
srC Arfl1 nxra nfn and don lie
at Bath Beach. Bergen Beach and North Beach
also compelled to obey the law.
The regular Sunday crowd began to arrive at
the seashore at noon. and at Z o'clock II was
stated that the railroads had carried more than
fifty thousand persons. The late visitors who
make II a practice to visit the dance halls could
not understand why music could be heard
In the concert halls the singers, from the ex-
pressions on many of their faces were not at all
pleased with their new costumes, and showed
their dispeasure in many ways
Frankfurter men did thriving business In
all places where intoxicating liquors were sold
plates displayed on which were pieces of
bread. The latter, from its appearance had
seen better days
There were thirty-seven arrests In the city
yesterday for violations Of the Excise law,
thirty-fve in the borough Of Manhattan and two
reported from the other boroughs On the pre-
vious Sunday there were twenty five arrests
The arrests by police precincts are as follows: