The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-12-08
hAWES SAYS IT IS
UP TO HIGGINS.
Produces the City Counselor's
Opinion in Regard to the Reg
ulation of Winerooms.
CORRESPONDENCE ON SUBJECT.
Statement Goes tO Show That the
Police Have Given the Excise
Commissioner Evidence
Upon Which To Act.

President Halves Of the Police Board yes
terday gave out a statement setting forth
the attitude of the Police Department in
regard to the crusade on winerooms, again
declaring that II is not within the power
or province of The department to regula ."
the evil. and that II can be- reached only
through the revocation of the license az OBJ
l"rtiunable saloons ~ the Excise Comms-
Sioucr.
Th" willingness Of the Police Department
10 co-orerat" In obtaining evidence against
these places il Cxpre ssst.
Accompanying the statement are copies or
letters which have passed between the
Chisr of Police. the city Counselor ami
Mr.. Hawes in the asst two weeks. wticI
aid IN revealing the attitude of the dcpdrt-
m"Ht on the subject
city Counselor Schnurnacher's opini0n ~
To the proper procedure to be adopted in
closing the winernoins- given i'll reply TO "a
letter from Mir. Hawes-is included in the
curr.sponG nGen"-.
MI. Schnurmach"r makes it plain that
the Excise Commits Sioner is the only officer
empowered 10 close the Objectionable.
places ana that the method Is by rrvuca-
tton of the license He adds that it * the
duty Of tho police to see that the saloons
remain closed. once the licenses have Dee n
revoked. and 10 prosecute the proprietors III
case tileS attempt 10 operate WITHOUT IL
Censcs.
Mr. Schnurmacher SAYS that II the police
discover that Il saloon is being conducted
in AN ObjTcuOnahle manner they should re
port 1t TO the Excise Commissioner, AID
that 1t then remains for him to act. The
case Of Mark Gumperts OF the Morgan club
is cited. the Excise CUmmissioer having re-
fused TO renew his license. Gumperts OBJ
tanned Deremptory writ of manddmus,
compelling the Excise Commissioner to is
sue the license. AIr. Higgins appealed 10
the Court of Appeals. which reversed the
judgment OF the lower court and sustained
the Excise Commissioner.
In the correspondence is 4 letter from
Chief Campbell to Mr. Hawes. in which the
Chief declares tnet he has furnished MI
higgins with a list OF all the winerOoTs
dIsorderly saloons in the city, and
that the captains OF police are row pr
pairing lists Of all saloons that they N.H
not recommend for renewal Of license nsAt
term. Deginning January l. 1901.
Statement From Mr. Hswcs.
Mr. HaW-S said last night: The SsJ.e-
ment which | have given out will be printed
IN circular form ana distributed. II is Il
reply to The charge frequently and errOne-
ously made that the Police Department is
responsible for the existence 0f the Wine
rooms" The statement and correspOn-enee
follows:
The Reverend James Thomas C0Hey. president.
Committee II the -Anti-N iu.roOn Crusade Assu-
eation. nave fox some time past been under ths
sp"nslDIe for me existence OF certain dis).derly
IGEi pana 0Wm IN ss. ss ssnisen nassS ss fe e , s
Ihat II Is not within the power OF province Of
the Police Department TO regulate the evil COM
IN spite of our best efforts 10 convince these
subject they persist in holding the PoIice lie
PaTIment responsible for fainns to aDate tae evil
Actuated ty greater zeal than discretion. they
Ih wn5ns pa5e aon tSns &T is IN
convince them that they were proceeding III the
ancrs ami interviews in The press they have
created an entirely erroneous idea OF the duties
The opinion OF these gentlemen has become SO
them that they are pursuing the wrong method
no; questioned nor that Of some ci his asS1'
cIates. but manitet injustice Is done the Po ice
department by unjust and undeseryed abus. and
sun;, hersTi,h some official eorsespondenee
and myself. The letters being self-expIaiatofy, |
require comment
Nr. Halves to Chief Campbell.
Board cf Police Cornn,issiunor-. ST. Icuis Sov
.. I%t,-Colonei John W. Campbell chlef Of 20 |
iice city 5ir-l wish officially TO call your a.
sne ns',oh 10 r9S%F1sa S9 S&a1smsl sl -llrn' Of III
This p9I--r states that Mr.. - remarked |
that In his opinion Size chief Of Poice and u,I "a
captains and officers resry TO DO thei- duty
II IL thry hsTe wtfs So insirHe'r ~ the Police 9oar
y
Board would not DO its duty. and that nothing
cUEidsts expected from thorn
While the irresponsible character 81 The parrar
quoted fIom seems not to entite Il to much con
sideratnn. yet it may be poesible that some Of
,ur citizens may rest under the d.luacn that the !
department has not done its duty in regard 10 the
closing of wineroonis. and that the rees,u il has /
not done so is because the Board Cf Police Com
nissipiers have not given the proper instruc;tns |
to yourself. knDwinl, full well that your TN
strIIotions are not only to enforcs ali laws and |
but that You have taken an oath 50 /
to 90. | cannot but feel that such talk ruul.s l
from those either aCtuated hy malice or ignorant
of the methods OF cOndu ting this department II |
VIII be satisfaction TO ME officially Presi- /
dent Of the Police Board TO have you anrw-r /
Immediately In writing the three following ques-
tions:
FtrSt-Have any orders Of the Police Board in
terfernd with your performing your full duty in L
ih, enforcement Of city laws and ordinances at
fectirS the so-ca;led anti-wlnerconI evil
SeCrn!-HaVe ever made suggestions
or requests that yi: he al, wed to proceed any
other manner than that adopted by you in tn. \
past which have beer denied by the Police Com
miss iOncrS2
Thrd-Have you any reason 10 change the
opinion which you have ayureseAi uHon q number
r occasions after examination into the law
2 III city ordinances. that the F;Scfae Co;nmts-
siun.r I'm tho exercise Of his authority was the !
proper psrscn TO close disreputabe saloons known
~ wineroomJ?
The Hoard OF Police Commissioners WILL he In
session at o'clock this afternoon. and desire |
T.. have you- categorical reply 10 the above Qurs-
'ir..s. that the matter may be taken up IN the
.lsctirr tTIz afternoon.
You are rhc-cfnre requested. IN view OF IRE I'm |
noi lance OF this subject. 10 lay aside all other
riaft,rS and nave yonr reply ready no later than |
O'Clock I. "f this day. Very respectfully |
HARRY II. HAWES, President.