New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
EIGHT WITH A SPATE MAN.
o,,EcToR FOR PARK CHAIRS sLAPs A
BOY.
o,7cE PRESERVE THE PEACE. BUT RE-
FRAN FROM FORCING THE PUBLIC
TO PAY FOR SEATS.

-,. clausen-Spate idea Of filling the shady
=. aIong the park walks with pay chairs has
.ssd small riots. has led TO collectors being
r-o.tened with lynching, and has stirred up a
.,oversy between the Department Of Parks
- The Commissioner of Police, but until yester-
as, q had not been made the subject of popular
70 half dozen East Side boys went to Cen
-rsI Park yesterday afternoon prepared to turn
- r,anv pay chairs as were necessary to hold
,harn into free chairs for the time being. The
nav chair song was sprung when the attendant
.red TO eject them. Their voices were clear and
.-ong and the tune they chose was Sweet
Annie Moore" These were the words the crowd
heard and applauded
We pay more.
No more we pay for park
CIausen made a break
One summers ddy,
An now he amt
Comm sinner any more.
The crowd liked the prophecy of the Park
Commissioners downfall. and called for another
verse The boys put their heads together for
moment, and then sang a verse of praise for
Police Commissioner Murphy. who refused to al
low policemen 10 help in the collection of chair
hire.
NOT MUCH MONEY COLLECTED.
The attendants got little money out of the
Central Park chairs yesterday. Most of them
were occupied by children who found pleasure
in annoying the collectors. An Italian family
got row of six chairs which had an excellent
position on the Mall. They did not understand
much English, but the two swarthy of the
party gave the attendant to understand that
they would not move unless the policeman made
them. One of the women threatened the attend
ant with hatpin, and he went off in search of
a policeman. None could be persuaded TO move
the Italians. and they stayed in the chairs
long they liked.
Madison Square Park, which has been the
scene of the worst fights the pay chairs,
started early yesterday keep up its reputa-
ton A fight took place at $50 a. m. and ended
in the arrest of James Talbot, switchman in
the employ of the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company, who lives at No. 457 West Thirteth
ST. A who had one of the five cents
day" tickets gave it TO a small boy in violation
Of the Spate rule which says the tickets are not
transferable. When the boy attempted to take
a chair Otto Beerman, who is employed
''bouncer," elected him. The boy kept running
from seat to another, while Beerman fol-
lowed in his wake with rising anger. Finally he
caught the boy and slapped his face, 1t is
charged This drew crowd. which talked
about lynching Beerman as the crowd did of
lynching Thomas Tully on Saturday.
Beerman stood his ground, but says that Tai
bot of the crowd, struck him. Patroman
Barnes was called. and he took both men TO the
police station Talbot was charged with assault
Al Jefferson Market Court Magistrate Mayo
parOled Talbot until this morning IN order to
give both men time 10 get witnesses. Mr.. Spate
is going TO court this morning TO try TO have
Talbot fined Talbot gave tnis account of the
trouble: Il was crossing Madison Square Park,
my way 10 work, when my attention was at
tracted by a crowd formed about the chairs.
asked this man Beerrnan what the trouble was.
He responded by saying that 1t was none Of my
business. and punched me in the jaw 1 retail
ated, and the policeman arrested me-
HE WILL WRITE TO CLAUsEN.
An old man neatly dressed in black, walked
into Madison Square Park yesterday afternoon
and sat down in one of the pay chairs.
We'll! weH,' he exclaimed. This is fine.
I've been through this park nearly every week
for the last thirty years, and I've never seen so
nice a seat"
They've only been here a week." said man
4 must write and tell Commissioner Clausen
how fine an officer he is making" laid the old
man.
Then gloomy individual in gray uniform
Please give me five cents" he said. and his
tone like that used by street beggars.
Go away my man, don't bother me- said the
old man. You look young and able to work
Besides, ] never give money to people in the
street"
The collector got red in the face, and looked
closely TO see if the old man was in earnest.
It's for the chair" he said finally. These
are private property. and We rent them for f1Ve
cents Jay"
old man as he rose to his feet Pay for sitting
in a miserable green chair! Tell me, young man
Goes Mr.. Clausen know about this"
Il think ii was his idea in the hrst place,
answered the attendant
Well. / will write him a letter, but not the
kind he will like. The idea Of renting park seats!
Before long they will be chalking the grass plots
into squares and charging the children for the
privilege of playing on them"
He was still muttering he left the park
and the Commissioner will soon be able TO file
one letter that is anything but commendatory
Of the pay chair scheme.
MURPHY STANDS FIRM
Commissioner Murphy was seen yesterday In
his summer home at Far Rockaway, and said:
Il have no intention of recalling the order issued
last week regarding the pay chairs in the park
Policemen must not help in the collection Of this
tax Yesterdays affair at Madison Square Park
has not made me change my mind. AS / under
stand il, the attendant hurt little boy. I
this is true his exciting from the crowd will
90 him good. The police conducted him TO his
home. The police will keep the peace. but they
VIII not help these chair make money"
In Riverside Park the chairs were well pat
ronized. The police allowed no crowds TO gather
when any person refused TO pay for his chair
ana was disposed TO argue the matter. Mr.
Spate expressed himself being highly delight
ed with the way the policemen acting. "Al
want of them is that they will protect our
patrons" said he. I'VE will look out ourselves
Tor those who refuse to pay for the chairs, and
al We want the police TO do is to protect those
who pay for the chairs from insult and injury
The Central Park lawns and woods were over
run with men, women and children yesterday
me children had hilarious sport chasing one
ahotner through parts Of the park that usually
are denied TO them. There as many police
in their pockets
pelsen, University of Pennsylvania student
became indignant because the free seaters were
Iioiculng the chair attendants. His reproofs
eoing no good, he pitched into a crowd of anti
a md how and rod tIo,a rf.rlaf