New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06
WAYS THAT ARE DARK.
THE ms AND OUTS OF KEEPING A SA-
LOON UNDER A TAMMANY AID
MINISTRATION.

question of Sunday closing there may well be
many different views. One East Slider. speaking Of
the problem, observed that to the vast majority
of his neighbors the word reform meant simply
no Sunday beer, and that as long as they stood
in danger of losing the cherished right to i'm
bibe on the first day of the week, SO long would
they vote for Tammany. In his opinion-and he
differed from his neighbors in respect save
that of unusually keen mind-if reform would
cast aside the Sunday saloon closing idea, there
would be a fair chance of Turing the East Side
from the shadow of the Wigwam. This is what
one man said but what many have thought.
However, that has nothing to do with the mat
ten of taking brides. 1t is well known that the
saloons on the East Side pay for the privilege
of keeping open on Sunday the sum of s.. This
is the general tax. levied on all the world. If
saloonkeeper looks twice man before Civ
Ing him admittance to his saloon Sunday,
that merely means that the proprietor is behind
with his weekly instalment. 1t is recognized on
all SIDES. When policeman comes he secs"
the saloonkeepers about Sunday cosing-that is
understood. Nobody expects anything to be diff
ferent.
Here is example Of the system at work.
saloon was open Sunday. not only selling
drinks, but letting anybody play cards or pool.
There were half dozen card tables and several
pool tables. All full. and each was
rounded by a small crowd Of watchers At the bar
there were many men lined up. Everything was
in full swing, and both proprietor and patrons
We're enjoying themselves, when a couple Of
plain clothes men came in. They spoke loudly
enough to be heard by everybody in the place
-Come on, Tim" they said (only Tim isn't his
name), we've got to arrest you"
"All right, boys" said Tim calmly. and.
putting on his coat and hat. went away with
them. The fun at the saloon went merrily on.
meanwhile. The next day Tim" came up for
trial The policemen that they had found
the door open and two men and a woman inside
with glass on the counter containing beer
Tim" said it all perfectly true; that he
and his wife and his brothcr-in-law were in the
saloon clearing up from Saturday night. The
case was dismlssed-"no evidence" After that
the two men invited Tim" to play a game of
cards with them. Tim" did. and when he had
lost So to each policeman he went his way in
peace If there bad been in the saloon
at the time Of the ''tidying up" there had been
sixty.
This idea Of playing cards IS a good one, Any
man may play a friendly game with friend
Ion the force" and lose. 1t is not bribiug is it
Tammany likes to see all men dwelling together
in peace and goodwill, and peace and goodwill
are always made uncommonly sure ny playing
euchre with the police-and losing. Many a man
there being mo evidence" and has not had to
pass over a cent to the police, unless you count
what he might have happened to lose in little
friendly game.
If you don't pony up your five-dollar bill
every week, things happen strangely. A worthy
German opened saloon uptown and as is the
custom it was crowded on the first night. There
are first nghterS' in other places than the
theatres. 1t Saturday, and Germans came
with their wives their sWeethearts and drank
beer in the good old fashion of the fatherland.
This new broom in the saloon keeping business
had not swept clean he should have done
He had not squared" anybody Tammany is
good natured and kind. but discipline must be
maintained. little before midnight the saloon
keeper. who not 50 green" as might be
supposed from his disregard of police etiquette
stationed his waiter in front Of the place to look
out. He reported that two men who looked like
policemen in plain clothes were hanging around
on the corner The proprietor made prepara-
tons to close promptly at - o'clock Just then
two men came in and asked for drnlc The u~o-
pretor looked at the clock, and seems, that il
lacked three or four minutes of the hour. served
them, at the time telling his waiter to
close the doors and admit no one else But in
jtead Of taking the drinks the men accused the
proprietor Of keeping q dsur5erly house and
proceeded to arrest him The German rcpar,iine,
5iscretion as the better part of valor fed nra-
e1pitately. His wife and the waiter protest Cd
against the absurdity of the charge after which