The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-19
GREENE HECKLED ON EXCISE
NOT POLICE ENOUGH For STRICT
ENFORCEMENT, HE SAYS.
IL, 900 Saloons and $500 Cops Available
for Duty at Time. So You Can't Have
One at Each saloon-Acorns Vote 81
TO 8 for Restricted Sunday Opening.

One ut Each saIOon-Acorns Vote 81
10 5 for Restricted Sunday Opening.
Police Commissioner Greene told the
Aoorns at a rousing meeting In the West
Side Lyceum last evening what he has
done and aimed to do since he took charge
Of the Department. Incidentally he
answered questions put to him by Edward
O'Connor, character comedian" as MIR.
O'Connor's personal card reads, with refer
enoe to excise and the way he, Gen. Greene,
is getting along enforcing the law pertain
ing to the same.
II was at the close Of Gen. Greene's rather
informal talk to the Acorns that Mr.. O'Con-
nor called the Generals attention to the
fact that while he had given a most in
teresting exposition OF other matters con-
ing about excise.
nor, what is being done about the en-
forcement OF the Excise law"
very willingly" replied Gen. Greene,
leaving his seat and coming to the front
OF tho platform again. mot long ago we
used to hear a good deal about wet and
dry Sundays. Now we don't hear 30 much
about them. The topic is seldom dis
cussed, for the reason that people believe
that the laws are enforced.
There are $4,000 saloons in New York,
and 1000 have the privilege of selling liquor
on Sundays. We have not tried to stop
the sale Of liquor on Sundays. We have
simply tried to prevent It's sale in places
that were not licensed to sell 1t. and to see
to it that those who do sell 1t do 30 under
tho restrictions which the law imposes:
Every one OF the places that are licensed
az hotels to sell liquor on Sundays has been
inspected to see that 1t was hotel under
the definition of the law. We believe that
in places not authorized to sell liquor on
Sundays the law is pretty generally in
forced
That is a question: interrupted
is it?" replied Gen. Greene, -The Police
Department would be very glad OF infor-
nation as to any place that Is violating
the law. We will treat the information in
confidence, II so Desired
why can we not have our excise laws
enforced the way they are in Great Britain?,'
continued the persistent O'Connor. y
lived thore for fifteen years. like my
glass OF beer whenever I can get it, but l
like to see the laws enforced. AT II o'clock
at night when the English law says, the
drinking places must close they close them ZEN,
There's policeman In front OF every such
place to see that it is closed
AS to putting a policeman at the front
of every drinking place in New YORK,
replied Gen Greene, II think would have
to have larger force than the present
one to do that There are about 1900
uniformed men in the force. These cant
be on duty all the twenty-four hours, so
that there are available only $500 men
at a time, ard there are 1900 drinking
places in New York. I, too, have been
in London a good deal, and ] know that
on Sundays there have seen great num-
Der OF drunken men in the street. ! don't
was not in the police business then and
didn't investigate.
-The only way to get rid OF your present
Excise law" said Mr.. o'Connor, lis to
enforce ito make 1t odious. Will you
do that? We need restricted Sunday
opening"
Il will enforce no law to make 1t odioue
or TO make it anything, replied Gen Greene
Il will enforce 1t because it is the law
This has opened up very interesting
subject" remarked Chief Acorn Joseph
johnson, when Gen. Greene and Mr.; OCon,,
nor had finished their dialogue. Il would
like to get the sense Of the meeting on the
OF restricted opening OF the saloons on
Sunday please hold up their right hands
Good. They are counted.
-Now those who are opposed to opening
the saloons at all on Sunday raise their right
hands. Good. This, ! suppose, is fairly
representative New York audience. The
tally shows that there are 81 votes in favor
of restricted opening on Sunday and s
opposed to opening at all on that day
Gen. Greene's address was devoted to
an outline history of his work in the de-
partraent He was followed by, Robert
H. Davis In spirited and witty address, and
there was some good singing by the Acorns'