The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-12-05
Administration Adopts
More Liberal Policy

During the remainder Of the Bai-
iinE~r administration there Will be
less restriction ia the restricted dis
trict. The bloom OF prosperity has
even affected red light real estate.
and rent fer its buildings 10 going
upward. The Comiaue theater is
again in fun swing and Il viii be
probably but day or two before
the abandoned Arcade thsat-r will
be turned over 20 the underworld
pleasure seekers. The application q
the Arcade comes up before tho H.
cense and revenue committee this
afternoon.
sscotty" Ferguson. the local dance
hall snasnhts. a week aEo made
application to the council for n re-
ncwal OF the license Of the Arcade.
Nearly two weeks age he was given
a concert hail license for the Com
iqus. aud the seeming success with
which he IL able ia conduct the
latter has encouraged him to apply
for the privilege OF opening the
larger resort That the council will
refuse % grant the license under the
same conditions that It granted one
for the Comtaue does not appear 20
be reasonable. Scott benjamin.
chairman Of the license and revenue
committee. stated this morning that
he did not know what the committee
would do about u. although he adj
mitied that he saw no particular
objections 10 granting the license.
The difficulty which Mayor Ball
niger aud chief Delaney have eS-
psrienced In controlling crime north
Of the deadllne is responsible for the
change OF policy that has been
adopted on the sooth aide Of a. Ever
since the executive Officers, in their
real 20 purge Seattle 81 itN Grim
inals. began 20 enforce certain moral
OBLIGATIONS Of the teuderlain papu-
lation there has been rockiug 81
the latter northpard until pike
street has become. In the language
Of one councilman. the new dead
line"
OCCUPATIONS supposed 10 be I'M
der strict police Surveillance IN the
restricted district have become more
extensive. though less open. on PIKE
street. First avenue aud Yesicr Way
than in the rediiRht section. In
many % the resorts on these streets
prostitution il carried on little less
openly than ~ the restricted dis
trfct although the women escape
the payment Of fines. Women aoli-
cit for drinks IN some Instances on
commission. Three fourths OF the
lodging houses on Pike street. FIRST
avenue and Yesler Way are located
above saloons The beer - solicited
ana drunk in the lodging rooms. be-
ing carried up from the bar.
These considerations have im-
peued the mayor and the chief 10
adopt "a modified policy. They have
found IL very difficult and often i'm
posaIbie 20 check the rapid en-
croachment which social parasites
are making upon the respectable
portion Of the city. The most whole
some corrective measure, they have
concluded. IL 60 allow treer reign ia
the restricted district
Women are 10 be allowed 10 soil
eft drinks IN the tenderloin thea
tiers and dance halls. but they VIII
have TO carry on their vocation ON
higher plane OF reFpeetabtiity than
under the Humea regime. The IL
renRs as granted 10 the comique
theater gives the mayor the power
10 remove closed boxes and all other
obnoxious arrangements. These
stipulationa. together with the state
law prohibiting women from solicit
ing drinks. puts into the hands OF
the mayor a club with which he can
control the conduct of such resort
to his complete satisfaction. He is
enab Ied TO close the place without
moments notice.
The mayor aud the chief have
been declaring that they would mt
allow women TO solicit drinks In the
Comiaue. but they evidently DO mol
intend TO be too straight-laced about
n At any rate, the sale of beer is
going on at the COmique at the
present time. The disposal OF the
beverage does not proceed 0ith the
dash and continuity that II once did
however. The atmosphere or en-
forced good behavior that character
ICES n school room after one OF the
bad boys has been thraahed by the
teacher pervades the former ribald
thr0ng.
The painted damseis do not like Il.
n IL too slow for them. Half Of
them have given up the task Of
earning n livelihood ON commission
I'm the resort under the new con-
ditions. They are no longer allow
cd to oonRregate at the entrance and
onauaro the unwary stranger before
he has n chance TO collect his wits.
They must be more refined and less
impufsive In persunding a customer
"a buy a glass OF the refreshment
Ia keeping with the new order