New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-06
STATE CONTROL IN BOSTON.

Roston Jan. 3 tSpecial).-Control OF hquor IL
oenses Of al classes for Boston is vested oy ol'e
law in the Board Of Police Commissioners. ap-
,,onted bv the Governor. Their power is prac-
tically arbitrary and has frequently been upheld
nv The courts TIE number OF licenses is appor-
toned in Boston according 70 population pelng
about one TO every thousand The Irlee OF All
licenses is also fixed by law. They are granted
IN May ! licenses for the preceding year expiring
April 30
Premises are examined by the officers Of the
police force and by special agents, who report
l,pou the conditions, character OF the apphc2hls
and general expediency OF granting license as
appAed for. The decision Of the board is final
No license can be granted II AUDITORS enter proper
objections nor within 400 feet OF schoolhouse or
a church IL the latter objects, on the same street
Licenses are divided into four classes. the first
being the ordinary saloon or barroom, whether or
not attached 10 hotel; second class, which in
cludes a saloon with grocery or bottled goods
store attached third and fourth classes. Licenses
can only transferred by consent OF the CoInmls-
sioEers.
No liquor saloon store may begin selling
before o'clock in the morning, and must stop
selling AT sharp i IL the evening Places which
rernain open until L be cleaned up and the
doors locked by midnight Any place found open
or doing business after the prescribed hours is
liable 10 a fine and 10 have Its license revoked
and the license cannot be renewed
No liquor is allowed 10 be sold on Sundays
legal holidays or election days except by properly
licensed hotels, where people resort Tor looo'
Food must be ordered before liquor can be served
Many hotels are strict in this respect, ana the
thirsty ones must order a respectable meal IN
Others the sandwich OF hard boiled egg does ouly'
and is likely be served a hundred tunes oeIoEe
II fufls its mission. The law is not explicit on
this point. but a couple Of ordinary crackers GO
not constitute meal, according 10 the interpreta-
zion OF the police commission. II a man has the
terner!ty to eat the sandwich or egg he has or
dered. that IS his affair
Most places charge the ordinary price Of drink
or bottle without extra charge for the egg Inc
board may request saloons to close on week
cavs but has no legal power to enforce the
request beyond the possibility Of its being re-
rneInbered'' when any complaint comes up. THIS
request would only come Oh extraordinary occd-
sIons IKE the day OF President Mckinley S funeral
etc. No other week days except election Gays ana
holidays come in the category o. c4oStI5 u1S 20
first class licenses also holding an lnnhole err :
license. No restaurant can sell on Sundays unless
az integral part OF a regular Motel , a.
sSS s ne oss Of The sellers license A guardian
Me pSre3t or other close relative Of Confirmed
druIkard forbd The proprietor OF the PI IT
he fTeguents 70 sell him any 9uSs' az I'D il
10 comply with this request can De p ot "1, "
the ways above stated Women are 40, 1 t'iU 1 =
for them. unless accompanied by male escort.
%aeh en- I6e8 8s Places and report any viola
tons OF the law they may obserye me pI9pItee0i
ton called 70 his traHsgTssSionS tiIens hots
I xoIations s Of tie law may sve inforInaton
make complaint. the Commissions then IaHia5
action after proper hives rgation For non-lceISto
places kitchen barroops. ETC., close watch Is
kept, and frequent raids made on search war.
rants Dhlcers and captains OF stations are heIc
responsible tor such existing in their territory b1
Il IS frequently impossible 10 secure 5unleleht eEl
denCe a liquor warraTf- % ala IN tne
work, a permanent liquor squat. headed by
captain Detailed fer the purpose, vas kept Tor many
years and Old efficient work IN roofing out uh'
Licensed places. ann
Offences sganss TIE uGsn5s iws had T de5re astdde
Per cent from the preceding year; Arrests toi
Drunkenness in the year were 1865 males aho
25n females OF whom ,5z3 were non-res.dents
This would make for the 10000 populanon0 WIZ
which Boston IS credited. go oaily. or 80 per per
arrested than ia 1901 decrease OF ia per cont
Arrests for drunkenness have steadily oecreas sec
since 1896 when the total for the year Is under
stood to have been 5000