New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-10

b Thomas H. Reed Assistant Superintendent Of The
Network Anti-Saoon League and Secretary Of the
Committee Of Fourteen
On January g. 1905. a Legislative luncheon"
was given by the Anti-Saloon League, in this
city at which representatives from many moral
and civic reform organizations were present.
The chief subject of discussion was the problem
of the Raines law hotels, and committee was
. appointed to devise and further legislation for
\\Sheir abolition.
few DAYS later similar conference was held
at the City Club and another committee ap-
pointed. This merged with the first and finally
what has since become known as the Committee
OF Fourteen was evolved. Immediate steps were
taken to organize committees TO carry on the
work Of agitation in Binghamton. Rochester.
Syracuse Buffalo and other cities. Meanwhile
the Committee of Fourteen prepared a bill TO
force Raines law hotels actually to possess the
physical requirements of the law go out of
business
The bill provided for inspection by the
Buildings Department of each locality as a
condition precedent TO the granting of a liquor
tax certificate. The measure was introduced by
Senator Raines. and after having been some
what nnutilated, finally passed. but only after
the licenses for this year had been given out.
But in the course Of the winter inspection
of several hundred Raines law hotels had been
their iniquity had been carried into every corner
Of the State by the leagues speakers Ministers
had preached about It. The country newspapers
had been full Of it. Such facts had power to
move public sentiment. From all over the State
went up the cry. The Raines law hotels must
90" II was useless for money influence to
trv 70 stop the ears of legislators to its appeal.
CONGRESSMAN W. S. Bennett walked into the
Senate Chamber on the evening of May l and
handed Senator Amber a bill Governor His-
gins supplied emergency message. ana the
legislative victory was won
rho new bill was Just like the one fathered by
Senator Raines except that IL provided for an
inspection by the Buildings Department after
.he .,rantfng of the license. on complaint of any
taxpaver If the inspection showed the place
no. TO comply with the law. its license was TO
ne revoked az once Since could not stop
the places from getting licenses. we got the
privilege Of taking licenses away
since then we have been engaged IN cease
less struggle to get the new law properly en-
forced About fifty places have been closed III
New-Yorl< City and the constitutionaiity OF the
low &c before the courts There is question
4. my mind of where the ultimate victory Will
lie The law is constitutional and fair. If the
boteIkeepers succeed in blocking its efficiency, 1t
will only be to call down their heads some
more drastic expression of the adherence winch
the American people have OF their business
One great victory. however. has come 10 give
us courage G. w. Peck. superintendent Of the
buffalo district of the Anti-Saloon League i'm
,.d,a+e,v on the approval OF the Amber law
n~ the Governor filed with the Excise Depart
ment Informal complaints against eighty-six
hotels considerably more than half Of all the
.laces of doubtful reputation in that city There