The San Francisco call., 1906-12-28
LID WILL STAY
ON, MOONEY
DECLARES
Captain of Police Says
Law Is Plain in Matter
of Tenderloin Resorts
HURLS DEFIANCE AT
THE COMMISSIONERS

~A~~~ - -As~
port Expected to Settle
the Difficulties of Officers
"The lid Is on I'm the TenderIofn dis
trict until City Attorney Burke makes
a report.r-Dictum of the Board of Po-
lice missioners.
ssThe lid Is ON In the TenderIofn dis
trict irrespective of either the Board OF
Police Commissioners or City Attorney
Observation-Disclosures of Captain Of P0-
lice Mooney, I'm whose district the Ten
derIoin Is located.
With a defiance that has startled the
Board OF Police Commissioners out OF
the serene self-righteousness with
which it enveloped itself after openly
casting the blame for it's inactivity in
falling to enforce the saloon ordinances
on the shoulders of City Attorney
Burke. Captain of Police Mooney has
asserted his independence to the extent
Of making known. without mincing OF
words. that he intended to abide by the
law as he finds it in the ordinance book
by member of the Police Commission.
The Wednesday night meeting of the
Police Commission caused JOY In the
hearts of the saloon keepers of the ten
derloin. The commission had confessed
it's unwillingness to take action against
them before receiving the beIated opin-
ion OF City Attorney Burke as to the
validity of the section of the ordinances
prohibiting side entrances. and with
immunity from interference before
them. those under the ban exchanged
congratulations.
MOONEY rs DEFIANT
But Captain 3fo61sey. who has gained
the reputation OF being the terror Of
the tenderloin. set these rejofcings at
rest. Although told in so many words
by Police Commissioner Hagerty to
keep his hands OF and let the lid soar
as 1T would, he declared that his duty
was outlined in the statute books. and
that he would follow their dictates until
the law which he finds there is de-
clared void. He stated that he intended
to continue his reports against illegally
condncted saloons and would continue
to arrest violators of the law in spite
of the action of the board, and would
not brook interference in what he con-
siders his plain duty. Only in case OF
ruling by City Attorney Burke that
the ordinance regulating side entrances
to saloons is Illegal would he cease
these raids and reports. he says.
My duty is plain" stated Captain
Mooney yesterday. in discussing the
failure of the board to stand behind
tions of the ordinance. "As long as
there are violations of the law I shall
report them SO far there have been
fifty-nine reports made to the Commits
sioners. and in spite of the fact that
these have not been acted upon. there
will be reports made regarding every
additional case that comes under my
observation in my district. must do
my duty irrespective of outside in
fuences and irrespective or presump-
tions that the law is detective"
Captain Moneys decided stand had
it's effect in more than one quarter
yesterday. Certain members of the
Police Commission awoke to the realf-
zation that the reports which have
been made could not be shelved longer
without the stirring up OF hornets
nest of inquiry which might prove
disastrous to them. City Attorney
Burke also displayed unusual zeal in
delving into the question put to him
by the board and instead OF postponing
his answer indefinitely. according to
custom. it was announced by Deputy
City Attorney Williams Of his ONCE
that the much-desired opinion would
be forthcoming today.
CRESSwELL CALLS A HALT
The matter came to a focus last
night at the meeting Of the Police
Commission and the result was a
stormy session The trouble com
menced when Chief of Police Dinan
vouched for EOS requests for renewals
of liquor licenses which were present.
ed for ratification. The usual method
of passing all these renewals In .
batch without further investigation
than the formal inquiry directed to
the Chief of Police and his statement
that they were all right was about to
/ be carried out when Commissioner
Creswell called a halt.
| "Mr. Williams OF the City Attor-
ney's Office is IN the room" he said.
@and would like to inquire OF him
where that report is concerning the
ordinance relating to side doors OF
! saloons?'
"The report is now drawn up and
will be ready for the commission to-
morrow" answered Williams.
| do any OF the complaints which are
now on file before this board regarding
/ saloons relate to any OF the places in
| Continued on Page 2, C0lunn .