New-York tribune., 1907-04-10
GOTHAM HOTEL CASE.
Strong Opposition to Sare Bill De-
signed to GiUe 1t License.

Albany. April Q (SpeciaD.-Vigorous opposi-
tion to the SAKE bill which would permit the
Gotham Hotel to obtain liquor license devel-
oped in the Senate to-day, as a consequence OF
which the measure failed of advancement 70
third reading. This measure provides that the
proprietor of place within two hundred feet
of church or school who desires TO sell
liquors may serve on the corporation using the
building for a church notice Of his intention
to apply for license. and that the license may
be granted if within thirty days there is not
filed an objection signed by "a two-thirds ma
iority" of the trustees of the church.
While the measure applies apparently to any
situation in the state. the debate on 1t was
confined almost entirely TO the Gotham Hotel
condition. Indeed Senator Fuller. who one
of the opponents of the measure. pointed out
that many churches did not have trustees,
and asked what the bill would effect if it be-
came law and a saloonkeeper wanted to open
a place such church. Senator Raines.
who seemed in favor Of the bill. retorted that in
such it probably would have no appli-
cation, and that 1t was not special legislation
because there were so many churches OF the de-
nomination of the one in the Gotham case and
others which did have trustees
Senator AgneW brought the bill sharply into
the limelight when il came up I'm general orders
by declaring that It was meant for the relief
of the Gotham. the residence of many promi-
nent people who do not vote in that district,
but wish the hotel to have license"
This taken a direct reference to Sem
ator Platt. who lives at the Gotham.
This is in my district" he went on. ''but
since IL is we'll known / have always opposed
such a bill. l suppose I wasn't asked 70 intro
duce this one on that account The Senator who
has charge of II introduced the same bill three
years ago and when its provisions were made
public he denied 1t and had It stricken from the
record
This brought Senator SAKE to his feet with
the declaration that he did not know what that
bill did when he introduced II, hut that he was
on record as approving that legislation. He de-
cared that the Gotham now had to get its
liquors from other places. and that these liquors
were carried through the streets in baskets-a
proceeding which seemed to him more objection
able than decently conducted bar I'm the hotel
Senator Raines. I'm speaking of similar excise
legislation in previous years. declared that the
proprietor OF this hotel found Il was a different
proposition To obtain the formal consent OF the
trustees on paper from what II was in a private
conversation"
Senator Aguew wanted 10 know IL he believed
the proprietor OF the Gotham ever had consent
from the trustees to a license i'm any private
conversation. Senator Raines retorted that he
did not know II a formal consent was granted
but that ne surmised the proprietor came from
tho conversations with the impression that there
would be no objection. the law in its present
shape would not have bothered him Senator
Fuller declared the bill I'm effect granted a Ii
cense. II the trustees through Careessness or
neglect failed 10 file protest which rendered
the obtaining Of license r much easier process
thau where formal consent had 10 be obtained
Senator Page submitted amendments specifying
that place TO obtain a license under such con-
ditions must be bona fide hotel OF at least one
hundred rooms but they were voted down and
the bill was laid over