New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-26
FOR SUNDAY OPENING
MEMS EPISCOPAL CLUBS.
DR.. Peters Says Police Are Not En-
tirezy to Blame for Ercise Conditions.

Only two persons spoke against the provisions
OF the proposed bill of the Committee Of Fourteen
10 open the saloons Sunday. when # came up
for discussion last night in the parish house OF ST.
Michaers Protestant Episcopal Church One was
a saoonkeeper, who thought the extra tax would
be an injustice to men trying to run an honest
place. and the other was the Rev. Dr. Melville K.
Bailey. of Grace Church. who objected to 1t on
moral grounds.
The Rev DR. Bailey. who was the chief objector.
admitted that he a Prohbitionist, but he said
he was not one Of those who would take away
the right of the Individual to drink, for he con-
sidered tina. going altogether too far. His obJec-
ton he said, was based the fact that the
saloon in this city not only social evil out
a grave political one. and he opposed 70 grant
ing It any further privileges that might add to It's
influence.
The meeting was really one Of the Federation OF
Mems Clubs in various Episcopal churches to con-
slider the merits Of the bill formulated by the Com
rnittee Of Fourteen No vote was taken at the
meeting although several Of the societies In the
federation sent word through their delegates that
should vote be taken they were in favor OF the
bill
The principal address of the evening was made
by the Rev. DR.. John P Peters. rector of st.
MichaeTs- and chairman OF the Committee OF
Fourteen. He said:
The question arises as TO who Is responsible for
the present conditions It has been Attempted 70
there is no commissioner who could close every
5s0S so P sns s The as en Bca of the
But there IS this to be considered: If such action
administration supporting that action would 90 out
OF business at the next election; Mayor t, OF pa a
would be doing It against the wishes OF majority
of the people, or at least a great and aggressive
minority.
Dr. Peters advocate an increase in the number
OF state excise inspectors. AS conditions are now,
It takes two OF three that many weeks 10
get evidence that has any chance OF holding In
court The Raines law hotels DR.. Peters said. did
not even pretend to keep the law until the Build
ings Department helped out the Excise Depart
rnent by enforcing the building laws
DR.. Peters said that even the courts, In some
instances, appeared to have been corrupted by the
side door graft collected by the police. The COM
rnittee had sought, he said. TO have the question
of Sunday opening put before the people for
popular vote but obstacles had presented them
selves But, he said. the people have shown that
they wished TO have n open Sunday by defeating
every candidate that wished 70 put the Id on too
tightly He said he wished to have the law so
amended that the closing OF screen about saloon
and the presence OF men IN the place would be-
come prima facie evidence OF violation He also
wanted the saloon taken out Of the hands OF the
police.
The police" he said. "are not expected to en-
ter q sweatshop and look for violations, nor are
they expected to watch other places. Why should
the violation OF the excise law, any than that
OF the factory law. be in the hands OF the poce?'
Dr. Peters said that the penalty for violations
should apply the premises. Most Of the places
are owned by breweries. one brewery owner being
one the three largest real estate owners IN the
CITY, and II such penalty lay. the brewers would
be anxious to see that the law was complied with
in all respects That the property owners should
be responsible. he said. idea becoming more
popular day. and he cited several examples Of
how such law would work out when enforced.
1T IS evidently the desire Of large part OF the
citizens this city" Dr. Peters said. that liquor
should be sold Sunday. The right OF sale. under
the present bill. is confined 70 hotels We have
simply provided that what has been the practice
of nearly all saIoonkeepers would be recognized
and restricted. Because a man has special Il
oenSe-a special thing by itself-will make the
whole thing one OF special interest TO the Excise
Department When the department has some money
TO collect they will look after the observance Of
the law all right"
The effect of the proposed law, DR.. Peters said
would be TO reduce lavlessness and police black
mail He said that honest police commissioners
like General Bingham, Messrs. McAdoo and Par
fridge and General Greene have realized that the
greatest difficulty in observing the present excise
laws in the Sunday graft collected by the
police
Frederick II. Within, executive secretary OF the
OF Fourteen. said that while Nfassachu
sets. with it's local option law. was often held
was II should be
He told OF the difficulty found in revoking the
licenses OF a notorious Tenderloin resort and a
Park Row place. One notorious place in Mott
street had got letter commencing its character
from Settlement worker because she had been
allowed to go in there searching for unfortunate
women any time that she wished to do So POliti-
,al and other influences had been brought without
avail to save the others. although months had 10
be spent in the prosecution Of the cases
One notorious place posed being extremely
respectable, so respectable that Congressman Ben
net was taken there 10 dinner night. so he
could see just how respectable II He saw. all
right for while he there he Ave violations
Of the law.
Mr. Within said that some saloon keepers OBJ
jected to $500 additional fee. but that this sum
paid for the Illegal privilege Of keeping open He
spoke Of the way the grand Jury treated the
which came to it. returning scarcely Indictment
He said a grand juryman had said to him that |
Four thousand saloons were open nfty-two Sundays
In year; that there were only three thousand I
arrests yearly and OF these less than two hundred
reached tho grand jury. When these cases get |
10 US" the grand Juryman told him, I'VE wonder |
why these poor fellows picked out for the |
slaughter, and have a certain sympathy for |
them"
One man wanted to know from DR.. Peters what |
his estimate OF the graft collected from the saloons
amounted to- DR.. Peters said that the fact that It
was collected sufficient and that the commit |