New-York tribune., 1909-03-12
TO END RAINES HOTELS
NEW YORKERS At ALBANY
Members of Committee of Fourteen
Haze Drafted Bill.
Ia Telegranh to nc Tribune.

Albany March 11-Congressman William S. Ben
net the Rev. John P. Peters. of St. Michaels Eps-
copal Church. and F. H Within representing the
Committee Of Fourteen for the suppression of
Raines law hotels in New York City. held a con-
ference this afternoon WITH Governor Hughes for
nearly two hours the excise bill drafted by the
committee. After the conference Congressman
Bennett said that the bill would be introduced Mon
day night by Senator BroUeh and that an eHort
would be made to have hearing on the bill be-
fore the Committee of Taxation and Retrenchment
some time next week. Asked what the Governor
attitude was toward the bill he said that the con
ferrees had agreed not to make puolc ahythhns
said at the conference
The purpose of the bill said Congressman Bennet'
was to get a law that could be enforced ana 10 90
away with the fragrant violations OF excise laws
that exist in New York city
Governor Hughes would not discuss What TOOK
place the conference.
The New Workers also called Maynard N
Clement State Commissioner of Excise, and had a
conference with Senator Ranes, author OF the
Raines law. Mr.. Clement being present
A statement prepared by the subcommittee calls
attention to the fact that under the present law.
which permits Sunday selling in hotels and clubs
many saloons have taken out licenses as hotels
These hotels become, in very many cases dis-
orderly houses It is said. Further, the great ma
jority of saloons hotels are open more or less
continually Sunday, paying officials TO WINK at
their violation of law.
result
York city to create class Of disorderiy hoteIs
and to debauch and corrupt the police system. To
correct these evils the statement says 1t Is pro
posed
First-That a special license should be issued @ toT
the privilege to sell liquor on Sunday between anu
second-That sales should be allowed not only IN
hotels and clubs bat also in barrooms when ] Sna d
have door opening directly upon a streei am anu
have no internal communication with the pu''u'"e
In explanation Of these propositions the statement
says:
The object for providing the special tax IS not
render ii possible control and limit this sale ana
else Department to it that this provision OF
the law is enforced Experience mas shS%1 t,ve tn in
preventing the sale Of liquor without license. we
ti N Te%entnF The sale Of liquo~ on Sun
day without a license. II permission to sell on that
Ne propose to extend the permission to sell sell on on
Sunday 10 barrooms so that there shoa no te i
in the future. a at present, the -temptatoH' III
order 10 secure that privilege. TO create d1sor-
DERBY hotel We propose to limit that privilege fot
The saloon 70 the harroou in order out the
back room. which is at the present moment appar,
emily unnecessary and objecuonable part ot
the Sunday liquor selling in the saloons We be
pendent upon the Excise Department we cuI i ",Ii
the possibilities of police graft now exEtnS anF of
remove serious source OF the corruption oi
municipal government.
To make the proposed provisions Of law possible
Of enforcement Il is proposed;
To Increase the number Of special agents in the
be employed in the cities
All saloons he required 10 leave an uhoo-
structed the bar from the street during me
prohibited hours, and failure 70 do so to he penal
lied by forfeiture OF license. 80.
To raise hotel requirements that a hotel shan
have not less than enty-five bedrooms with an
ing room and kitchen OF corresponding size
a Limitation the number Of licenses IN proper
ton 10 the population. not by withdrawal or pres
ent licenses but by refusal 20 issue additional
licenses for new places until the hked ratio mas
been reached by the increase Of population .
Penalty for violation Of law TO fal upon the
saloon IN such a manner that II there is PROOF OF
two violations within a limited period not Only
shall the proprietor lose his license but the place
shall be penalized
we believe SAYS the statement 'taat these
er,nIa provisions Will have the effect OF restrain
ing and controlling the sale Of liquor on Sundays
so that not only will much fewer number OF
places be open. but that the sale OF liquor in those
places will be conducted in Il far more orderly and
decent manner than at present
And we believe further that the result VIII DC
largely to take the saloon question out of politics
by removing the principal source-graft'