New-York tribune., 1909-03-12
a,,EyDJNG THE RAINES LAW.

The amendments to the Raines law proposed
by the Committee of Fourteen, or winch the
Rev. DR. John P. Peters is chairman. are based
on the experiences of four years in the enforce
ment of that law in this city. In its Work the
committee had a large measure OF cooperation
from the dstillers and brewers. though not
counIete co-oneration with the result that the
number of so-caed Raines law hotels in TINS
civ has been reduced from more than fourteen
hundred to seven hundred and fifty, and that
those still running are conducted with
greater regard for decency than prevailed be
fore the committee began its work But the
committee has reached the conclusion that con-
ditions cannot be much bettered without
changes in the law and public opinion VIII &c
ce1t that conclusion, even if it Is not yet pre-
pared 10 go 80 far as the committee goes when
it recommends legallzing the opening of saloons
Sunday afternoon and evening.
The present law is unjust and demoralzihg'
II oxacts high license fee from the saloon
keeper while it does not sufficiently project
him in the privilege that it grants, and too often
drives him for his profits, in the face of COM
natjtion and Of n high license fee. to reliance
,,nop a vicious annex TO his business. he
state should recognize in any changes it makes
in IFS N0uor license law that a RESTRICTION or
undue competition is one way to improve the
character of saloons in this city. If the number
of licenses granted is restricted the competition
which drives into evil courses the salooHkeeper
who would prefer TO run decent shop may ne
ended and with restriction licenses will in
crease in value and the danger of forfeltlhg
them through violation of the law will cor
respondingly be avoided.
In regard 10 the forfeiture Of licenses the
recommendation of the committee is sound. Not
only should the forfeiture operate against the
holder of the license. so that he cannot get an
other. but il should also operate against the
property where the saloon is situated, so thaC
no new bar can be licensed at that place. The
reason for this is that forfeiture Of license is
no penalty in a great many Instances IN thls
civ In these the holder of the license is not
the proprietor of the saloon but hardly mora
than bartender. the saloon itself. and in many
cases the store in which 1t is. belonging TO some
distilIer or brewer. If no new license in case
of violation of the law could be granted for
bar in the same store where license had been
forfeited. the penalty would fall so as TO be
deterrent And In all other cases such a pro
vision would interest the landlord in seeing
that only properly conducted bar was kept
on his premises.
II is also desirable that whatever changes are
made in the Raines law should include such
definition of hotel as will bar out the present
fake" hotels and dens of vice created by the
present law. The committee proposes TO require
that hotel shall consist of not fewer than twen-
ty-fve rooms with a dining room and a kitchen
of corresponding size. It might be possible 10
frame a requirement so defining the dining
room that the back room of the saloon would
not pass for it. end making It clear that the
kitchen is a place where actual meals are
cooked TO be served on the premises. In view
of the experience of what is legally a meal" 1
kitchen and a dining room cannot be defined
too explicitly.