The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-04-02
LIFTING THE LID
IN SAN FRANCISCO

IN 1HW [nRNUIJUU
SAN FRANCISCO, March 22.-By a
resolution adopted last night at tie
meeting of the Board of Police Com
missioners, the boundaries of the
Tenderloin district we're fixed and the
lid was lifted from the territory with
in its lines. Between the south side
of Turk street, the west side of Tay-
lor. the south side of O'Farrell and
the east side of Mason streets, the
throngs of cafe habitues crowded the
dance floors all ready for them. With
in a few. minutes after the adoption
of the resolution by the Commission
ers, the gay crowd that had been
awaiting the word, glided into the
dreamy waltz or two -step, and from
then until one o'clock the hour when
music must cease, the couples swayed
to the rhythm of the music.
Like a field of stake horses getting
away from the barrier, the crowd OF
cafe owners and attaches who hal
crowded the boardroom at the Com
missioner's meeting dashed for the en-
trance when Secretary Charles Skelly
recorded the last aye" as President
Flannery pronounced it, marking the
adoption of the resolution which shot
the lid skyward from the district
where the bright lights shine. With
in two minutes the news that the lid
had been taken off had spread.
PLEADS FOR DANCING.
There was a formal prologue at the
Commissioners meeting to the adop-
ton of the resolution that was enacted
before the anxiously waiting crowd.
Herbert Choynski, representing the
divekeepers, presented to the Com
missioners a petition signed by 800 or
more business men, who asked that
the permit for the dancing be granted.
In a flowery speech, Choynski
pointed out the benefits to be derived
from the dancing by those indulging
in it, and as a stimulant to trade, not
only for the owners of the cafes in
which dancing was allowed, but to the
business houses in general, who would
derive benefit from the greater
amount of money put into circulation.
He pointed out that San Franciscans
were pleasure loving, and should not
have their pleasures curbed by any
rule that was not necessary for the
welfare of the people.
At the conclusion of his speech, the
following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That on and after this
date March 81, 1870 dancing will
be allowed in the saloons and restau-
rants retailing liquor under a permit
from the Board, within that portion Of
the city and county of San Francisco
bounded as follows: By the south side
of Turk street, by the west side OF
Taylor street, by the south side of
O'Farrell street and by the east side
of Mason street, inclusive of the side
streets mentioned in this resolution"
TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS.
At the meeting of the Board Of Po-
lice Commissioners on next Monday
night the owners of cafes within the
district are to appear before that body
and receive instructions regarding the
rules that will control the dancing.
Until that time the cafe owners are to
be allowed to go along as they did
formerly, when dancing was allowed,
but the word went out that they must
"have a little sense"
"The one o'clock ordinance must be
enforced" said President Flannery
there will be no let-up on that line;
if there is, the dancing will be stopped
again. Minors must be kept out and
the places conducted in an orderly
manner"
Just before the lid was removed
from the Tenderloin, Joseph A. Mar
niger, proprietor Of a saloon at 523
Jackson street, was granted a permit
to operate a dance hall in the rear of
his place. No question was raised
about the right of the Barbary Coast
saloon-keepers to allow dancing in
their places.
A new method of dealing with ap-
plicants for saloon licenses was inau-
gurated last night when Commission
er Flannery annnouced that, hereaft-
er, it will be the policy of the Board
to grant no new saloon licenses in dis
tricts where, in the opinion of the
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