New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-18
TO FIGHT BILLIARD BILL
Room Owners Say New 0rdi-
nance Would Be Destructive.
WILLING TO COOPERATE
Conditions on East Side Re.
sponsible for Move for
.Stricter Law.

Men like Maurice DAILY and John T
billiard rooms along Broadway arc
worried about proposed ordinance
recommended by the East Side Neighbor-
hood Association that is intended 20 close
the doors Of their places at midnight
They have been told. too. that the new
law would deprive them OF the right to
serve drinks. Should il pass the Board
of Aldermen the room owners say they
would have TO go out OF business. a.
most OF their patronage comes after the
theatres close.
Jonah j. Goldstein, of No. 335 Broadway.
counsel for the Neighorhood Association
said yesterday that Alderman Nathan
Lieberman, of the 18th ward would have
the draft of the ordinance ready this
week. In the first police inspection dis
trict, between the Bowery and East
River, south Of nth street. there are
one hundred and thirty so-called pool
rooms he said. many OF these in dark
poorly ventilated cellars. At least eighty
of them are owned and operated b. mem
berS Of gangs. Stuss games ~ kept up
all night. and the "sweatboard" abounds
Or. Henry Moskowitz, head OF the East
Side Neighborhood Association, says these
places are recruiting stations for juye.
nile deinquents."
Conditions are pretty bad in DR.. Mos.
kowitzs district" admitted Mr.. Doyle
The New York Billiard Room owners
Association would like to see every dis
reputable joint put out OF business. ano
that's one of the things we are under
obligation to do by cooperating with the
police. The settlement workers have the
right idea, but they will not wipe OUT
the low disreputable places by merely
closing them up at midnight The way
TO go about il is through the licensing
board We would be glad TO cooperate
with them 4 it would help by having one
OF our paid representatives on the board.
II Is for our advantage to haze the small
parlors kept reputable and free from
gambling They are the kindergartens
for US, but 10 close us up at midnigh
and stop the sale of drinks would NEAR
ruin to US
A. L. Troescher, treasurer OF the Bruins
supplies most of the large billiard par
lors in the city. said he favored any leg
islation that would clean up the gambling
parlors. but legislation that would brne
hardship on the promoters Of clean sport
was unjust
we do not mean 10 be unjust 10 the
owners of reputable rooms in the go
called central section along Broadway
and the Tenderloin," said Mr.. Goldstein.
Personally. I'm in favor Of fixing It, II
possible. so that the Mayor could grant
an all night license for the rooms where
business depends on late hours. We are
aiming 10 brins about inspection Of these
places on the East Side by the Board OF
Health. instead OF the police, and 10 make
/ the applicant for the license pay for the
( inspection. Also there should be a penalty
| for violation of the law and a bond az
! in the excise licenses. At present there
are no definite hours for closing, ano
within twenty-four hours after one license
has been revoked il may be renewed.
AT one and a half cents cue the
prices prevailing in the East Side places,
no place can make money; il must sub
sist on stuss and the 'sweatboard.' Boys
under age visit the low places and sleep
on the tables. The East Side Neighbor
hood Association is willing 10 accept the
advice and cooperation Of the billiard
room owners il they can help 10 better
conditions