Evening star., 1914-03-15
BER[|N'S MIGHT LIFE
IS CAUSE Of PROTEST
BERLIN, March 4. 19

BERLIN, March 4, 1914.
For years Berlin strove to become the
greatest all-night city in the world. Now
when it boasts that distinction, there are
widespread appeals for putting on the
brakes.
Out Of the 443 members of the Prussian
diet $40 have backed the assertion that
the city is a den of vice, and have pc
titioned the minister of the interior to
ward off the dangers to which the bod
les. and souls OF youths are exposed.
The forty members of the progressive
party In the diet have not Joined in the
petition, but their spokesman declared
that in a general way it expressed their
desires
Baron Scheack zu schweinsberg. speak
ing for the conservatives. made bitter
attack upon conditions in Berlin. The
number of dissolute women, he said. was
increasing tremendously. with al the
evils that follow in their train. Berim
by night" had become an adver!isins
slogan, known throughout the world AS
a matter of fact Berlin by night was
.'the darkest spot in Prussia and in the
German empire" Cabarets, dance halls
and dangerous drinking places were de-
stroying the youth. and when a move was
made against them the cry went up that
the police were threatening business The
baron also attacked the cinematosfaph az
a factor in decentralization.
A free conservative representative, Herr
Voster. seconded Baron Schenck ~
Schweinberg's statements. The city
night program. he said, Is made up as
follows: From to IL O'Clock. theateri
II to Q, wine restaurants or dance halls
to 4, bars, and to u might resorts.
The advocates of all-night reveiry' ne
said. defended their attitude by declaring
that Berlin is one of the worlds great
cities and must cater to visitors from
abroad They overlooked the fact that
the public places in London close at mio-
night and On Paris boulevards at
o'clock ,,. tfo .,on.s
what decentralization it causes among our
YOUTH" said the deputy.
Representatives of the clerical ana
national liberal parties also attacked eA-
istinp conditions DIR. Schroeder OF the
nst;nnal liberals deplored that fact that
these conditions were not connned 10
.<erJiu The smaller cities, too, are De-
coming infected, he said
Iohann Won DallwitZ, minister OF the
interior, declared that there were grea,
obstacles In the way of success1u!
camnaiEn against the dangers of present
conditions He said the government was
irving TO reduce the number OF doupt1ui
resorts and had actually effected eoh
siderable reduction In the numper o.
places holding all-night licenses. II Wa
boped eventually to abolish entirely the
so-called animation bars where 1e-
male Mattresses urge the guests to drink
as much and as often as possible, and ne
expected much from the new measui
about to be laid before the reichstag
for the regulation Of the liquor traine
throughout the empire.
No earnest defender of the night life
of German cities in all its phases has as
vet replied to the attacks in the diet,
hut one apoiogist has directed attentior
to a reason tustifying later hours for res
taurants and cafes in Germany than IN
other countries. This is the manner In
which the working day is divided. The
average business house suspends opera
tons for from one and one-half to two
and one half hours at noon. when the DIE
meal Of the day is taken, and close only
at s. This forces the employees to WORK
into the evening. and If they wish to
visit theater, moving picture show OF
| concert they must go directly from theil
place of business without pausing fol-
supper The after-theater supper Is not
luxury for them. but necessity, and
| they make UP a big part Of the crowd
that fills the public eating and drinking
places from II until q. o'clock.