New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-09
mitchell NAMES 7
TO UPLIFT LID"
Herman Ridder Heads Com.
mittee to Formulate
Night License Plan.
WOODS RECOMMENDS
2 A. M. PERMITS
Caharets TO Close Then-SOme
Keyless Restaurants - No
Extra Hours for Hotels.

vavor Mitchell will delay for at least
ana weeks the announcement OF his
.o,,cv on all night licenses. He sp-
oo;rted n committee of seven citizens
'.,sfordav 10 hold public hearings and
.o,eider the recommendations of Ar
,bur Woods. the Mayors secretary,
who has been investigating the situa-
zion Mr.. Woods submitted his report
10 the Mayor yesterday.
The Mayors committee is headed by
Herman Ridder and the other mem
hers are William p. Ellison, the Rev.
nehemiah Boynton, Michael Furst,
rbomes ". Mulry, Fred. Sterry and
Franklin II. Giddings.
In announcing the committee the
Mayor said.
For several weeks my secretary, Mr..
Woods has been making an investiga-
,on OF the all night license and l
o'clock closing situation. The result OF
his investigation is contained in his
report and recommendations handed me
TODAY. Those recommendations seem
n me 10 be reasonable and 10 point the
wsv 10 a satisfactory handling Of this
much vcxed question, but before finally
adoptlne q policy ] wish TO be com
rlstelv sure and to satisfy myself thor
,nrbly that the best interests of the
Immunity will be served by adopting
these suggestions.
"t am therefore appointing to-day
.on,mittce Of seven representative citi-
zens TO consider these suggestions sub
mittod bv Mr.. Woods, TO hold one or
more public hearings and TO report 10
me their conclusions in this matter.
NV expectation Is that the study TO
bo conducted by this committee should
not consume more than a couple of
uccls after which time We can for
mulate and adopt final policy
The report Of the Mayors secretary
was in part:
The effort has been to devise pol
icv which would give to the people or
the CITY reasonable opportunity TO get
-efreshment and entertainment during
tho latter hours Of the night, yet which
would prevent as far as possible the
occurrence Of Objectionable conduct In
places licensed, and which would avoid
If two or more restaurants. for in
stance. are respectable and can show
legitimate demand for night workers
there seems 10 be no reason why one
.hogld be given an all night license to
the exclusion Of the other. and such
fa,oritism naturally makes people won
der what the unseen influence is.
The question has been studied for
several weeks now end many persons
have been consulted, including the Dis
irict Attorneys Of New York and Kings
countless the President Of the Board Of
Aldermen. Chief Magistrates McAdoo
and Kempnor, the Corporation Counsel
he P,lice and Fire Commissioners, a
number Of clergynen and managers OF
hotels and restaurants"
Referring to restaurants which fur
n'sh entertainment, all Of which now
under the law have to close at ] a. M,
Mr. Woods said:
"lt seems 10 be generally agreed that
such places should not stay open ell
night. The best sense Of the cOmmu-
nifty does not believe in IT, On the
other hand. It seems arbitrary 10 force
them 10 close their doors and eject
their guests at 1 o'clock. The time IS
too short between the closing OF the
theatres and ! a. m. 10 afford persons
who wish refreshment and entertain
ment proper opportunity 10 get COM
fortably what they desire. My recon-
mendstion is. therefore. that to reputa-
bic and orderly restaurants which pro-
vide entertainment. all night licenses
be granted on application, with the
proyisO written into the license that
The place be closed at = a. m, and win
the clear understanding that II objec-
tionable conduct is tolerated the license
VIII be revoked promptly, and the J
o'clock law thereafter strictly enforced.
AS 20 restaurants which do not fur
nisn entertainment, and saloons, the
question ~ o little different. Persons
whose 'ot IL is 10 work at night should
not be deprived OF proper facilities for
getting refreshment. II it pays res
Aurant 10 keep open all night, and if
uade IL not stimulated by entertain
ment or By Objectionable practices. it
stands 20 reason that there is a legitl-
nate demand for food and drink.
with regard 10 such places, there
lVre' the recommendation is that If
mer reputation is above reproach and
continues 70, and If they can show n
sehDine demand from all night work
~ they be granted all night licenses
'pDn application and be allowed 20
'ay open all night"