New-York tribune., 1917-12-04
New Rochelle
Up in Arms at
Vice Charges
Continued from page I

in uniform was issued | have made
every effort to see the law enforced. |
have had no complaints, and there are
enough iron-lunged parsons with plenty
of time Oh their hands around to yell
loud enough for me TO hear them. !
am going 10 begin rigid inquiry to-
night. but | don't believe | Thall be
able 70 make any definite public report
on the matter until tomorrow
81 don't mind saying that the form
of police rule here is not satisfactory.
Nv Police Board are all able, fine men,
but they are not paid for their work
and they cannot devote the necessary
time to their duties as Police Com
missioners. That leaves most Of the
work TO the uniformed heads Of the de-
partment.'
The basis for Marshal McCarthy's
charges was apparent everywhere to-
day. There are siXty-one saloons open
H. the town. which has a population Of
about $1,000. Prior TO October, when
the new law regulating the number Of
saloons went into effect, there were
nincty-eight. A commission appointed
by the Mayor 10 close thirty that were
undesirable complained that as sixty
were permitted TO do business fifteen
others which should have been closed
because they were menace TO public
deccncy, were still doing business. II
is apparent, therefore, that a great
deal of the saloon trade is transient.
As this town is a residential section
exclusively. il was pointed out tonight
the transient trade makes it look as
though the military element was the
principal clientele.
Mayor Started Clean-Up
The fight between the Mayor and the
police started last June, following his
orders 20 run down the saloonkeepers
who were violating the law. The police
working with soldier decoys loaned for
that purpose by Colonel Mauldin, com
p.andant of Fort Slocum, made several
arrests. One Of the defendants was
Bernard Lynch. father of Bernard F.
Lynch, who was arrested for the same
violation by the marshal Saturday
might Both the Mayor and the police
complained last night that none Of
these eases have been tried By the Fed
Cral government.
Following this the Mayor earned the
enmity Of large element in the Police
Department by hiring a private de-
tective agency TO see if the saloons,
with the aid Of the police, were selling
intoXicants to soldiers. General vice
conditions were also included in the in
quiry. The reports filed gave the city
clean bill of health.
Several sailors and soldiers to-day
told q Tribune reporter that they had
been able TO get a drink ain places
where they were known" Others said
that they had never been able to bribe
saloon man. but had been able TO
send civilians in saloons to bring drinks
out TO them.
Tradesmen, who are more upset over
the disclosures than other residents, ad-
nit that liquor may have been sold 10
men in uniform, but all unanimously
resent the charges that Germania Hall
or any other dancing place has been
frequented by disreputabe women.
They said that Marshal McCarthy's
picturesque description Of young girls
In full tights. dancing and reeling about
with drunken soldiers, was nothing
more harmful than a masquerade dance
given Saturday night for working girls
employed in the stores.