The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-20
900 SALOONS HERE
SEE POSSIBLE DOOM
Army May Draw Dry Zone
Around Headquarters Of
Military Police.
ON COURT HOUSE SITE
Ban Would Be From River. to
River, Maiden Lane to
Walker Street.
ON COURT HOUSE SITE

Rumsellers OF lower Manhattan were
yesterday in a state OF dismal cogita-
ton. Barkeeps dropped their profess
sional amiability as one discards a
soiled Jacket. Veteran tipplers took no
Joy in their o'clock cocktail. From
Maiden lane to walker street and from
river to river synthetic gayety resolved
itself into synthetic gloom.
This melancholy. so startling in the
Of rumor Ut comes to little more as
YETI that a dead line Is 20 be established
n the district Indicated a dead line
upon which north. east. south or west.
the demon rum will encroach at his
peril. Prove the rumor true, no less
than 500 OF his habitats, from the
srimy, squalid. hole in the wall resorts
where men gather in thirst to the abodes
Of gilt. plate glass and oil paintings.
will be closed by order of Government.
In all Of the busy district with its sur
face and subterranean GASES there would.
in that event, be not one. single alco-
holic refectory. A man might walk
mile without being able TO tickle his
cesophasus with ball or fzz. Consider.
therefore, the perturbation OF wet
tradesmen and wet patrons.
$50 Army Cops on the Way.
The rumor springs from the CONVEX
sion by the War Department of the old
court house site. bounded by Pearl, Bax-
ter, Centre, Worth and L<bnard streets,
M A v,,tlt go fnr rf a
provost marshal and squad. On June
the United States Government, by ar
rangement with the city authorities.
took over the S12.0oo.o0o site. now a
bare expanse familiar to downtown
travellers under the shadows of the Mu-
nicipal Building. the Hall of Records
and the Tombs. Already the job of rails
ing barracks for the accommodation of
these military police, who are to guar
antee the good behavior OF soldiers in
New York. detect deserters and other
wise by military effort complement the
duties Of the civil police. Is we'll forward.
Barracks are going up-big. plain pine
shelters which are designed to office
and house some hundreds Of men. AS
the plans are now understood the pro-
vost marshal. a stan OF twelve officers
| and a forte Of $50 men will therein be
Quartered.
To proponents OF the lively demon the
news Is distracting. disturbing and dis
| ma yins. They heard yesterday Of the
existence OF a regulation which. rigidly
enforced. would put out Of business every
saloon and liquor selling agency within
a half mile Of any military camp. The
Federal Attorney calls attention. in fact,
to the Presidents proclamation follow
ing the selective service act Of May IS,
1917. The President directed that:
Around every military camp at which
officers and enlisted men. not less than
| two hundred and fifty in number, have
been or shall be stationed for more than
thirty consecutive days, there shall be
for the purposes set forth In this regula-
| ton a zone Ave miles wide. except that
within the existing limits of an incor-
porated city or town, within which the
sale OF alcoholic liquor shall not be pro-
hibited by the State or local law. the
| zone shall not include any territory more
| than one-half mile from the nearest
, boundary OF such camp
Ray of Hope Is Given.
The reading OF that proclamation sug-
! gests to rumsters or all varieties that
| the War Department at will can close
every saloon within half mile in any
| direction from the irregular site bound
| ed by Pearl, Baxter. Centre. Leonard
/ and Worth streets On the north the
! prohibition would run at least to
| Walker street, possibly even to Grand
On the south 1t would reach TO Maiden
| lane at least And east and west 1t
would go from river to river. There are
no less than 500 thriving saloons in this
| district
State and city authorities await word
| from Washington as to the policy to be
| followed. At the office OF the State Ex-
| else Commission IL was said that nothing
| would be done without instructions from
the War Department. II the War De-
| partment should rule that the Provost
| Marshal's headquarters on the court
house site is military camp in the
meaning OF the Presidents proclamation
| and should request the state of New
York to shut up the saloons every saloon
would be padlocked in short>order
There was a suggestion. however, that
| the War Department. for excellent rea-
sons might hold that the Provost Mar
shal's headquarters need not be consid-
cred as n military camp, and would con-
| fine its severity to strict policing OF
the district, permitting the saloons to do
| business.
| Until word does come from Washing
| ton the persons purveying alcohol in
| lower Manhattan will be troubled by
new nightmare, accompanied by loss of
appetite and mental dyspepsia.
|