The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-11-01
u. S. WINS WRITS
CLOSING SALOONS
Temporary Order Holds Two
Raided Cafes Common
Nuisances.
CITY'S DRYNEsS PRAISED
Federal Chief Admits Sale of
Prohibited Stuff Has Prac-/
tically Ceased.


the Anti-saloon League and Prohibition
was greeted with a gay ha-ha. nobody
would have dreamed that the time was
to come when Pa Knickerbocker would
be praised to his face for the strictest
observance of a bone dry law anywhere
to be found In the whole u. s. A And
yet that is precisely the bouquet pinned
on Pas lapel yesterday by H w. Mayer,
chief of revenue agents, who Is sitting
upon Daniel L. Porter's enforcement JOB
down at the Custom House in BowSng
Green.
"Our figures show that there has been
the quickest, readiest acceptance OF the
wartime enforcement act here In New
York than in any other city," said MI
Mayer. ut Is a remarkable showing
that this city has made when one con-
siders the number of saloons existing,
the traditions and the fact that New
York is the entertainment Mecca Of the
ration. So far only thirty liquor deal
ers or employees have been arrested for
violations In all, there have been tfty-
seven arrests. but nearly half of these
arrests concerned bystanders who got
mixed up in raids and who were
promptly let go.
'"I can say positively that New York
in all of the five boroughs is dry
actually, legally dry. There may be
saloon keeper here AMI there who is
selling Off small stock of 2.75 beer.
but 95 per cent Of the trade Is obeying
the letter of the law and the spirit. Our
agents to-day reported conditions very
satisfactory to the Internal Revenue De-
partment. Undoubtedly conditions will
improve rather than deteriorate. By
the end of the week there will not be a
drop of anything stronger than u per
cent. beer to be found in this city in a
place OF. public resort"
No More Gunplay.
Mr.. Porter was called to Washington
by Commissioner Roper of the Internal
Revenue Department and Mr.. Mayer,
who travels around the country as chief
of agents, found it convenient to be in
New York coincidentally with Porter's
departure. 1t does not yet appear that
the business Of enforcing the law is to
be left to Mayer instead OF Porter. al
though 1t is known that the shoot 'em
up wild and woolly, rough house tactics
first employed by Porter's agents made
bad impre ssion in Washington as well
as here in New York. Anyway. there is
To- be O change of method, Mr.. Mayer
said frankly.
The Department frowns upon gun
play" said Mayer. st believes that the
prohibition act can be enforced by the
same quiet, orderly methods employed
in enforcing other laws. Our men are
instructed to visit suspicionable bars.
sample liquor, get evidence and then
issue subp9nas. There is no necessity
for sensational occurrences"
He FASTENED to add that Mr.. Porter
is only temporarily absent from New
York, and that Mr.. Porter will soon be
on the job again. For the present,
though, Mayer is the boss His first
day was characterized by a good deal of
quiet activity and few arrests.
That there was at least one shot fired
in the jamboree at the Cotter O'Brien
saloon raid In West Forty-second street
last Wednesday night was admitted yes
4 terday by Assistant Federal Attorney
q John Z. Joyce. who has been investi-
gAing the affair for his chief
'"The evidence points to the fact that
one man resisted the revenue officers"
said Mr.. Joyce. There is nothing to
show that there was wanton shooting.
One of the revenue officers fired at the
ceiling. The bullet ricocheted and clipped
a bystander in the Leg
Call on Boy Scouts.
The attitude of all enforcement off,
Gals yesterday was that hereafter
'-"raids'' must be accompanied without
ssnsationalisrn and pistol play. Chief
Mayer has asked the Boy Scout organi-
sation to assist the Department, in its
efforts TO get strict enforcement, and he
called upon all law abiding citizens yes
tsrday to stand by the law and to keep
away from places they know to be sur
reptitlous violators. The chief does not
think there will be much moonshining
here. but that bootleggers will try to get
possession of their share Of the very
large quantity Of liquor stored in the
city.
In the Federal Building the numerous
suits brought by liquor interests and by
the Government to test the wartime &C,
approached a little nearer to determine
ton. The most interesting legal action
taken was that secured by Assistant
Federal Attorney Earl B. Barnes when
he got from United States District Judge
Augustus N. Hand temporary restrain
ing orders prohibiting three saloons from
selling anything stronger than baby
beer and declaring the places to be pub
lilo nuisances subject to adjustment and
the confiscation of stocks and fixtures
The places against whom the temporary
restraining orders apply are the Eastern
Hotel Company, 81 Whitehall street
william Woke, s246 Third avenue, ant
Thomas r. O'Brien, 542 Bergen avenue
The Bronx. The defendants were freed
on bail of $500 and the hearing will b.
held on November to determine IL the
injunctions shall be made permanent II
thees and numerous other cases to b.
brought
Back of these proceedings is the pur
pose of the Government to put abso
lutely out of business every saloon thai
violates the law; to forestall tactics By
which saloonkeepers. caught in iIlega
traffic. could pay fine and straightwaS
return TO further violations. II the in
functions are made permanent Marsha
Mccarthy will be empowered to clos,
the saloons affected. seize and confiscat,
the stocks of liquor and march the pro
prietors of to jail to serve sentences fo
contempt Of court.
Intunctions Are Attacked.
william H Hirst, counsel for man,
liquor interests and very active in litiga
tion for them. said yesterday that he be
lieved injunction cases Of this characte
would not stand up.
ain addition to the plain legal an,
constitutional reasons against that kin,
of procedure. II is much too arbitrary I,
suit the habit of the courts" said Mr.
Hirst.
Francis @. Caftey. Federal Attorney
applied to the United States Distric