The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-02

and caterers that some time must elapse
before It could be determined what
might be necessary in this respect.
Howard y. Taylor. secretary OF the
Society OF Restaurateurs, said last night
that the restaurant men felt 80 strongly
that the prohibition period would be Tor
a matter Of six weeks at the most that
no horizontal Increase In food prices
would follow Immediately. In addition,
Mr.. Taylor declared that the members
Of the organization were exceedingly
confident that the constitutionality OF
the national amendment would be sue
cessfully attacked as soon as n court de-
cision on the alcoholic content OF intoxi-
eating liquor is rendered.
Soda Fountain Being Installed.
At the Pennsylvania Hotel 1t was said
that no immediate increase Of rates was
contemplated The Pennsylvania is one
OF the hotels that has suspended the sale
Of every beverage with any alcoholic
content, including beer. A stan OF
workmen was busy yesterday Installing
soda fountain where tho bar used 20
be, and 1t was announced that nothing
that might by any chance be antag-
| onistic to the war prohibition raw would
be sold until the measure was rescinded.
A Beverage List" in (which were in
Guided such deceptive connections as
cherry. cider. grape Juice and orange
cocktails and Army and Navy. straw
berry. grape and mint julep highballs
was being circulated. There were q
score or more of other mysterious and
unheard OF libations, which the manage
nent promises will be offered to the
public within a day or two and which
will all be within the letter and spirit
of the law.
1t was reported that the Savoy bar
was to be discontinued permanently,
regardless Of short hiatus between
now and next January. At the Astor,
too, preparations were said to-be under
way to transform the bar into a tea
room.
Beer and light wines were on sale
at the Knickerbocker all day yesterday
and after noon In the bars Of the hotels
surrounding Pershing Square under the
management of John Nee. Bowman. At
these hotels II had been decided to dis
continue The sale of everything alcoholic,
but with Attorney-Gen Palmers an
nouncement that he would not exercise
drastic measures until the case Of the
brewers pending in the Federal courts
had been Judged II was decided to con-
unue the sale of ais beer No wines
were sold at these places.
Definition of Light Wines.
The definition of light wines was as
much a matter of controversy yesterday
as before the war prohibition became a
fact. Saloonkeepers generally regarded
themselves as free to sell port. ciaret
and sherry as they were to sell the war
beer but some OF the more interpretive
decided that there was nothing on the
market that could properly be called
wine that was not intoxicating and ac-
coTding suspended sale on all fermented
stuff.
Tho general opinion-mistaken as Il
was-held by the saloon men was that
they could safely offer light wines. some
lew insisted on diluting the commodity
with water until the patron Interested
insisted that his beverage was certainly
rot more than 2,T5 strong in alcoholic
content They seemed to be Obvious
Oh the fact that the laws demand is that
nothing intoxicating may he sold re-
sardless of the alcoholic content.
United States Attorney Francis q
carey held conference with Corpora
ton Counsel William p. Burr al which
plans for the cooperation of the local
police in enforcing the law were dis
cussed, but no statement was forth
coming from either official. Police Com
mission Enrlght dismissed auestioners
with the usual remark: Nothing to
say on the situation"
some half dozen SALOON men called
on Mayor Hylan at City Hall and pro-
tested that the police had entered their
places at midnight Monday and, after
ciearlhg out patrons, ordered the place
closed. They claimed that In doing so
the police exceeded their authority and
that they had no right to order the
saloons closed before o'clock. provided
that the sale of spirituous liquors was
stopped. George L. Donnellan, counsel
tor the Retail Liquor Dealers Assoc,a-
tion accompanied the delegation.
Mayor Hylan sent for a stenographer
and record was taken Of everything
said at the conference. The liquor men
SAID that they had no complaint to make
ABOUT the police as a body, but merely
ielt that certain individual members had
been ovsrzealous in their interference.
Inc mayor promised an Investigation.
Ginger Ale With Kick.
All told. probably less than 10 Dor
cent of the saloons of Greater New
York were closed yesterday. or those
J open the promiscuous sale of hard liouor
| was not evident in more than a very
| small proportion and that in the early
hours of the day. Some II was said.
had prepared ginger ale with a kick in
1t TO be sold on u wink to regular Gus
toners, but in fhe main this practice
was frowned upon by the more reputa-
BILE proprietors.
| Where the sale OF wines was continued
the owners admitted generally that they
were taking chance. Few OF them had
rear or results from the sale of beer
and some, after advice. discontinued the
sale Of even the lightest sort OF wine.
An Official connected with the Department
Of Internal Revenue yesterday gave the
Following table of alcoholic content in
the so-called light wines: Claret. from
lo per cent up; Rhine wine, s to II per
cent? sherry and port. 10 to 22 per cent.