New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-14
Bath Barons'
Now Face Jail
As Profiteers
Aldermen, at Mayors In
stance, Pass Amendment
to Bath House Ordinance
to Prevent Price Boosting
Beach Trip Stirs Hylan
Raid ON Impromptu Moving
Van Establishment at Far
Rockaway Anglers Him

The Board Of Aldermen adopted yes
terday an amendment to the ordinance
relative to bathing establishments and
bathhouse keepers designed to insure
proper investigation of the sanitary
conditions of all lighthouses at the
beaches and curb the profiteering of
bathhouse proprietors. The ordinance
was introduced by Alderman Rudolph
Hammock, of the Bronx, in response to
message from Mayor Hylan.
While it does not attempt to AK the
prices for lighthouses, the amendment
provides that all bathhouse keepers
shall post in full public view q sched-
ule of rates for lockers, rooms. suits
ana other accommodations, "and that
these prices shall not be changed under
the penalty Of forfeiture Of licenses"
Ihat may mean that the bathhouse
Keeper cannot double his prices on
Sundays and holidays, as is now the
custom. 1t is not expected that he
Will attempt to maintain the hirher
price every day.
Licenses to Be Issued
Inc ordnance as amended provides
Tor the issuance Of licenses for an an
nua1 zee OF S25 to such bathing estab-
llshments as the Commissioner of
Licenses deems to have complied with
the ordinance and the rules Of tho
BOARD OF Health. The Board Of Health
snail inspect all bathing establish
menus and issue permits when it's re-
qulrements are met. Conviction for
violation Of the ordinance is punish-
able by fine of 5000, or sixty DAYS,
imprisonment, or both.
Ihe Mayors message TO tho how'd
was prompted by his visit last snndov
to the beach at Far Rocka @1s oun ma
ne ne, and Commissioner Grover ~
wn,sd1en, Of the Department Of p,snt
ana i. Structures, witnessed raid on an
'N;peTrIImp!u moving. van bathing house.
n,,h me conscienceless gougine Of H.
pubic by private bathhouse nr ~ .ne
s U reached disgraceful cl;nsrp 10. on
sunday, July H." said the Mavor ~ ~
rampant and indecent conditioxns was as
na Of human beings prevailed in
raany OF the lighthouses of the seaside
~ oox.s. 50o per cent increase over
Joy ~ l1. . oo-cent charge for an indi-
extortlonate price was often 5000 e,ra'
panlea ny an indecent herdinr of menv
people INTO quarters intended in each
instance for single occupant" ~A
Sunday Crowds the Victims
The Mayor pointed out tho -
"onay on Sundays and holidays that the
countless thousands of toilers" ~ ~
city could seek benefit and recrea+;nn
az me seashore, and it was these verv
people that the "bathhouse bsro onty
preyed upon. He declared that "thase
lnulcrors OF the masses" could not az
vance single argument within reason
70 justify or palliate their extort;onA
ate charges for bathing accommoda-
uons. tie referred to the municinal
o ea at Coney Island, which. bv
charging the small admission fee Of Is
cents. IS not only self-sustaining. but
provides cent return.
The municipal bath is successfu1
popular and may be followed hu
Others" said the Mayor. "rbsre ply ~
certainly be more in the verv near
future If private bathhouse ieeners
continue their excessive' chareEs and
1 tnen they will learn that they have
Killed the goose that laid the golden
I'm view Of the fact that the exist
ing municipal bathing facilities are
t: to the utmost and the opportuni-
ties TOR private bathhouse profteerinr
are daily increasing, to the discomfort
OF tens of thousands of people, I re-
spectfully suggest that the present
emergency requires the Immediate
adoption of an ordinance adequate to
the situation" w