The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-28
Hotels, Restaurants, Re
sorts Told by Police
of Fine or Jail
for Violations.
WHOLE CITY AMAZED
Signed by Mayor March p,
Enright's Order Says, in
Transmitting 1t.
BROADWAY is IN REVOLT
Aldermen Deny Passing Ordi'
nance, Similar One Having
Recently Been Killed.


right signed a general order issued
last night to every policeman in the
city to enforce a new ordinance pro-
hibiting women from smoking in any
hotel restaurant, cafe, dance hall,
place of amusement or any other
place of public resort. The wording
of the order indicates that it includes
also women's clubs.
Straightaway the Commissioners
stalwarts started in search of such un-
speakable criminals as bobbed haired
flappers and mothers of families who
might be putting a cigarette in public.
Strangely enough the new law
doesn't punish the woman who vio-
ates it. but either locks up the mana
ger or proprietor of the places where
she smokes or fines him s25.
The order caused amazement
throughout the city.
But the order itself was not the
most astounding aspect of the situa-
ton. As soon as the news of it spread
abroad officials and members of the
Board of Aldermen began an emphatic
and uproarous denial that they ever
had passed any such ordinances as
that upon which the Commissioner
predicated his order.
Supposedly Signed by HyIan.
Nevertheless. the Commissioner
,,,z,o1 tla o~l;.nnao -, dc orfa,- in
Guiding the statement that it was
passed by the Board of Aldermen on
March IA and was signed by Mayor
IIylan last Tuesday.
The Mayor was in Chicago last night
and refused to make statement.
The order was issued after City Hall
had been locked up for the night. and,
therefore, the records Of the Board OF
aldermen were not accessible to verify
che authenticity of the supposed ordi-
nance.
Such an ordinance has been introduced
twice by Alderman Peter ]. McGui1ness
Of Greenpont The first died with the
expiration OF the old board last De-
cember 81. The second one was sup
posed to have met a just and timely
death when on January 10. Alderman
William r. Collins, Majority Leader.
moved TO file it within five minutes
after II was introduced.
Murray Hubert. President OF the
Board. said last light that no such ordi-
nance had passed the board TO his
knowledge Democratic Leader Collins
was willing to swear that the bill still
was on file and las dead as Hector's
pup" Republican Leader Jacob W.
Friedman said the measure had been
killed twice and was "still dead"
Mr. McGuinness, author OF the meas
IRE. regretted that so far as he knew
he was the only member of the Board
OF Aldrmen who ever voted in favor
or the bill. and that was the time when
ell the rest of the board voted with Mr..
Collins to file IL.
1T might have been slipped over"
Mr.. McGuinness conceded. but IL it was
know nothing about 1t. Whether it
was OF whether IL wasn't, though, you
can say for me that | shall continue to
fight for IT,"
Mr.. McGuinness admitted that he was
not present at the meeting of the board
on the date the ordinance is alleged 10
have been passed and had not been in
formed II IL did pass. The only explana-
tion he could think of if avorable ac-
ton was taken was that "it went
through under the order OF business OF
general orders and rode with the rest"
However. he did not think that such was
the case
The board meets in regular session
to-day, when IL is expected the whole
situation Will come up for general airing
Greenwich Village stunned.
The police order hit Greenwich WI
lagc FIRST, and Greenwich Village
promptly worked up n marvellous frenzy
OF rage and Indignation. but either quit
smoking or quit the resorts. A few
minutes later II hit the theater and
hotel district Of Broadway. and Broad
way promptly threw up it's hands and
all but fell over in dead faint from
astonishment and incredulity
In Brooklyn. II was said. the women
do not smoke In public. but plain clothes
men were ransacking the cafes and
hotels as late as 8 o'clock trying to find
n violation. The order percolated out
through Harlem and The Bronx. too, as
the night wore on.
The Police Commissioner order, quot
ing the ordinance. Is as follows:
"Polce Department. City of New
York. Office OF the Police Commissioner
Circular No. 6. New York. March 81.
1929.
s-The following Is published for shc
Information and guidance OF all con-
cerned:
FEMALES SMOKING IN PUBLIC
RESORTS.
IAN ordinance for the preservation
Of good order In the city of New York.
contemplating the provisions of subdlvl-
Continued on Page six.