The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-19
Hotel Bars SkepticoI
By JACK GAXER

NcW N1d1Cll 4O-NO OG - 4 AAO operators of New York's multi-mil- lion dollar nighttime drink, food and entertainment industry beamed today over a one-hour extension of the midnight curfew ordered by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and placed orders for black ink. But they kept their fingers crossed and cooked both ears toward Washing ton.
 A majority of night clubs bars and restaurants took advantage of the mayors modification to remain open until 1 a. m. today. A few operators, mostly hotel men, frank ly skeptical, closed their places at midnight in lieu of official word from the capital.
 Some of those who took advan- tage of the delayed closing had qulams about what federal authori- ties might say. Others expressed no trepidation, feeling that La Guardia must have known what he was do- ing whether the rest of the country liked it or not (and it didnt).
 But all of them were glad that the mayor had made dent in the 20-day midnight curfew requested" by Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes which had caused the books of many prominent places of en- tertainment to take on a reddish tinge. Co-owner Joe Howard of the Cafe Zanzibar expressed the senti- ment of all the owners of the ela- borate "big show places when he exclaimed, Nov we can stay in businesS!"
 The mayor, announcing the new regulation in his weekly radio talk yesterday, said his own survey of the New York situation had con- vinced him that midnight was just too early for the welfare of the metropolis. He felt "an hour of tolerance was fair to all.
 Mayors of other cities from coast to coast said they had no intention of following La Guardias lead. But the screams that rose from out ragged owners in other cities left no doubt that they felt such action was unfair to them. It seemed ob- vious that Washington would have to act quickly one way or the oth- CT. The concensus in New York was that the curfeW was On the way out either partially or totally.
 Enforcement of the midnight curfew was placed with the War Manpower Commission by Byrnes but it has no police power. The oretically 1t could move in and take away a places employees and the Office of Price Administration could withdraw food ration points But, barring some unforeseen fed eral move, enforcement boils down to the cooperation of the local au- thorities and as far as La Guardia is concerned a. m. is his dead line. Asked about the recent law passed by the City Council chang ing the closing time for places sell ling liquor from a. m. to mid night to fit in with the curfew, he said:
 We won't worry about that. We just wont report any violations un- til l o'clock"
 T have caused my own personal survey to be made and I have come to the conclusion that unless we adjust the situation to meet local conditions that it will defeat it's own purpose" the mayor told his radio audience.
 He said the midnight closings created a great traffic problem, re- suited in rapid last minute drink ing-''you cannot absorb it so fast" and brought on "a tendency for the unlawful sale of liquor."
 T believe it is reasonable in New York city to extend one hour of tolerance. La Guardia said, T would say that if the pIaces are actually closed one hour after midnight, that that is full and reasonable and bona fide compli- ance with the request"
 Later the mayor said people could go into a place after mid night and that drinks and food could be sold after that hour so long as they were out of it by l a. m.