Chicago Tribune
CITY PREPARES TO ENFORCE
NEW CABARET RULING.
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Daniels Virtually Asks a Ban on Bar Permits
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Chicago’s anti-cabaret ordinance, which becomes effective May 1, will be strictly enforced. Corporation Counsel Ettelson and Chief of Police Alcock made this declaration yesterday after they had spent two hours conferring on the legislation.
The penalty for any infraction will be the immediate revocation of the license of the violator. The chief also was given verbal instructions as to the operation of certain of the more or less obscure features of the legislation, and these, with the order for rigid enforcement, will be sent throughout the department.
Before the conference started a letter was received by City Clerk Igoe from Secretary of the Navy Daniels. The secretary virtually requested that the special bar permit ordinance be repealed during the war.
Mr. Daniels explained that a delegation of reform leaders called on him recently when he was in Chicago and pointed out that dances were given under special bar permits were a menace to sailors and soldier.
Secretary Daniels’ Views
"We have more than 20,000 men at the Great Lakes station," part of the secretary’s letter read. "These men spend some of their off leave time in Chicago."
"It has been a matter of great gratification to this department to observe the hospitality which the good people of your city have extended to these sailor lads, and I venture to express the earnest hope that this hospitality will continue by such action by the city authorities as will throw every possible safeguard around these young men by closing such institutions as injure their moral and physical welfare and by making it so that parents all over the country can rejoice that their sons who are in the navy have the privilege of spending their spare hours in your city.
"I was greatly impressed by the appeal made by the delegation of citizens, representing every faith and creed in your city, and I take it that a copy of this appeal has been given the city council."
Will Notify Council
Mr. Igoe said he would transmit the secretary’s letter to the council. The special bar permit matter is now in the hands of the city council committee on home defense.
It was learned that Mayor Thompson and his cabinet members are going to give their cooperation toward a repeal of the special bar permit ordinance.
Several attorneys, representing cabaret owners, have been to see Mr. Ettleson to ask that he agree to start a friendly suit to test the validity of the anti-cabaret ordinance. Mr. Ettleson refused to enter into any sort of an agreement, and stated that the measure would be strictly enforced.
Amusement Licenses.
Deputy City Collector Lohman said he did not anticipate more than twenty-five applications for amusement licenses under the anti-cabaret ordinance. No applications have been received so far. Up to last night 628 saloon licenses for the new period were issued. There are 6,053 saloons now. Under the anti-cabaret measure cafés can have orchestral entertainment if they pay annual licenses of $200 and have the approval of the police authorities.
It was estimated that there are about 2,000 cabarets in the city, and about 200 of these are of the larger variety.
