LICENSED VICE IN NEW YORK

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4303, 12 March 1901, Page 7

LICENSED VICE IN NEW YORK

During the . last. fow days (Laffau’s agency report’d cu January 10) tho City of New York has been thoroughly -.tin-rd by the .reyelations made (luring the “vico cDtsado.” The, _disclosu'-os of the extent toilwhk'Jj rice of all lands Ims boon iioiirisbingriiudur protect inn in tho !ruoitic;iu dista’icU'-hav--! astonished even the keener), reformer;:,..and-. now th«:ir leaders on the Citizens’- 'CMiHnltlco are dsfcrniinecl to bring to’ jioliee and politicians wlio /iu-e . respbnsiblc. Much evidence is already belore tho District Attorney, aud indictments will soon be issued. On January 7 (be '‘.Herald” assorted that a. man, who bad formerly kept a. gaming-house, bad snbfhittcd to the 'authorities proofs that the gambling hells and other vice resorts of the city wore mulcted, annuaily of 5,600,000d01. by the “ gambling, commission.” . This consisted of fourteen men, who systematically levied uheir assessments on a regular and, fixed scale. One thousand dollars down were paid for the privilege of opening a house, ’and afterwards 500 dollars per month, plus -a half-yearly percentage on all earnings, were charged as long as the house remained open. On November 16, at a meteting of Tammany Hull, Mr Broker declared that he had never received a dollar in blackmail, and that any member cf Tammany who should do so- should bo expelled from tho organisation. That evening a Tammany committee -was appointed to initiate a campaign against vice in the tenement district. This committee lias now-issued a formal statement with regard to the “Herald’s” accusation. It admits that the authorities possess evidence proving such blackmail, bub protests -’That nob ’one penny of it has'gone to Mr Croker or to Tammany, and attempt to show that Tammany had nevet, at)lhorised tho disgraceful swindle. fCßis' statement roused tho press to greater activity. Air Nixon, the chairman/qf the committee, was called upon to explain the gratuitous defence of Air Broker, and was asked to explain how such blackmailing could bo possible unless tbd police connived at it. The suggestion is, of course, that although the police, which, are controlled by Tammany, no longer receive the “tribute” directly it reaches them and Tammany through the “gambling commission. Upon thi Air Nixon admitted that some- of the Tammany leaders had benefited' from the blackmail, but said that Tammany as an. organisation had neither authoriseid nor benefited from blackmail. He also admitted that the police, had connived at the blackmailing. Meanwhile -the vice committee appointed .by the Chambefr of Commerce is pursuing an independent search for proofs, and promises sensational disclosures.