The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-04-17
THE KENosHA TELEGRAPH
KENoSHA. WIS, APRIL 18th, 1878.
THE NEW COUNCIL AND LICENSES


stalled in Office and has commenced the
discharge of Its official duties. One OF
the most important questions soon to
come before the Council will be the
granting or refusing to grant licences
.'sor the sale of strong, spurious, ardent,
or intoxicating liquors" We say grant
ing or refusing 10 grant licences, for it is
not obligatory on the Council to grant IL
cences, and only permissible to grant
as mary licences as they shall deem prop
er.
The first thing for the Common Coun-
Gil and Mayor to do is to decide whether
they deem it proper to grant any licences.
Aud it will be observed that the words
Of the law are "may grant Licences to as
many persons as they may deem proper"
Here is discretionary power place d in
the Excise Board as to the number of
persons TO whom they may deem it prop
err TO grant licences. II they deem it
proper not to grant licences to any mum.
Der IF persons, the law and their oath of
office require them not to grant licences
to any number. And we repeat that the
flrst thing to be done By theComnon.COu
ell and the Mayor on the license question
is TO decide whether they deem it proper
togrant licences to any number of persons.
If they decide that they do not deem it
proper to grant licences to any number
Of persons that is the end of the license
question and no licenses are to be granted.
But if the Commca Council and Mayor de-
eide to grant licenses the next thing for them
to do is to decide the number OF persons to
whom they may deem 1t proper to graft Ii
eenSes. And in deciding, 1t will be observed
that the law says the Excise Board may
grant license to as many persons as they may
deem proper" This clearly has reference to
the number of persons the Board may deem
it proper to grant licenses to If the Board
decide that they deem it proper to grant IL
csnse to every person in the city then the
number of persons to whom they may grant
license is limited only by the number of per-
sons in the city. II the Board decide that
they deem it proper to grant license to only
one person then the number to whom they
may grant license IS limited to one person on
ly. The number of persons to whom the
Board may grant license ranges all the way
from mcpherson to the whole number of per.
sons In the city, depending upon the number
of persons to whom the Board may deem it
proper to grant license.
One rule only should govern the Common
Council and Mayor in deciding the question
OF granting license, and if they decide to
grant any, in deciding the number of persons
to whom they will grant license. That rule
is what the law and the public good require.
If they believe the law aud the public good
.eQure the granting OF certain number Of
licenses they should grant that number and
no more. The refusing to grant or granting
licenses, and the snumber to be granted,
and 1t any are granted the price to be
charged for them, are subjects OF
vast Importance. The veal or woe
OF thousands in our city depends largely
upon the action Of the Excise Board. And
the Board should give the subjects due con.
sideration and act with mature deliberation
The Excise Board being anew Board, should
examine the subjects anew. The Board In
session might spend a week Proftably In ex
animation of the subjects. And it would
not be amiss to give all parties hearing
those opposed to.Grauting any licenses. those
Ia favor Of granting llmited number of licen
ses. and those in favor OF granting licencel
to fall giving the required bonds, and thu
prices which they respectively think shoulC
be charged for licences. By such dis
cussion the Excise Board and the Public
N ghg get new light on the subjects promotive
Of the Public Good.