The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-03-25
THE WHISKY FIGHT.

II anything can be done to put 2
stop to the war that lately sprang up
and is still being prosecuted by the
saloon-keepers on one side and the
municipal authorities on the other,
that thing should be done and az soon
as possible. Matters sTe fast drifting
from bad to worse. Where the matter
will end can only be surmised; but
this may be foretold with something
lie certainty. that the city, the
Whisky-dealers nor the cause of tenn
perance will derive benefit from the
course noB being pursued. Having
a judicial decision 10 their favor some
of the saloon men have refused to
take out licenses under the present
ordinance. l. is but natural to pre-
sumo that Others will follow their
course when their licsDses expire
Another class, firmly counting
upon a judicial decision in their
favor as to the provisions of the
ordinance in regard TO closing, are
keeping their saloons open at unlsW-
fui hours, deiyiug the law and NUM-
oipsl Authority, and with a daring
that Is almost reckless ifthsy have no
assurance inst they viii be sus aimed
by the higher court. are inEiting pen
al:ies, monetary and corporeAl, that
might rum them fiuancialIy and So
oially. The public Is the sufferer
from this condition of affairs.
Already there is a falling of in
the city revenue from the liguo-
traffic, and unless some arrange
ment can be made. the loss 20
the municipal treasury will soon be
plainly marked. Tne Temperance
canse may have suffered nothing
from the conflict. yet it certainly bas
gained nothing from it, and is liahls
10 be affected iainriously through the
war. so far the saloon keepers
have bean / -sers. Tnsir tef4uce of
the law has cost tbsm lawyers fees
and court expenses, and they have
gained nothing, uuless they p:izs
the ruling of Cniet Ju tics Hunter
which declared the license rae TOO
high, and which. if sustained and
acted upon, would hurt the respectable
ssloon-keeper and the we'll conducted
liquor traffic quite seriously. Any
one who will take the trouble to re-
feet a moment must conclude that
10 good to any person -ssvs it bs the
lawyers-cau possibly come from
continuance OF the conflict, while
much evil is liable to grow cut of il.
The dispute as u the legality OF the
ordinance should De settled as soon as
possible, in order tina. equality and
justice to al may be done. II the
City Council. 10 it's efI3r: to restrain
the liquor traffic aad satisfy ;0e de-
msnds OF the community. has ex
ceeded its authority, cannot the
competent tribunal be induced
to early decide against the
Council and the public7 Ii the
whisky-seller is above the Law, ought
We all not to be so informed? In
that case, people engaged 10 Other
business might desire to engage in |
the rum traffic 10 order to escape tue |
penalties which violation OF muni- |
cipsl ordinances involves. Again.
some Of the saloon.keepers do not
want the Law changed, bat it is not to
be expected that they will obey 1t i'll,
others are to profit by disregsrding it.
For the good of sll let case be taken
into court as soon as possible, and
the questions in dispute determined, h
that the municipality and the saloon
men may know their rights and :
1utles IN the premises. II the ordi. S
nance Is not proper. it can be and |
should be replaced by one that is
proper. In the meantime, while the f
aw stands on the books, the city mas /
'ut one duty TO perform In connec-
ion with it, namely: To enforce the =
ordinance by all the power at it. t
ommaDd. II ssleon-kseper vic G
ates the Ia = to-day, punish BIN, ami :
epest it Tomorrow, and next day, if Ii
@ continues in his vioIstions. Until a
he ordinance has been declared void y
= competent authority-and it n
hight IS we'll be said here that the b
hiaky-dealer is no. competent an- q =
lori,y-it is Law for the saloon. 2
seper. the police, and everybody
thin the bounds of the corporation: .
I'd the oftener it is broken or the "
lore determined are its opponents.
ie greater should be the Efforts ot
- oes oor= ~, Faif, F,,ll-