The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-04
THE LICENSE QUESTION.
High License rs IA Ref0rmntOry Measure
in n Matter OF Drinking.

toiy pIoSia'ou hHoWu AS tue SlOCuN fllku.
License Liquor law went into effect in
June, 1881, since which time it has been
in successful operation in all the principal
cities and towns Of the State. The law
places the license for the sale OF intoxicat.
Ing liquors ut $1,000 in cities Of the first
class and cities having over 10000 popula.
ton, and $500 in cities OF the second class
having population less than 10000. A
bond Of $1,000 is required Of every appli.
cant for saloon license and the names OF
thirty resident freeholders OF the town or
precinct setting forth that the applicant is
Il man Of respectable character and stand
ing, and be resident OF the State.
'"The law previous to this was Il munich
pal one, and in this city the same as now
required-a license .! $1,000. This Inv
had been in operation about six years, and
took the place .of the $500 license law.
which latter dated back to the early days
OF the city, or when Lincoln was u small
village. There was at that time more
saloons in n village OF 5000 people than
there are now Of city OF $4,000 popula-
ton, The difference between the Sl,060
municipal law and the present State law il
in the fact that the latter is strictly en-
forced, while the former was not. The
new law was accepted as a compromise
between prohibition and low license or
mo license" The liquor element OF the
State stoutly and persistently labored to
defeat this law in its passage through the
Legislature, and for sometime thereafter in
many instances, notably in Omaha, they
refused to obey ii; but, now that the char
acter OF the law is understood and doubt
no longer exists OF its effectiveness, there
is absolutely no trouble in its enforcement
anywhere in the State. 8
IN the matter OF revenue, there is de-
cided increase under the present system Of
State license over the old law. In Omaha
alone, with its ninety saloons, the sum Of
$4,000 is annually contributed to the
county school fund from the saloons OF that
city-an increase OF at least $30,O 900 over
the low-llcense system OF two years ago.
Because of this law there are not now one
third as many saloons in the State as in the
days OF low license, In towns where there
were fifteen or twenty small doggeries there
are now two and three well-kept saloons.
In a number Of towns, ranging in popula-
tion from.600 to 5000 people,: prohibition
exists. It maybe seen from this that there
is one Of local option. high license, and
prohibition. In this city, with popula-
ton Of $4,000, there are now ten saloons,
all Of them conducted by respectable men,
against whom Il judgment in court is col
lectab.e, and who live strictly UP to the re-.
quiremen,s of the law. There is some
drunkenness in the city, but not us much
as in former years when low license was
the run. The saloons are closed on Sunday
and after IL o'clock at night, according to
law. gtj ,-14s 'E.'''[J
Several Of the saloons arc sim ply palatial
parlors, and all much above the average
saloon in other States. Not only is this the
case in Lincoln and Omaha, but elsewhere
in the State. If there is such q thing as
responsibility in connection with this
business, it may be found in this State
under the prevent system OF high license.
Only among the ultra-prohibitioniSts is the
new law looked upon with disfavor. 10 a
man, saloonkeepcrs regard the law as Il
good one, and would not return to low
license il they could. It is also fact that
many OF those who opposed the law at
its beginning look upon it now as tho best
license system in existence. The sa.
looms are moro orderly than heretofore,
and there ia less rowdyisn. Those who
keep saloons are better men, and there is
less drunkenness. The latter is accounted
for from the fact that saloon men, in order
to make living, are not Obliged to court
the custom Of professional drunkards, rs
was the case under the reign OF low license.
1t is also claimed that less OF poor liquor is
sold thRn heretofore-this because of the
rivalry ia business far tue best custom.
Taking this city rs IN example, the present
high-license law is, in the opinion OF u
very large majority Of respectable citizens,
the best. most effective, and most unob.
jectionable liquor law in existence.
a number Of other saloon keepers inter
viewed, all express tho same opinion US
the ones quoted aboye. Nearly all Of the
saloonkeepers Of this day ro.well.to.do,
and are men Of good business standing,
The Governor and several other State o.
| fcials, a number OF leading merchants and
other professional men were interviewed
on this subject, but the opinion that the
law is an excellent one is so universal that
individual Endorsement ) is unnecessary.
Asa proof that it is popular with the pco-
pie, it is enough to say there is no thought,
even among the ultra class Of prohibition.
lists, 10 repeal 1t or substitute anything dif-
lo.eat, unless It be absolute prohibition.
All that the pIohibitien fsna.ics will ut.
tempt 10 work through the Legislature this
winter is a bill providing for the 2sfran-
chtse,pen: 70, the term Of five years Of per.
SONS Convicted Of drunkenness. The pres.
ent high.li lay viii not le disturbed,
50 satisfied are the people Of its effective,
ness, Y, sSs3,5 i5O3
North Carolina Congressman. 4,
RALEIGH, December 2.-The State Board
lias finished canvassing votes ior distric
Congressman, awarding certificates to Poo
(Republicanl O'Hara Republican, Green
. Cox. Scales. DoWd, Naun (Democrats). anf