The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-29
CITY COUNCIL.

ON Tuesday evening, March 2sth,
1882, Alderman Dinwoodey presid-
ing:
The following petition was sub
mitted:
To the Honorable Mayor and members
of the City Council Of Salt Lake City:
GentEeme,s-We trus. that you will
pardon the liberty We take in thus aa-
dressing you; but having noticed
in the report Of the proceed
ings Of ysur last session that in
structions were given to the city attorney
to draft an ordinance licensing billiard
halls, bowling alleys, ETC., we desire to
say before you make such ordinance, that
we consider that any such license fee
should te nominal only, for the following
reasons:
First-By virtue of the immense IL
cense fee imposed upon liquor dealers such
accessories as are here mentioned are
made necessary, in many cases, so ~ to
bring q revenue large enough to warrant
the paym Mt Of such extremely heavy
fees as you imposed upon Us.
Second-There are no such things as
billiard tables, bowling alleys, ETC.,
kept for business purposes, except 10 con-
nectloa with establishments which pay a
LIQUOR license, 60 that this fact must not
be overlooked.
Thi rd-That auxiliariss are taxable
property, and we pay our taxes upon
them the same as upon any other prop
erty owned by US. and having paid tax
thereon we consider them in the same
light as chairs, tables or other furniture
for the use of our patrons, who enable US
to conduct the business, from which tie
city is now making larger profits, in
some cases, than the owners Of the said
establishments.
Fourth-Where what is known as
''dry games" are played on these tables,
the figure is set very low, so as to make
an inducement TO men to play and pay a
small sum in cash, in preference to pay
ing for drinks, as is ordinarily the case.
This certainly is in the interest of tenn
persnce, which the Council claims to
hold in high regard. and its effects are
manifestly for good, as is shown by the
number of young men who play billiards,
ETC., without taking drink.
Fifth Any attempt to impose other
than q very small fee upon these means
| of Amusement, will compel us
to hold them subject to the
use Of our guests who patronize our
saloons, and thus we could deprive
you of The possibility of collecting any
revenue, because they then become fix
lures in exactly the sense Of cur counters
or our doors, upon which ycu cannot
collect fee. because they are the mere
| adiuncts OF a business recognized by
you, and extortionately taxed to tie
very extent of an exhorbitant revenue
bill.
Sixth-Billiard tables, bowling alleys,
| ETC., are harmless amusements, and they
stand equal with any other inn ocent
means of entertainment; but under any
| further pressure than that which you are
now exerting upon US, the tendency
must be TO crowd Us to utilize them in
such q manner ss will be to US the most
profitable, without regard to inc effect
morally or otherwise
Seventh-We desire to assure you that
we have no other object III view in this
communication than to avoid litigation,
which must arise as tae result of the i'm
position Of anything like high license
fee upon Us in addition to our present
burdens. We know exactly what we
can do in law, and We feel that the tax
now laid upon Us is the limit; beyond
it we cannot go without q collision, AND
should it come, it will Decessitate a ties,
of the existing statute under which the
ordinance now in force IN regard to the
liquor trade is empowered, because the
interests involved are so closely allied.
From the foregoing, it will be clear t.
your minds that we regard the further
taxation of our business as unnecessary
and oppressive; yet that in the interest o
good order, and to recognize your RICH
to regulate any and all business in thi
city, we would be willing to psy a small
sum in addition to the regular liquo
license, but we ask that it be small, and
not to exceed that for merchants license
in consideration of the fact that We nov
pay $1,000 per snnum, besides the many
other expenses incidental TO ordinary
business. If you desire to crush US on
Of business existence, it might as well b
understood at once, aud then we viii
know exactly what to do.
Hoping that you will consider thes
well meant remarks, and use your bes
judgment IL the interest of peace anc
good order, and avoid al unnecessary
experimenting with US,
We are, respectfully,
RUSSELL & Co.,
BRCEToL s. SANDS,
q. S. ERB,
AUGUSTUS PeDLECH,
YoUHGBERG & SCHADE.
JOHN ERIKsoN,
MAY q GEAMILL,
| JACOB ALT.
Read and laid on the table.
A petition from Jno. r. Wilson
and six others was submitted, asking
that the course of the water which
flews from the Warm Spring bath
house, be changed and made to flow
along the east side of Second West
s.reo. to Pugsley's mill pond. Also
that said street be made passable
for teams at the intersection OF
Seventh North by filling up Il GER
tain ditch. Referred to the com,
mittee on streets and alleys.
DR.. VIM. Castle petitioned for the
use of a portion of the street and
sidewalk III front of his premises
on Third South street between
Third and Fourth East, upon which
to place material for building
Granted, allowing petitioner twenty
feet of the north side of the street
and ten feet of the inner side Of the
sidewalk.
A proposition was submitted from