The Rock Island Argus., 1884-04-30
THE HARPER LAW.
An Enterprising Argus Reporter goes
the Rounds Ofthe Saloons i'm the
City Yesterday.
Who will and who Won't Take ont Lii
eense Under the $500 Law.

Coming into the editorial room of the
ARGUS yesterday afternoon, the scribe
found the following among other assign
ments from the managing editor for the
remainder of the day, lying on his desk:
Supply yourself with pencils and paper.
and go to all the saloons in town, Find
out, if you can, who will continue in bust
ness, and who will go out of business.
Have copy ready by 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning Don't drink, and you will be
sure not to get drunk
As pencils and paper are a reporters
stock in trade, (and some brains, tool
these needed articles were soon found, and
the scribe struck out He visited nearly
every saloon in town. He was everywhere
received with hospitality, and heard what
each man had to saw. OF course there
was not good word said in regard to the
$500 license 1t was everywhere con
demned The saloon keepers, while they
were willing to bow their heads and their
will to the law, felt as though there had
been great injustice done them. The
license, $500, they thought, was more
than any saloon keeper in town could
afford to pay.
But, SAID the reporter to one of the
most prominent saloon keepers, "the tenn
perance people claim that by shutting up
the small saloons, it will decrease crime
and drunkenness, but at the same time it
will throw all the saloon patronage to
those who do take out license How is
that"
That is some of old Joe Danforth's
logic He is an old crank. If could
get the monopoly-or, in other words my
saloon be the only one in town--it might
work. But this cannot be. There are
number of others who will take out the
$500 license just as l am going to, and
they will get a share of this custom, as
we'll as | will"
"What will be the effect of this law
will it increase the price of drinks, or will
you use poorer liquors than you have
been seling?"
No, cant say that l will But there
are many ways of economiziDg in the
saloon business, and it stands us all in
hand to economize all We can"
1t would be impossible for US to give
all that was said 1t would fill a book,
so wc jump down to the list which is as
follows;
P McNulty, corner of Seventeenth
street and First avenue, says be intends
to take out license and expects to do a
good business.
Mrs Furlong, on First street, will not
take ont a license.
Lothar Harms, on Front street, will
take out a license
A Eckerman, on Front street, had not
decided as yet whether he would or not,
but was inclined to think that lie would
A Schmitt, on Front street. will not
take any more license in his.
Hugh Conwell, on Front street, had not
decided, but thought he would.
VIM. Troestel corner of Twentieth
street and First avenue, said he meant tc
run this year
The Island House, on Twentieth street
and Third avenue, has not, as yet, de
cided what to do but thought more than
likely they would invest $500 with the
city.
P McQuaid. Second avenue and Twen-
ty- y-second street, had not made up his
mind about it.
David Fitzgerald, near the bridge, viii
go out Of business.
John Grogan, Third avenue and Twenty
third street, will pay $500 into the city
treasury and 60 on in business
E Murrin, Fourth avenue and Twenty
| first street, had not decided but will prob
ably invest
E. Strate, Fourth avenue and Twenty
second street, will step down and out.
Huber i SchartZ Fourth avenue and
Twenty second street will take out the
license and do big business.
NJ. J. Murphy, Fourth avenue and
Twenty third street, had not decided
what he would do.
P, H. Kelly, Fifth avenue and Twenty
fourth street, will take out license
McElroy, Fifth avenue and Twenty
sixth street, will still continue in the bust
ness
Wagner's bar at the brewery will con
| tinue the same as heretofore.
Henry Streve, Twentieth street, will
still continue in business He is fixing
up his saloon in fine style.
Henry Williams, corner Third avenue
and Twentieth street will invest $500
with the city
John Dresser. Fifth avenue and TIVE ty
sixth street. will take out his license.
Lou Ehl. Twentieth street, goes ont Of
| business.
The bar in the Union house on Twen-
tieth street, will be discontinued
c. Allease, on Eighth avenue, don't
know whether he will or not.
Mike Magrum, of the Tivoli. will still
continue in business, and remain popu-
lar resort.
Biehl will not take out any license
this year.
0. F. Soper, on Eighteenth street, vii
still hang out at the same place.
Bob Goldensteen, on Second avenue
| Id 90 ,,,o l. w.,