The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-21

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of
the City of Jackson we're called together
on October IL to consider the appli-
cation of Mr.. A. ]. Adkisson for whisky
license. The attorney of the Prohibi
ton Union and other lawyers friendly
to the cause were present to see that
the proceedings were conducted accord
ing to the law. The point was clearly
shown to the Board that the petition
failed to certify that the applicant was
person of good reputation as the
statute provides, only declaring that
he was Suitable and sober person to
receive such license A suitable per-
son to receive such license" might mean
simply man skilled in mixing drinks,
or man who had no reputation to lose
by embarking in such cause and could
not be understood to refer to mans char
actersave as an individual might choose
to so apply it. The law expressly provides
that the petitioner shall be certified to
be of good reputation" The petition
in question failed to show this, therefore
a motion was made to refuse to grant 1t
on the score of illegality, which motion
was summarily voted down by the
Board, only one Alderman voting IN the
affirmative Several members OF the
Board were restive and impatient under
the application and clearly showed by
their manner that they regarded the
effort to defeat the whisky petition as
sort of impertinent interference with
their prerogalives. Itwas then charged
that at least one hundred and sixty
nine names on the whisky petition were
invalid, some because they had not been
registered, others did not reside IN the
corporation, others had moved away,
others had died, and so forth. Ihe
operation of verifying the slgni-
lures then commenced, and quite a
number were stricken off. The process
was tedious, as the registration books
had to be examined, and also the petition
in each case. Some of the members OF the
Board seemed indisposed to go into into 1t
and manifested their opposition by such
remarks as sit will take all next week to
do this" and 'some times forbearance
ceases to be virtue" ltappeared that
the Board were determined to grant the
petition despite any plea that might De
made. So the attorney served upon
them an Injunction which he had pro
vided from the Circuit Court, summar-
lily prohibiting them from issuing the
license, which INDUCTION they dared not
disregard. -
| Several questions were forced upon the
mind of the editor of this Department
as he sat by silent, but deeply inter
ested listener, why should any OF the mem
bers of the Board of Aldermen show
| impatience when citizens come before
them to prevent the violation OF the
statute? The law guarantees that rgh'
to all citizens.
Why should any members of the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen consider
themselves the chan pions OF the whlsk!
men7 1t is presumed that the trlouna
which represents the interests OF tn
people of the city should simply met
out Justice to everybody, and see tina
the law is faithfully administered with
out favoritism to one class or preJuolc
TO another. Why is it that the commit
tee appointed by the Board to examine
and report upon whisky petitions, snoui'
report favorably upon those petition
which have a great number OF oogu
names upon them7 The members Q
the Board have taken an oath to
their duty, and citizens ought to Zee
perfectly satisfied that all their proceed
ings are according to law.
Recent investigations have prove
, that there is scarcely a single saloon |
Jackson which has been licensed accor'
ing to law, and that if the names o
r whisky petitions were subjected, to
, rigid test, so many of them would
. stricken off in each case as to destroy I'll
required majority. Let all good cit
e zens give aid in exposing these sham
less violations of law.