Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22

There has been, therefore, a reduction
Of Z92 in the number Of licensed saloons
in Chicago since the actual reign OF high
license But the proof clearly shows
that the saloons thus closed were the
most orderly and the least Objectionable
in that city. They were. for the most
part. attachments 10 groceries in sparsely-
settled sections where bar was kept for
the convenience Of the local trade.
The Cr0cers could afford to pay the low
license fee IS an accommodation, but
when the fee was raised 10 $500 the pa
tronace was not sufficient and the bar
was closed. The testimony from po-
licemen on the beats, police headquar-
ters. the mayors Office, and the license
office, all clearly show that the gilded
saloons are all running as usual, every
low dive has been kept in full blast, Chi
Cages "'Black Hole is as black as ever,
and along all the main arteries and
thronged WAYS OF the city not a saloon
has been closed. "
That high license does not necessarily
or materially lessen the number Of
saloons IS further proven from acOmpari-
son OF the license fees IN number Of
cities, where the fee is low, with those Of
Chicago and other cities, where tbs high.
As for instance Chicago, with license
fee Of 5000. has - saloons TO 10000
inhabitants. whereas Philadelphia, with
license fee OF $50, has only 70
saloons 10 the same number OF in
habitaats; Brooklyn, with License fee
Of So. has only 53 10 the same number (;
Omaha. with "a license fee OF $1,000,
has ~ saloons e. the same number:
indianapolis. with license fee of 500.
has ~ 20 the sane number, whilst
10 Louis. with license tee Of $3.50. has
as for the like number, and Baltimore,
with license fee Of so, has 50 saloons
TO the same.
again, deny that high license makes
better s1lo0ns another plea so often set
up for It. I'm addition to the testimony
of Chcaoo's officials, already referred to,
{ would add the terrible arraienmcnt OF
the last grand jury Of Cook county, as
follows: olives Of the lowest order
defy the city ordinance 10y keeping open
from dawn until midnight, and from
midnight ull dawn. wherein congregate
disy,puable women thieves. and cuml-
uas we'll known 10 the police"
TO this may add the testimony from
Nebraska. where the license feels II 900.
The man who prepared the bill and
pressed It through the Legislature says
.'Thc effect has been bitter disappolnt-
ncnt. increasing the WOrs, evils of the
traffic" The thriftinn Uouy, of Omaha,
savs: "Itbas sent the Saloons more than
ever into politics. The whole
system Of license has corrupted our
police force and lower courts until it is
mockcry to call them courts of justice
they are deus of thieves. Gambling dens
arc open at So a month. generally in
connection with the tony saloons"
Again, less drinking is another plea
for high license, and with tins also
take issue. Sixty-four men whose po-
htical autecedcnts were unknown scat
tered throughout Illinois and selected at
random, were recently asked by the
Voice, ais there any evidence of less
drinking under the hiGh-hcense law ?"
-Four answered Yes" and sixty an
swered No"
In further proof that high license
does not cause less drinking, [ cite the
following figures for the city of Chicago,
copied from the annual police reports