Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-09
ENFORcE zee oRpINANcE.

Some weeks ago the Trustees were asked
to pass an ordinance closing all places
where liquors are sold, at the hour of II
o'clock midnight The RECoRD-U UNION
pointed out the injustice such an ordi-
nance would work, and protested against
1t because it would shut up restaurants
that respond to the all-nighr traffic, and
that in railroad center like Sacramento
Is very considerable, and because it was
too sweeping a proposition while really
aiming at the class known as dives"
The proposition to pass the ordinance did
not find favor with the Trustees aud was
accordingly dropped
Yesterday, however, Mayor Gregory in
troduced an ordinance to meet the evil
aimed at and it was at once adopted by the
Board. This new order, which will go into
effect at once, provides that no drinking
place, theater or variety show shall be
opened in the city without permission first
obtained from the Board of Trustees. upon
an application made in writing and in
dorsed and approved by majority OF
reputable citizens residing in the block in
which 1t Is proposed to open the place
1t Is to be regretted that the fact was over.
looked = probably inadvertently = that
those dong business in a block are as much
interested as those residing in the block
adected-at least, several blocks can be
n med where a majority of the resident.
uid not be induced to protest, there being
hut three or four families in the block and
a number Of roomers, and the latter viii
probably be Indifferent in the matter
But in the same blocks are scores Of people
who do business there, but reside elsewhere
lake the blocks bounded by l., |, From
and Fourth, resident families are very
few, but the blocks contain a great mum
Der of business houses.
The second section of the ordinance pro-
vldes for the revocation of license when a
complaint is filed by majority of the re
pptable residents of any block in ghicE
the dive" complained of is located
showing that the place is conducted in
other than lawful, orderly, reputable and
decent manner.
But the ordinance is long step ahead
1t is the first really practical and meaning
effort to close up the disreputable places
usually known as "diyes" and "bell-holes.'
The Trustees are to be commended fol
adopting it, and, if the people will now
but give them the support their action
merits, it will soon be made possible for q
lady or children to pass up and down the
streets, along the face of certain blocks
without being exposed to the lilth and ri
baldry Of the rough customers who throng
IN front of the dives, and the noisy and
disreputable places. 1t will require some
courage for residents in the blocks affected
t. take the risks of protesting against the
continuance of these hell-holes, but the
courage ought to be made manifest, the
residents should have moral and material
lacking, and the man-traps be shut UP
forthwith. If the ordinance is amended SO
as to give those who have business houses
in affected blocks a voice in the matter.
the difficulty suggested will be speedily
swept away,
Fortunately the ordinance as it stands
includes all reputable residents in block
as capable of protesting, and not merely
householders. This admits, therefore, the
members of every family to the protesting
list, and thus it may be possible after all
to secure the signatures of majority of
the residents in each block with a dive.
If however, it is held that only males of
voting age are meant, then the worst
places in some blocks can defy the law.
Let the people support the law, demand
is strict enforcement, and thus remove
from some Of our principal streets, and
from the city, reproaches that cause every
citizen who desires to take pride in the
city, mol only regret, but shame.