The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-09
The Result of High License.

The Brooks High-Licensc law went into
effee. J Jnne 39th lss7, and It's results lrongh-
ont this State have been most remarkable
From the time OF the adoption of the law
the iemperanee people in the various conn
ties cannenced a determined fight against
the proInisenons granting of licenses. aId
this fact, together with the high tax upon
the business. deferred many hitherto pros
porous saloon keep rs from applying for
renewal.
The effect of new couilitIons were especial
ly notable in a large decrease in the number
of applications for renewal OF licenses in
Philadelphia and Pittsburg and other cities
where a ciassof drinking places known a.
ioggeries ilourisliei la Philadelphia over
one half the Hq.ior sellers declined 10 apply
for licenses under TIE Books law. and in
Piftsburs and Allegheny county one-ihird
dropped out. Notwithstanding this, how
ever, IL 500 applications for license to sell IL
quor were made throughout the State. The
applicants everywhere employed able attor
neys and broasht every other Influence at
their command to bear upon the courts. The
result of the contest, now given to the public,
is astonishing
or the il.5o0 applicants for license only
7,72i were granted, as against u .5js granted
under the old law in 1887. In nine popu-
lous counties OF the Siaie-ArInstrong,
Forest, Greene Huntington. Indiana Pot
ter, Somerset. Warren and Washington-no
retail licenses were granted, ansl three Others
Fulton. Juniata and Mercer-are almost
dry. Pittsbars and Philadelphia each have
( drinking places they had year ago. Near
ly every county shows heavy falling off,
and only one-DaGphin-a increase in the
number of places where liquor Is sold legal
ly. Yet the 7,72i licenses granted in 1883
yield revenue Of 81 ,sS5.9si while tho H.
555 licenses granted in 1857 under the old
law yielded a revenue of only SOS 10.
The interpretation of the BracSs Law by
the judges throughout the state were in
many cases widely at variance In some
counties all retail licenses were refused aad
those who applied for wholesale licenses
were referred to the county treasurer This
was the case in Washington county.
Just what the decrease in saloons ami the
increase in revenues to the State under the
new law is can be imagined when it is stated
I that in one year the number of drinking
places have dropped off 80 per cent, while
the revenue has increased 100 per cent In
| Allegheny county in 1857 there were ,is5
licenses granted at revenue of 1850 so; in
| lsss, 52s applieatisns were granted the rev.
/ enue for which is s2I7 $50. In Beaver coun-
iy this year there were but twenty-eight ap-
/ plicaiions, nineteen of which were granted
the revenue being $29o0 as against 500 IN
1857. when fifteen saloons were in operation
Butler county had seventeen saloons in 1857
and has the same number this year, but the
revenue has increased from 81 llG TO S2,G75.
Washington county has fourteen wholesalers
this year, for which she gets 81 so against
S2S5 last year, when tine county had nine
teen liquor stores in all The total revenue
from the granting of licenses in Penusylya-
MIA this year was 81 .6J5. .763. as against S97G.-
l70 in 1857
OF the revenue derived from licenses is
sued Under the Brooks law the State receives
one-iifh. The balance is divided between
the county and the city, borough or town
ship in which the license is granted
In Pittsburgh and in other parts of the
State many violations Of the law are rcpor-
ted. but the courts show disposition to
deal 50 sternly with offenders that It is con-
! fidently predicted infractions will soon be
few and far between.-Hnrria5urg Telegraph