Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-27
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST
THE sAEooN.kEBPERs AND THE
LIQUOR LARs
Some of the Dispensers OF IntOxi-
chuts Seriously Concerned over
the Clause Prohibiting window
distractions.

The new license law which raises the
license fee TO $500 and requires saloon
keepers to give an unobstruoted view Of
the interior Of their saloons, goes into
feet on July 1st, and the dispensers Of
malt and spirituous liquors are preparing
for the new state of things. There seems
to be wide difference OF opinion as to
the wisdom OF the law and it's power to
lessen the liquor trafio, as ways and
means have already been devised to
evade the spirit of the law though COM
plying strictly with the letter.
On this point the new law says in SEQ
tion 4:
Every person licensed under this act shall
keep bis place of business so as TO be seen
fully and easily by passers-by, and shall
not obstrucr such view By screens, blinds,
inside shutters, frosted glass or any other
device OF whatsoever kind or character.
Any violation OF this section shall be q
misnemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall forfeit his license and paw a fine Of
not less than $50 nor more than 800.
Numbers Of saloon keepers will serve
their customers in back rooms although
their bRr-rooms will be open to the In
spection of every passer-by. Others will
remove their bars TO the darkest corners
of their bar-rooms, where no ono can be
seen to be recognized from the street.
Some others will place flowers and other
ornaments in the windows, but that
would seem to be clear violation of the
law. One saloon keeper talks OF placing
curtain about midway OF the bar back
Of which the thirsty customer can take
his drink unmolested.
Another saloon keeper, who recently
got license on Front street, has devised
the most novel scheme for protecting his
customers from the curious gaze of the
passing public. He has removed the
bulk windows, which formerly adorned
two sides of his building, and in their
place he has had constructed two plain
smaller windows, large enough to admit
sufficient light aud air. but too high for
the gaze Of passerby unless he be six
feet tall or over.
Many of the saloon keepers have con-
suited lawyers to procure their opinion
as to the scope of the new law. some
claim that they can place a partition
across their bar-rooms at the distance OF
two or three feet from the windows with.
out violating the letter of the law. The
most of the saloon keepers, however. are
disposed to look of tho matter sensibly
and say that they will comply with the
letter and spirit o. the law and that they
do not fear that it will affect their custom
in the least. Some of the more refined
patrons of saloons offer o very plausible
objection to the new lew, not on the
grounds of morality, but as breach of
etiqustte. They say that they object to
the vuIgarity OF being required to drink
subject &c shs aEffiiaasiss EaEss gaze CT CT aayesy
passing pedestrian, as much as though
they were required TO keep the windows
at their homes clear so as to give an uu-
obstructed view of their dinner or supper
tables.
The provision requiring the view of the
bar-room TO be unobstructed Is the sub
ject Of general ridicule and but few be-
Iisve that it will remedy the evils which
1t Is intended to cure.