Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-19
A LIQUOR POOL.
A Syndicate of Ex-SaloOn
Keepers and Lawyers
TO WORK FOR LICENSES.
One Hundred and Twenty-Six Re-
tailers Are Now in the Pool.
EXPECT JUDGE WHITE TODAY.
Dozens Of the Dealers Refuse to Go into the
Combination.
TO WORK FOR LICENSES.
EXPECT JUDGE WHITE TODAY.
ALICENSE WILL COST BUT$25OFOR FEES

Judge White, it was reported, arrived
home last night from his pleasure trip to
Lake Erie, and those who claimed to know
said he would probably take his seat upon
the bench in court this morning. There is
bare possibility that he may take up the
reapplications of the retail liquor deal
ers, which were fled and admitted
some time ago. The applications for re-
hearing were placed in the hands of the
Common Pleas Judges, and it is very likely
that Judges Ewing and White will settle
them in few days. Judge Magee has gone
off on his vacation, and it is we'll known
that he was opposed to Immediately taking
up the liquor cases. Judge White is re-
ported as saying that it would be better if
the applications were taken up and settled
right away. He said that it was disagreeable
business, and the sooner it is done the better.
A number OF ex-saloor keepers, who have
been trying in every possible way to get
license, were on the tiptoe of expectation
last evening. Many of them thought Judge
White would take up the applications and
get them off his hands as soon as possible.
What makes him more anxious to do it is
the fact that the other Judges would not
handle the applications without consulting
him.
A great many of the ex-saloon keepers
who have spent considerable money for
lawyers services since the refusal of Judge
White to grant their licenses, have refused
to GO into the pool which is now formed and
being formed in this city.
THOSE IN THE POOL.
Up to yesterday 126 names had been
secured, but there were dozens who had
been importuned who refused to 60 into the
combination. Their refusal to act with the
others in concert was on account of
their having already spent consider
able money. They argued that, if
the men in the pool broke down
Judge Whites arguments and secured their
licenses, there would be nothing to prevent
them from getting license in the same
way. If they do not 70 in, they will have
the benefit of what the others pay for, and
in the event of their not getting a license
they will not have lost anything.
The men who are going into the pool are |
required to put up $50 as forfeit in order
" OluO buC dSTScuCub 1ucy dlSO |
promise and give a written guarantee that |
if license is granted them they will |
pay 5000 more. This makes $3.50 altogether, !
when they get their license. The $50 is be- |
ing collected by committee, who turn the |
money over to the four lawyers engaged by |
the syndicate. The members of the commit |
tee are Thomas Delaney, Nicholas Snyder, |
Peter Carlin and Samuel Bing. The law
yers who have been engaged are Messrs. c. |
+. McKenna, Thomas NJ. Marshall, John |
Robb and Josiah Cohen. An agreement has |
been made between the attorneys and the |
committee that they will be paid $500 more
for every license granted.
BIG LEGAL FEE.
If the list of 126 men receive license the
lawyers would pocket fee of S31, 500. For
this reason m any of the saloon keepers say
the Lawyers syndicate is backing the
matter up.
Samuel Bing, one of the committeeman,
denied Yesterday that everyone who signed
the agreement had TO put $50 in the pool.
Nevertheless many of those who would not
pay the fee had their names scratched
off the list Mr.. Bing said many
of those who wanted to get on the list and
file applications had been refused, because
it was thought their chances of getting a
license were not good. The committee will
only take the men who had good records,
and those who had repeatedly violated the
law they would have nothing to do with.
Mr.. Bing said:
II will admit that there has been a small
kind of a combination formed among the
ex-saloon keepers to secure licenses. There
are many reasons why we did tnis.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION.
"In the first place man pays a small in
itiation fee which is used as a starter to get
his license. By clubbing together we can
secure the best legal advice in the city for
nominal sum to those who come into the
pool. Of course, those who do not 90 in
will get the benefit of what we pay for,
but will have thei- own attorney fees to
pay anyhow. 1 cannot give the
list for publication, as many changes
may have to be made before
it is handed in to the License Court. We
do not take everyone that wants to come in
the pool. We only take the saloons we con-
slider a necessity and with whom the Judges
can find no fault. We have had no word
from any of the Judges, but they may take
the matter up at any time. Judge White
may rush them through tomorrow"
Among those who would not go into the
pool are the IL or u men who hired Morton
Hunter, ESQ.,, to look up the 1872 law, but
for whom the attorney could do nothing.