Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-20

ment was made on the issuing of licenses to parties who have not long been residents of Boston, while those owning real estate were ignored" It was stated that certain men who have had licenses for several years, men who have been deemed of the highest integrity, have been left out by the police commis- sioners, while others of less reputable char acter have been granted licenses. 1t was noted that man who lost his arm in the late war was denied a license, that others who were completely unknown in the city and who only recently came there from neighboring towns were given licenses, that old residents who pay taxes on personal property were refused. Among the favored ones are many who pay no more than $2 poll tax. Herein it eral specific cases where the new law worked injustice were granted, and con- siderable indignation was expressed that so powerful an engine of discrimination
 
 commissioners. The burden of com- plaint was that some of the best places that is, places recognized and looked to by the people where licenses could prop erly be granted-were refused li- censes. It was further stated that considerable mystery surrounds the granting of licenses in certain localities. One gentleman said he had heard through a policeman that in one case where a license was granted it was the custom to frequently find parties in- toxicated on the premises. Others veri- fled the same as applying to other dis tricts. In some parts of the city, said another gentleman, the police captains had sole control of the liquor officers, while in other sections the officers were requested to say where licenses should be granted. It was remarked by one speaker that the whole affair savored of social tyranny, social despotism, which would end in social anarchy.
 The republican party and those in power were criticised. the conclusion reached being that politics had superse- ded business, and that there was too much respect paid to politics and too little to the interests of the business men and taxpayers of Boston. A case in point was cited, being that of man holding store in the Sixth ward for which he paid S4 ,000 rental year. If that place was let to-day for any other business, the owner could not get S1 200 a year for it. It was the general opinion of the meeting that no good reason eX isted why the recommendation of Chair man Whiting of the police commission CTS should not be carried out by the leg islature to the effect that at least ,000 licenses are not an unreasonably large number to be granted for Boston. as it was necessary to have as many, owing to the fact that liquor would be sold where they could not control it hence the advisability of the present legisla ture taking immediate action and grant ing the petition of those who are most interested, namely the real estate owners and business men and the pub lie generally.
 And so forth and so on, showing exactly the condition of affairs that would be likely and certain to arise in bill should become law. Does anyone doubt, with the present conditions m mind, that there would be discrimina- tion and favoritism in the granting of licenses under the law?Even now, in many cases, the county commissioners exercise their powers to the furtherance of political schemes. and many persons otherwise deserving are refused the privilege of selling liquor because they have incurred the political enmity of the commissioners or some of their party friends. With the additional powers placed in their hands as pro- posed by this mo1Strous five hundIed bill il IS not problema.ical how they would be used. Favor with the county commissioners, favor with the political machine that controls these autOcratic individuals, would be the order of the day, and the liquor business would nat urally be made a very important and influential annex of the republican party. Property rights, personal rights equity and justice would all be cast to the winds, for politics and politicians have not usually been considerate of any rights that are not tail to their kite.
 The legislature might give little at- tention to these points before it proceeds to pass such vicious and uncalled for legislation as is proposed by the bill in question. Favoritism and class legisla- tion must sometime reach the end of their tether-the people will not forever | submit to it. And even liquor dealers have some rights which republican legislature cannot afford to ignore. l Oh! What Beautiful Piano. Isn't it just too SWEET for anything I exclaimed a young Miss to a new pur- 1 chaser of one of SHONINGER'S ELEGANT I [f---l -l.-.-.