Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-29
WHAT HIS HONOR SAID.
MauT Things His Auditors Applauded-A
Ringing Address-Its Best Points
QuOted-Only the One Drunk

\great meeting to order, and the list of Vice
Presidents, elsewhere published, had been
confirmed, be introduced the presiding Off
Ger of the evening, Mr.. j. j. Porter, of Por-
ter, Donaldson & Co., who said: "This is
a surprise; have no speech to make; but
rwaRt to thank my God for such men as
Judge Y intel"
Mr. Porter may lave intended to have
aid something more, but he didn't get a
.hance. The people in front of him began
to applaud, and the noise drowned any
further words. The applause died away
and was renewed several times. Finally
when quiet was restored Mr.. Porter briefly
introduced the Judge.
He was given a more than enthusiastic
reception. He was applauded and cheered
for several minutes, as he stood tn ere
smiling in the faces of the people. His re-
ceptica was sample of the spirit of the
evening. His allusions to the Quarter
Session judges in the License Courts of 1854
and 171O were signals for loud outbursts of
laughter and applause, and not cne of his
points but that gained testimonials Of ap-
lorOvaL Here is report of the Judges
address:
when the proposition is submitted to the
people to change their organic law. it is the
duty Of every citizen, whatever position in the
Commonwealth he may hold to thoroughly
examine into the matter, and when he comes
to an opinion, for or against it is his duty to
try to convert others to the same mind. 1t is
also the duty of every citizen TO vote. He who
neglects to do so is negligent of the high trust
committed to him as an elector."
POLITICAL AS WELL AS MORAL.
Continuing, he said that the prohibition
amendment question may be regarded as a
great moral question. But" he added. 'if
this was all, would oppose it. 1t is far more
than mere moral question 1t is a great po-
htical question; one that affects the body
polite; one that affects it in its ramifcations
and touches every class and individual in the
State. While it is great political question. it
is not partisan question. Men of all parties
will vote for the amendment, and men of all
: parties will vote against it. The liquor men
will vote against il. Some paid Office holders
will vote against it Some temperance men
whose vocation would be gone If prohibition
should carry, are silent on the question. 1t is
movement on the part of the people. The
great mass of our people who are not liquor
dealers or office holders, etc, are for it 1t was
forced on political party to put it before the
people. The voice of the people demanded it,
and If it succeeds, God grant it may, it will
'ot be the success of any political party but
ne triumph of the peopl,.
''In the first place. free trade in LIQUOR was
ever the law IN Pennsylvania 1t was never
he law TO sell liquor without license. The
hquoYtrafhc was always regarded as fraught
Witifevils, and laws and restrictions were made
TO restrain those evils The first law for
Pennsylvania was maze in 1862, when the laws
of the Duke Of York were enforced in this
State. No ordinary eating house or tavern
could sell Intoxicating liquors without Ii
recommended by the constable and at least
two overseers of the parish. For selling to in
toxcated persons or having any disorder in the
house the license would be repealed Under
that ruling how many would have license now?
This was the first law before William Perm.
Another law was passed in 1852 and re-enacted
in 1854 If there was any disorder in the house
the Quarter Sessions had the power to sup
press it"
THE QUARTER SESSIONS POWER.
His Honor here remarked: Sometimes
there is great complaint about the power of
the Quarter Sessions" His Honor smiled as he
spoke. and the audience laughed.
Continuing he said: ''In 1880 law a capital
one, was passed wish it was the law now. 1t
provided that If any man allowed drunkenness
in his house, he was punished the same as the
SElnkard. In 1889 another law was passed By |
all these laws the licenses were granted by the |
Governor, but the Judges coald revoke them. |
In l7O5 any drinking or tppling on Sunday was |
prohibited and the party fined and punished |
accordingly. In l7IO the applicants had to be |
recommended by the Judges of the Quarter |
Sessions Court and they could recommend |
whom they chose. OF course they were ex- |
I seted TO recommend good men, as you know |
; ldges never recommend any but good peo-
Under this law gambling was prohibited and |
fine imposed. In l72l they were forbidden to |
ust or entertain minor or a servant. For /
le Ilrst and second offense fine was imposed, /
nd for the third offense the offender was de-
ared to be forever incapable of holding |
cense. In l794 stringent law was passed in /
aference to allowing any games in licensed |
ouse, or any outhouses or buildings connected
ith the place. In that act the Judges were
Ound 70 inquire by evidence il the applicant
gambling about the place. The law re-
uired that unless he did not keep such an ar
Gle he was not to be recommended for a
cense. Up to 1910 all licenses were granted by
le Governor. The laws had grown more and
ore stringent. but during that l00 years the
ws were nearly the same. In 1915 the first
neral license law was passed 1t transferred
te granting of licenses from the Governor to !
,e Judges of the Quarter Sessions. As they
ii a 1 discretion before in recommending to the
Governor, they we're now
CLOTHED WITH FULL POWER.
1.-THE law said they shall license those whom
ii icy deem suitable persons. In 1880 and 1884
here were a few additions Licenses were to
ID granted only where necessary for the public
e. ers- In ls41 the application and certificate
lad TO be published in the newspaper. No
icense was necessary for a tavern where in
.oxicating liquors were not sold In 1876 the
Court was bound to hear remonstrances and
i've due weight to the evidence both for and
gainst the applicants.
"In 1856 the licenses were stl granted by the
ldges and only to men of Temperate habits
I'D good moral character. No licenses to any
,,4r rf halito and
abits. In 1858 an act was passed, modifying,
ad in 1867 re-enacting the act of 1856 and
iding this clause-that the Judges shall refuse
hen the person is not of good moral character
I'd the house not necessary.
The act of 1887 is nothing new, there is
Ithing in it but what was in the others, moth
2 but has been the policy of this State. The
sneral policy has been to restrain and restrict
ne sale of liquor to only men of good moral
1aracter and when the house is necessary. A
cal act was passed IN 1919 for Philadelphia 1t
ok the granting of licenses out of the court
I'd gave il to the County Treasurer. In 1855
neral act was passed for Philadelphia and
negheny. A board of three reputable citi-
ans appointed by the Court of Quarter Ses-
ons was provided for to grant license. But
nat board does. not seem to have given any
aOre satisfaction to the liquor people than
he Court, preliminary to the local act of 1872
,hieh tore the barriers and opened the gates
vhich flooded this county for Is years. This
ct was for the County Treasurer to issue
licenses Though the second section of the act
Iays that license shall only be given to persons
OF good moral habits, yet everybody that could
raise the money got license. Foreigners that
had not been in the countryone year, and could
not speak word Of English, were granted
license.
FRIGHTFUL ABUSES.
SALOONS were started in cellars shanties
md even fishing junks on the river Brewers
ether States established agents in i Ellecheny
ounty. They got men and set thefa up in
usiness paid for their licenses, got the n room
ID went their security, binding then TO sell +
aIv their beer Home brevars fofIrn-s 80. |