Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20
NOT In THEIR LINE.
Judges Ewing and Magee Declare
That Holding License Court
Is AN IMPOSITION UPON THEM.
That Proposed Excise Commission Meets
With General Favor.
SEVERAL MORE SUGGESTIONS MADE


suggested amendment to the Brooks law
outlined by interviews in THE DISPATCH
several days ago. The Judges had been
poring over the results of The hearings for
fout hours, and were not in a good humor to
talk on any other subject, but they were
fully aware OF the difficulties of their posi-
ton. They were in a hurry, but THE Dis
PATCH reporter found time to ask them:
Are the Courts too much crowded with
business?''
''Of course they are," answered both gen.
tlemen. "We have more ordinary business
than we can attend to, and it is an imposi-
tlon for US to have to sit in license court.
We do not want to do it, anyway"
"Do you then have all the time for cases
that you want?' inquired the reporter.
NO." answered Judge Ewing, 1--WE would
like to give each case more time, if it were
possible"
WOULD LIKE TO SAY MORE.
By this time thev were almost inside their
private Office, and when their opinion was
asked OF the proposed license plan they
said they would be willing to talk on II,
but did not then have time.
Everywhere in the Court House the license
commission suggestion was favorite theme
OF conversation. among attorneys and busI-
ness men. Those who argued against it
were hopelessly v in the minority, and when
one OF the kickers would advance the point
that a commission would make a fortune at
selling license" he was met with the re-
ply: do you think all men are as dis
honest as you intimate you might be your
self, were you on the board?''
Among the many men talked to on the
subject was an attorney who, beside being
a lender at the bar, is also a prominent
figure in politics. He expressed himself as
follows: 1.-The suggestion outlined in THE
DISPATCH is the most advanced idea on the
license question l have ever heard. 1t
would accomplish the result of putting the
best class of men possible in charge of the
liquor trade. 1t would attain the object at
which all license legislation Tor the past 90
years has been aiming-that is, to put the
best man in charge, and TO perfectly regu-
late the trade.
The bench,'' he continued, should be
entirely free from the license work 1t is
conducted so unlike a court of justice that it
casts stigma upon the character OF the
courts of Justice.
SoT COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH.
''The Brooks law, while we'll intended
has been failure. 1t is step in the right
direction, hut is not sufficiently comprehen-
sive. II is breeder of speak-easies, which
are far worse than groggeries. Look over
the records OF crime, and in nine cases out
of ten, where whisky has been a factor in
the crime, the intoxicants come from
speak-easy, and not a licensed saloon.
This plan would do away with the |
speak-easies, and secure a conservative en-
forcement OF the law. The Commissioners |
should be neither ProhIbltionists nor LIQUOR |
men. The bar association would be able to |
select men who would administer the law |
fairly. Then, they would have the aid Of |
the police in making decisions. The
police would be required to point
out wherE licenses were needed and
where the numb r should be reduced. They
would also have TO give an account of the |
actions of those having licenses and back
up their statements with evidence The
people, of course, would have q chance to
demonstrate against the police recommended
tions, and between the two a just decision
could be reached.
1T is all nonsense to say that q license
commission would not be honest, or to recall |
the fact that Allegheny county tried the
County Commissioners at issuing licenses
twenty years ago, and the deplorable result
that followed.
There are plenty of honest men, and if
the suggestion, as published, were followed,
1t would certainly bring the best of
men into the positions. When the
County Commissioners had charge thew
were anxious for reelection and
fearing that they would not be returned to
Office, they feathered their nests while they
were there. With the commission proposed,
the members would be surrounded by the
8 me safeguards as judge, and the causes
which corrupted the old board would not |
affect them. Then, people forgot that for
commission to give unrestricted licenses,
1t would have to abrogate the Brooks
law entirely, and nothing of that kind is
suggested.
Another matter which has been over
looked is that 20 years ago the license oues-
hon was not as clearly understood as at
present. and was not under the same render
ing OF the law. Practices INDUCED in then
could not be INDUCED in at present.
'It has also been argued that Judge was
the only person who should sit in license
court. Do the people forget what judge
Is? When they want judge they don't
take man of an express wagon and set |
him on the bench. He is q lawyer taken
from among the members of the bar, and it
does not alter the constitution of that law
yer by making him a judge in license court
instead of electing him to that position. In
tact, II such move is not made, it will
lower the quality OF our judges.
from the fact that the whisky element
viii make Ii point to put men who favor
hem on the bench. Now a man who leans
toward that direction is not likely to be as
well fitted to decide other points of law as
honestly as a more conservative man.
VICIOUS SYSTEM.
''The present system is vicious. because the
Judges are unable TO attend to the license
,ourt properly, while the proposed nIan
would accomplish the best results and omar.
lntee that liquor would be sold in com ,
'iiance with ex sting laws and regulations"
District Attorney Johnston was next seen | =
md gave his approval of the plan. He
believed it would regulate the speak-easy
question and the number of saloons He
ala: 1.-The Court cannot look after the
uatter properly. and liquor cases have to
'e rushed through as though they were as q
as the surety cases in the /.
;riminaI Court. That Court is also suffer-
ng from want of attention, and when the | =
Judges reopen their usual business much of .
t will have to be rushed through too :
urriedly to make room for what follows. :
he matter of granting licenses should be :
aken away from the Courts entirely, and 6
be plan suggested would be a proper :
emedy." G
This opinion was echoed by Attorney f.
!. McGirr, who said the present system was
lmost universally acknowledged as unsatis-
lctory, and be believed the plan suggested !
as the proper remedy.
Another gentleman was seen who said !,
nat although the usual members might OBJ
ect to the plan, it could be remedled. His v
lggestion was: "When the Board ofJudges
I anys county should decide in full II