Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-10
THE POLICE BOARD.
A Session Devoted to Saloon
Licenses.
A Breezy Discussion Over the
Matter.
Differences Of Opinion Between the
Commissioners.
Commissioner Dexter Presents Minority
Report and 1t Is Defeated.
Other Matters.

The board of police commissioners met
yesterday afternoon in the mayors Of
fee, Hon. II. Il. Hazard in the chair and
Messrs Bryson, Collins, Dexter and
Lewis present.
The chief having reported favorably
on the applications of the following per-
sons, they were granted permission to
procure saloon licenses: R. G. Hanes,
313 N. Main street, and R. G. Heise, 215
N. Spring street.
An application was received from John
McManus fora transfer of the license for
No. 1862 n Los Angeles street, now in
the name of James Marnell. Protests
were read from Hawley, King & Co. and
a number of residents in the vicinity of
First and Los Angeles streets against the
granting of any more saloon licenses in
the block. Mr.. Collins said that as far
as he could see, only two genuine prop
erty-owners had signed the protests.
This gave rise to lengthy discus
sion, which resulted in q motion to
refer the matter to the chief by Mr..
Dexter.
Mr.. Collins moved to amend by grant
ing the transfer, adding that if he did
not know that the matter was straight
forward he would certainly not do so.
After some further discussion, however,
he withdrew his amendment, and Mr..
Dexter's motion prevailed.
The application of Watson & Lewis for
permit to obtain a license for new
saloon at No. 1444 San Fernando street
was referred to the chief under the
rules.
The application of Henry Oelkers for a
transfer of the license at No. 400 South
Main street from Chris Krempel was
granted, as was also that of F. Vache &
Co., corner Commercial and Alameda
streets, from Vache Freres & Co.
The matter of the petition of G. II.
Carlisle and other property-owners on
First street, between Cummings and
State streets, asking for the revocation
of the license granted to Henry Cramer
at No. 1874 East First street, was then
brought up. Mr.. Dexter moved that the
license be revoked, as it was granted
facts, and the whole neighborhood being
opposed to it almost to man, it should
be discontinued. Mr. Collins vigorously
be difference of opinion about the
matter. He then asked Chief Glass
whether there was any truth in the
report that the officer who was sent
over to investigate the matter had pur-
chased liquor at drug store near by.
The chief replied that the officer had re-
port ed such to be the case on his return,
and that he had instructed him to swear
to complaint against the druggist.
This had not been done, because Mr..
Thompson, the owner of the property in
which the saloon was situated, had ac-
companied the officer and was averse to
prosecuting the druggist. After some
discussion Mr.. Collins's amendment,
that the matter be laid over until the
last meeting of the board in this month,
prevailed.
Mayor Hazard stated that the board
had got to treat these people in good
faith. The saloon men went to great ex-
pense in putting up their fixtures, and
it was not right to let people come in,
after a license had been granted, with
protests and petitions to revoke. He
was not in favor of revocation in such
cases.
The charges preferred by Mrs. S. L,
Hezekiah and Others against Paul
Metzam, proprietor of the International
saloon, No. ITO New Main street, then
came up, and majority and minority re-
ports were received from the special
committee appointed to investigate the
matter. The question as to the rele-
vancy of the signatures of most of the
protestants was raised by Mr.. Collins,
who announced that several of the
signers lived all the way from four
blocks to a mile distant from the saloon.
This gave rise to discussion, which re-
suited in Mr.. Dexter insisting upon
having all the protests read. Mr.. Col
Inns moved to strike out the complaint
referring to the sale of liquor to youth
named Smith, as he was IS years OF age,
and the law specifically stated that a
minor was under 16 years OF age Mr..
Dexter, however, again insisted upon
the whole matter being read to the
board, and at the close of the reading.
which was frequently interrupted, Mr..
Lewis asked the board whether or
not it had been proven that Metzam
sold liquor to minor. Messrs. Bryson
and Collins both declared emphati-
cally that it had not, but
Mr.. Dexter was equally positive that
it had. This gave rise to another breezy
QlSCuSSlOll, WHICH, Was Will SOlue UlIIl-
Guilty restrained by the chairman, who
called for the reading of the reports.
The majority report, which was signed
by Messrs. Bryson and Collins, was very
brief, and simply stated that after a
careful investigation the committee
found that the evidence was insufficient
to warrant the board in revoking the IL
cense of the saloon complained of, and
recommended that the charges be dis
missed.
Mr.. Dexter presented a lengthy minor
ity report to the effect that after inves-
tigating the charges he believed that the
existence of said saloon was direct
menace to sobriety and good law and or
der in the community and therefore
recommended the revocation of the IL
cense.
Mr.. Bryson informed the board that
the committee had learned that the So
called boys worked in foundry and
were in reality men, although but young
in years. In regard to the testimony in
troduced, he had heard some of the tall
est swearing at that investigation that
he ever heard in his life. One woman
swore that she lived Sin the very door
of the saloon," but it was subsequently
learned that she lived a block away.
Mr.. Collins started to tell about the in
vestigation, but was interrupted by Mr..
Dexter, who desired that the clerk read
the resolution offered by Mr.. Lindlev