Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-05-29
BE JUST

II has been adiudged, time and again,
In high courts that license TO keep sa-
lood is a privilege only, which may be-
revoked the next day after the money is
paid. But no sane man would say that
such proceeding would be fair. When
any authority grants a license 10 saloon
that authority, morally and actually. con-
tcrs upon the saloon what in justice 6, an
unavoidable business right aud standing
and with all this that authority assumes
the place OF a protector To the saloon I'm
its rights thus acquired. eNtraneOus adj
Indications 10 the contrary notwirh>taud-
ing.
In this position the HERALD does not
propose 10 take into consideration any
questions as to the good or the had. from
social or moral standpoint. of saloons.
nor To discuss prohibition. temperance
or anything Of the sort, pro or con, hut
simply matter Of iairne>, from busi-
ness standpoint.
II appears that some Of the saloons I'm
the city have paid TO the county for a
license sJoo, which they would not have
been CALLED upon 20 pay had the city been
Incorporated. but they would have been
required to pay that sum. OF such other a.
might have been ordained by the council.
20 the city. Now then the city proposes
70 collect from the saloons, its charges
for license. under all circumstances, thus
requiring the saloons which had already
paid the county to pay double for license.
and that would be- giving 70 the saloons
which had not paid the county, large
advantage over the Others, and something
in the shape Of an immunity which Jus
tlce would not warrant and which even
business policy would not commend
1t would be the proper thing for the
city TO require Of the county the return Of
such proportion Of the money paid, in
good faith 10 the county, by the saloons,
as would appear to be the city's due since
Its Incorporation, and credit that to such
saloons on the amount which the city
may fix a. its charge for license. II this
cannot be collected from the county-that
IS 10 say, Il the county commissioners re-
muse 10 refund-then some other steps
ishould be taken by the city 20 eaualize
gthe amounts paid By the saloons. The
AT Argument that men set arurk IN saloons
aud the city must therefore keep police
force 20 look after such wrong doors, and
that the saloons should bear an the -g-
pense OF keeping up police force, doesn't
hold good Tor several reasons, The first
IS that many men get drunk or COM
nit crimes who are not hahitues
Of saloons, and hence there must be a
police force even u there were no saloons,
and secondly, Il the city must depend
upon saloon licenses FOR the funds with
which % keep up a police force or any
other branch Of the city government, that
would b An admission that the saloons
are an Indispensable necessity for the
purposes mentioned, all Of which argues
thst saloons should be protected in SO far
as they have rights, or utterly abolished.
High or low license is question which
II is not necessary TO discuss in this con-
nection, but equity is a something which
is self-suggestive, and in propositions
where justice is 70 be- considered. is self
assertlve. For all Of which reasons II be-
hooves the city council to use its utmost
endeavOr and all Of its authority
10 secure To the saloons what i,
fair and Just in the premises.
II also appears that some OF the saloons
undertook to take advantage of the city's
pOwerless condition. even after incorDora-
tiOn was under way. 10 secure a licrn>,
from the county before the license which
they then possessed had expired: thi,
with an intent 10 outwit the city and
a.pRtn fa4T for a