The record-union., 1891-06-23
THE LICENSE RAISED.
The City Trustees Make 1t $45 Per
Quarter.
n Protest From the Liquor Dealers
Trustee Mclaughlin Moves to
Reconsider the Vote.

AT the City Trustees session yesterday
morning the first important business
considered was the amended Mclaughlin
liquor license ordinance, which increases
the license from Sl5 to $45 per quarter.
w. a. Anderson, representing the
Liquor Dealers Association, appeared
and stated that the board were about to
act on very important matter. and he
saw no reason for haste. His clients pro-
posed to submit proposition which they
desired the board to consider thought
fully. The proposition was the idea OF
his clients as to what they considered was
the proper way of regulating liquor
licenses. They were willing to aid the
authorities in abolishing every dive in
the city. He hoped the board would de-
lay final action on its proposed ordinance
until the liquor dealers had their say.
The Mayor said that he was opposed to
any more delay. Mr.. Anderson's clients
had had ample time to present their views
since the liquor license agitation began.
Trustee Mclaughlin said he was in
favor of granting the request for post
ponement of final action.
Mr.. Anderson asked for vote on the
question, and the roll being called, the
Mayor and Trustee Conklin voted no,
and Trustee Mclaughlin, aye.
Mr.. Anderson then remarked that, in
spite of the boards action, the matter
could be postponed if Trustee Nc
Laughlin so desired it. The latter could
move to reconsider the action at the next
meeting, if he chose.
The following communication was then
read to the board by Mr.. Anderson:
ADDRESS BY THE LIQUOR DEALERS TO THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Genuine reform and healthful regulations
were never prompted by the clamOr and inn
p0rtunIJieS of narrow and illibeIa minds.
A combination of circumstances have given
an impulse to an element that is ever the ad-
VOcate of extremes. 1t is unjust that the
worthy citizen should suffer because of the
evils of a few. One of the cardinal principles
of government is that taxation must be equal
and uniform. The taxed should always have
Il right 10 be heard before an arbitrary tax is
imposed. 1t is proposed to burden q large
class of our citizens, who are engaged in law
ful pursuits, with a tax acknowledged 10 be
for revenue, solely at the request of u few and
we believe not in accord with the sentiment OF
the great majority OF our people. As tne rep
reSentatiyes Of million and half of capit;li
and in behalf OF large number OF men who
are to be inJuriously affected by the heavy ad-
ultlOnal burdens cOntem plated to be inflicted
on them, we ask to be heard. We have ALWAYS
borne more than our proportion of the eX-
penses Of government, considering the amount
of capital engaged by each. We are taxed
heavily by the Federal Government for oar
pay $l2O each annual license TO the city and
county, which is greatly in excess of that re-
quired in san Francisco and other cities.
This Is u greater tax than is eXacted from
any other business or enterprise, proportions
ately considered. Certainly the people of this
city do not wish to cripple and drive out
legitimate enterprise. One company has
within the past year invested over SIX hun
dred thousand $500, COO dollars in an enter
prise that viii be greatly injured by the bur
dens that are proposed by the city and county
authorities. Our wine productive interests
are of vital importance to this State, and this
viii be injured By the arbitrary and excessive
eXactions under the name of revenue" Pro
hibitiOn, and high license, its twin brother
can never secure the reform sought by the ex-
1remiSts.
But in this instance it seems that one class
OF business is called upon to contribute more
than Its due proportion for government and
the moral sentiment is not an ingredient 1t
has the effect of making the man engaged in q
small business pay as much for the right TO
conduct that business as the one who is en-
gagged on a large scale, thus violating the
spirit OF constitutional inhibition that all
lakes shall be equal and uniform. In addition
10 the excessive tax imposed our business is
10 be restricted and the hours fixed in which
il shall be conducted without regard to our
necessities or those OF our patrons Here
again, are our legitimate business men to be
injured because OF the existence of a very
limited number of lawless places. We are
not only taxed to excess, the bulk of which
goes 10 and Is designed for the bond creditors
Dut we must close up our houses at midnight
because someone heretofore has conducted a
lawless place after that hour.
This is not just to legitimate business.
Ihe laW-maklng power OF Sacramento evil
IDENTIFY loses sight of the fact that the condi-
tionS of the Capital City are different from any
other city in the state. We have the Legisla-
Iure, ana a strictly temperance-we might say
temperate Legislature-waS never known. The
restrictions proposed Will certainly have q
weight with the body and may result in the
removal OF the seat of Government Past ex-
perience in this regard should be a warning
TO ou people in the future. The midnight
restrictions might deprive us of another i'm
pOrtant state instltution-theS State Fair. The
people who patronize this State exhibition are
not all saints nor would they relish the idea
Ofany power debating TO them at what hour
they should retire, or what they should eat or
drink. This might result in the destruction
OF our State Fair, as far as this city is con-
cerned. we only hold 1t at sutferance at
the best.
No American relishes the idea of any au-
thorlty saying how, when or what he shall eat
or drink The people who come 10 a Safe Fair
would revolt at any restriction prohibiting
them from having glass of beer after 10
O'Clock midnight. Now every business man
In this city is interested in the Legislature and
state Fair. Leaving the saloons entirely
out OF the question the increase of the busi-
ness profits of oil other classes of business de-
mand that we have the Legislature and the
state Fair. When you remove an attraction
for our fair you injure the city. The restric-
tions named not only remove the attractions
but endanger the fair itself. Again Sacra-
mento, the state Capital, is place for all State
conventions. The midnight restriction
LlllElI prevent Jtle aSSelnDlage OF aQY political
convention in this city to its loss.
Sacramento is the natural place for holding
political conventions. Let IL be known that
we are bordering on To prohibition and that
Procrustean Code is in force, that all must re-
tire at midnight, and that no liquor or re-
freshments can be obtained, and few would
come Last year ii was only through the di-
plomacy OF few, particularly Mr.. Abbott
that we secured the State Convention. Mr.
Abbott said: Gentlemen, Sacramento has
the biggest brewery on the coast" This unique
speech won the day for Sacramento. Let ii be
known that the delegates cannot obtain n
glass OF beer after II O'Clock midnight and
Sacramento will have no political conven-
tions.
1t is acknowledged that the increased tax is
Tor revenue only. What, then, becomes of the
theory OF revenue, when the greatest sources
Of revenue 10 this city are cut of and driven
away? BY some it is professed that these re-
StrlctiOnS and excessive burdens are aimed at
the disreputable places thus making the le-
gtmate business man a victim of this false
doctrine. The innocent are 10 be punished for
the transgreSsiOn of the lawleSs. The remedy
Tor dives and disreputable places is within the
great police power Of the city. The authori-
ties can suppress all such places with little
trouble. Sacramentois is great railroad cen
teFi many trains and cars are passing through
~ AT all hours of the day and night. Let 1t be
known that we have become over-righteous
ahu the travelling public viii cease to patron
&c US. The increased tax and restrictions will
rebound TO the benefit of the very places il is
sought To destroy. The dives can pay the
hnishest license because Of their iniquity.
1hey can circumvent the midnight restrie-
LIohs pS the addition OF a cook stove, frying
pan and coffee pot
No law has ever been passed, nor can any
Jaw De enforced that tends 10 regulate mans
appetlte EXceSSes in anything are TO be
avoided. There are excesses in eating as well
as IN drinking, but no law can be effectual
tl 1has atIellPJs TO govern mans appetite.
oulhptuaty laws are not in accord with the
idea OF American Government The ordI-
nances Whereby an excessive tax is imposed