Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-31
$1,000 LICENSE FEES
May Be Endangered by the Discovery
of the Legislative Defects.
A POINT RAISED BY ATTORNEYS
That the One Mistake Nullifes All Of the
New Regulations.
LIQUOR DEALERS SEEK INFORMATION

confused over the discovery of the blunder
in the proposed amendment to the Brooks
high license law ma1e at the last session Of
the Legislature. Their attorneys are una
BILE to give them satisfactory information on
the subject. and the ruling of Judge Slagle,
printed in THE DISPATCH yesterday, does
not go far enough to satisfy any of them.
Either the wholesalers association or the
new retailers association of Pittsburg, it is
said, will make an effort to get a decision on
the crippled law before License Court is
held, so that no uncertainty may
exist when their applications are being
considered The retailers are fearful that
the Law and Order attorneys who in former
years made themselves conspicuous as OBJ
jectors in the License Court may take ad-
vantage of the legislative blunder to knock
them out next year, and they are therefore
anxious to get the Supreme Court decision
before License Court opens.
The wholesalers complain that their time
is now entirely consumed by their custom
ers, who are wild for definite information
on the bungled law.
"We have been unable to get
since the discovery of the blum
der was made wholesaler said
yesterday. "To-day we have had hotel keep
ers and saloon keepers from every county
in Western Pennsylvania call upon us, not
to buy goods, but to get our opinion as to
the effect of the blunder in the amendment
to the Brooks law.
Trouble Feared in Other Counties.
'1n the rural counties where the courts
are naturally opposed to liquor, is where
there will likely be the most trouble, and
unless we can secure q Supreme Court de-
cision on the question before the License
Courts are held IN those counties, I am
afraid that few, if any, of the country courts
will grant license. Many of the retailers
are blaming us forS not watch
ing the legislation at Harrisburg
closer This particular amendment was
closely watched by US, but l think it Jas
changed on us after we had approved it and
before it was passed bv the Legislature.
Our committee was shown and had ap-
proved the amendment before it was intro
duced in the Senate, where it originated.
Some of us now think that the people in the
Legislature who did not want the Brooks
in charge of the amendment, and SO crippled
it that after its passage 1T would have no
force
eve have been investigating this matter
thoroughly" the gentleman went on. land
every move we make in our inquiry further
convinces us that there was a clever trick
practiced on the amendment by somebody
after it had passed the Legislature, but be-
fore it reached the printer. People who
know Governor PattIson or Secretary Har-
rity will be slow to believe that measure
crippled aud bungled like this amend
ment could pass muster in their hands
without the flaw being discovered.
We don't believe that Governor Pattison
would sign bill that on its face was all
wrong We will follow the matter up, how
ever, and we will find just where the re-
sponsibility for the blunder must rest"
The Ideas of "A ttorney Bremen.
Attorney w. J. Bremen said yesterday
that, in his opinion, the blunder in the
amendment will kill it entirely, and will
leave the Brooks law without any amend
ment. If the amendment to enlarge the
district from which bondsmen can be chosen
falls bv the error, he argues that the amend
ment increasing the license fee from $500 to
81 200 falls also. He believes that the
intention of the Legislature was first to
raise more revenue by increasing the
license fee, and second to recompense the
liquor people by allowing them greater
latitude for securing bondsmen.
eff the court interpret the intention of
the Legislature as our members of the Legls-
lature contend it should be Interpreted"
Mr.. Bremen continued, ''then the Brooks
law has not been amended. The license
fee must be but $500, and the dealers must
get their bondsmen in the ward where thev
do business. The Courts have the authority
to interpret the intention of the Legislature.
There is no doubt that the actual intention
and purpose was to increase the license fee
and then satisfy the dealers by making it
easier for them to get bondsmen. There
was but one intention and purpose and the
Court will no doubt so decide