The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-03-11
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIQUOR
LAW.
One to Reduce the Tax IN Third
class Cities TO $500; Anotherto
Enable Applicants to Secure
Bondsrnen In the County.


Eevre entatire Frznklins bill permitting
applicants lor liquor license 10 obtain bonds
men in the counsy instead of as now in the
district from which the application IS made,
aud reducing the fee in third class cities IRON
$500 TO $500, has passed.
The opposition TO the bill came from Mr.
Maenin. of Delaware, and Mf. Williams, OF
Batter. who took the ground that the limlta-
iion of the territory from which bonds
man could be taken is intended to give the
citizens OF the locality measure OF controi
over the business and to enable them to pass
on the character of those desiring to engage
in II.
Mr.. Fow, of Philadelphia, aad Captain
Skinner, of Fulton, made the principal argu
ment for il, the former showing what
hardship the law worked in certain Of the
most populous business wards OF Pbiladel-
phia where resident property holders are
few. Captain skinner, on the same point
told of borough in his county where the
local hotelkeepers could could only give the
necessary bond by agreeing TO buy all his
meat from q certain butcher. In many cases,
he and others said, the difficulty Of procur-
ing bondsmen under the law placed hotel
men and saloonkeepers under the necessity
Of giving an indemnifying bond before they
could obtain the legal security
The bill also provides for the restoration
Of the original intention Of the Brooks law
by making the license fee in cities ofthe
third class $500 instead of 500. As Mr..
Franklin explained, when the BROOKS law
was passed there were numerous classes Of
cities, and the fee for first, second, and third
class cities was $500 and 5000 for all others.
The Supreme Court later decided there could
be only three classes Of cities, thus bringing
the lower class cities into the third class,
and raising their license fees to 500. An
embarrassment TO a change in the Law up to
the present time has been the fact that JUS
tice could not be done the smaller cities
without relieving Allegheny City liquor
dealers of the higher fee. When the law
was passed Allegheny was the only third
class city in the Commonwealth. This year
Allegheny goes INTO tlc stSOiIO IiaSs anu lA-N
difficulty is thus removed.
Mr.. Magnin. of Delaware. objected TO the
change, declaring that the $500 fee was
shown to be no hardship by the circum-
stances that at each recurring license court
there was an increased number of applicants
for license. The bill passed second reading
Z by q large maiority.
While the second section Of the bill was
under discussion Mr. Jones, Of Allegheny.
endeavored to have the license fee il bor-
oughs made $500 instead Of $50. This rails
ed a storm of opposition, number OF gen
tlemen declaring that the amendment would
close the licensed places in mos; of the Dor
oughs of the State as they could not posi-
bly pay the fee. In view of these objections
Mr. Jones withdrew the amendment, saying
that al the same time he had offered il viii
the big prosperous boroughs of bis owl
county on his mind, where. under th'
Brooks law. the sales Of liquor dealers
, amounted in many instances to $4,000
year