The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-23
HIGH LICENSE.
A Strong Delegation Waits ON
the Supervisors.
Advocates of Restricted Liquor Ira fic Ex-
press Great Confidence That Their
Cause Will Be Triumphant.

The meeting of the License Committee of
the Board of Supervisors yesterday was
anything but dull and spirtless. Usually
this committee has little to consider save
the numberless applications of the lame,
halt and blind for free licenses, and the
proceedings are hardly more than hum
drum serial of the pauper's plant.
1t was not SO yesterday. The paupers had
given way to such distinguished mission
aries in the field of public morality as Rev.
Father Montgomery, Rev. j. Sanders Reed,
Rev. DR.. Horatio Stebbins, Rev. DR.. E. B.
Spaulding, Rev. James Ii. Mills, Rev. E. j.
Lion, George w. Gibbs John F. Merrill.
ex-Judges E. d. Sawyer and Selden S.
Wright. Ira p. Rankin, Reuben Tucker,
Harris II. BonesJell, Oliver Eldridge, DR..
George A. Moore James S. Bunnell, Charles
T. Daley, f. j. Bowen, John S. Hitte, g. Pa
lIaIche, Joseph q. Eastland, Charles Ashton.
William A. Beatty. George FL. Kellogg. Michael
tiOod ana Charles j. King. The supervisors
were also present, except the TWO sick members,
Evans aud Tdber,
The hearing of the proposed high license Or
dlnance submitted 10 the board by the High
License Society on the 18th inst was the pur-
pose OF this unusual meeting.
THE LEGAL ASPECT.
Joseph G. Eastlaud President of the High
License Association, introduced K. d. Sawyer,
who he said would discuss from legal stand
high license law. MIR. Sawyer said that the
lawyers nearly all admitted Tie power OF the
SUPERVISORS TO regulate licenses. Such power IS
conferred by Section IL OF Article Al OF the
Constitution which provides that all cities have
the power to make all local police, sanitary and
other regulations for the government OF the city
not IN Conflict with a general law. There IS no
general law upon the subject of liquor license.
The Supreme Court has distinctly held that
Supervisors or municipal authorities may impose
such restrictions as They see fit upon The sale OF
liquors.
ExSupervlsor Wright said he was present be-
cause of his sympathy in the movement and the
interest lie naturally felt in raising the STANDARD
OF public morals. He believed that high license
would check the liquor traffic wonderfully, and
he had no doubt OF lie Supervisors power to es-
tablish il.
CHARLES Murdoch read letter from Phila-
delphla official. showing that 5713 liquor licenses
were issued IN That city III 1857 ana only ZOoo
the following year after high license ordinance
mad been passed. Also that 30, SS9 arrests were
made for drunkenness in 1887 against %, 636
lu 1883. Other letters showed that In aif cities
high license had reduced lie number OF saloons,
the amount of elmo and the work OF police
courts, While the revenue from taxation had
been greatly increased
AN APPEAL TO PRIDE.
Rev. Father Mou gonery appealed to the PRIDE
OF the Supervisors by telling the High License
Society that 1t Is fortunate Ia having a chance 10
Drlng such an important measure before twelve
men WHO had already proved their interest In
the socletys welfare by closing the pOOro0ms.
his advocacy OF high license, lie SAID, was not as
a Catholic priest, but as an American citizen
trying to remedy II great EVIL. Physicians had
told him that per cent Of disease Is the result
OF drluk, and lie had heard a judge now on the
bench say thai 20 per cent OF all crime Is the re-
suit Of drink. Tie Catholic Church does not OPP
pose the sale OF liquor, but 1t does oppose the
abuse OF that privilege. Out oil $50 replies from
parents OF the pupils IN Sacred Heart College,
3lS were 10 favor oil high license. There is not
another place on earth where so much liquor Is
consumed IN proportion 10 the population rs III
San francisco. IL Is responsible for one-lhird
OF all Insanity one-half OF all poverty, anu three
fOurths OF all crime. The society asked for moth
Ing radical, said the father 10 conclusion simply
d reasonable restriction that the number OF
saloons may be reduced, and tue tone OF those
that do exist elevated.
EVILS OF THE TRAFFIC.
DR.. Stebbns said lie could add nothing TO what
PEAR Ike neglect OF duty. He pictured the evils
OF the whisky traffic with much FORCE ana APP
pealed 10 the board to take a stand against IL,
even If ii bore them down.
Rev. j. Saunders Reed said lie had great conf
dence that The board would pass The ordinance.
O;heT great cities IN lntS and other nations are
doing likewise, and the amount OF good resulting
coulu never lie estimated
Il. G. Harrison, President OF the League OF
Freedom, lIQuOi- dealers association, started 10
open the other side of the question by declaring
that high license would throw 1900 dealers out
Of business and give them no return for their
goods, but at this point Supervisor Ebert sug-
gested that the committee better appoint
other day TO hear The liquor dealers side OF The
question, since all could not be heard at that
meeting
An adjournment was then taken for two weeks.