Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-03-03
THE GATCH LICENSE BILL.

gree practlcaDle mas Deen presented Dy
Senator Catch, republican, of Polk
county. The Schmidt bill was killed by
its own weakness, and that being the
authorized measure of the democratic
party, they do not seriously consider
any of the other bills introduced by
democrats. Disappointed in their pur-
pose to put saloon into every hamlet
in the state they have no desire to pass
a high license, restrictive measure.
They prefer that no legislation be had
in the license direction, to the end that
their position and power in the state be
enhanced.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Catch is
county option, high license, carefully
guarded law. 1t providas that upon
the presentation of petition signed by
two-lifths of the voters of county the
board of supervisors shall order spec
ial election for and against license. 1t
may not be held within ten days of any
general election. Forgery on the
petition or bribery to secure signatures
is punishable by the laws for such |
crimes in other cases. In case the ma
jority is against license the proposition
may not be voted upon again for three
years, and after that once in five years.
If the majority favor license application
for permit is made to the district court,
showing applicant to be respectable
citizen, describing premises, and signed
by thirty residents and owners for dis
lance of POO feet on both sides the
street of the proposed location. The
county license fee is $500, which must
be paid to the county treasurer in full
in advance. The municipality may de-
mand such additional license as may be
deemed wise. The regulations are very
strict. The license may be revoked up
on violation of any of the conditions
under which it is issued. Liquor must
not be sold to any intoxicated person,
or minor, or person in the habit of be-
coming intoxicated. The place of bust,
ness must be closed from II p. m. until
g a. m. it must be closed on Sunday and
on election day. The business must BIZ
conducted in one room; opening on g
single street; no games are allowed
blinds, screens, or paint to obstruct the
public view are prohibited. For viola
ton Of any of these regulations the per
init holder may be fined from S25 t.
800. A bond of 5000 is exacted
against which, the husband, wife, child
parent, guardian, employer, or any othel
person injured in person, property o.
means of support by any intoxicated
person" shall have right of action.
If it is admitted that any license sys
TEN is desirable, then the Catch bill
contains regulations and restrictions
which recommend it. The license fet
is equitable, provided that municipal
ties do their duty. The regulations are
restrictive, if enforced. The bond il
more nearly adequate than the othel
bills offered, and would afford adequat,
indemnity for actual damages sustain
ed.
The bill is before the legislature as ;
matter of policy rather than principle
Nobody believes in the alleged "divint
right" of the saloon keeper. 1t is simp
ly proposition to regulate what man!
believe cannot be prohibited. 1t is al
ready prohibited or reduced to the leve
of its own degradation in large por
ton of the state. The prestige of tn,
traffic in the state is waning. The bat
tie for prohibition is partially won, an,
much ground would be lost if the polio,
were changed now.
But the claim that the last election
indicated Enthusiastically change il
public sentiment in the state is worth
of consideration. The governor stoo
for the saloon, solely and conspicuous,
and was elected by plurality of S,2l:
The 9l5 prohibitionists and 12,3O3 pei
pies party adherents might have mad
majority for Wheeler and prohibition
but they were off on other tangents. ;
they are liable to be again, and cam,
be counted. by giving their suppo
to third party tickets they helped Boi
and the saloon, and If considered at 8
their vote must be added to his plura
tyand make an overwhelming majorit
1t must then be conceded that the yo
indicates favor for license. On the lie
islative ticket majority of republica
were elected, and we should be glad
know that this indicated desire tn
the power to change the prohibito
law remain in favor of its retentic
hut all know that many votes in Il
state wers held for the republican ca
didates through fear of Michiga
izing Iowa in the event of democrat
success. IL was said that this considt
alton alone saved republican hous
The Des Moines Capital, the most a
dent prohibition organ in the party, a
mitted this much few days after ele
ton
The stabbexn fact remains, howevs
Cat the republican members were cleo