Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-30
DISMAY CAUSED BY DELAY.
License Court Judges Postpone the
Date of Handing Down the
LIST OF THE LUCKY APPLICANTS.
A Smooth Road Nay Not Result in
Speedy and Safe Arrival.
MICH ANXIETY AMONG sALooNKEEPERs

and many pillow seemed IuIl OF tnorns
The heads were those of Pittsburg liquor
license applicants and their uneasiness was
caused BY the announcement from the
license court judges that the list of lucky
applicants would not be ready for publica-
ton until this evening or tomorrow.
1t had been announced that the list would
be finished up in time for this mornings
DISPATCH and the applicants and their
friends were jubilant in the thought that if
ii had been prepared SO quickly, little
cocnizance had been taken of remonstrances
and licenses would be distributed with a
lavish hand. But, alas for human expecta-
tious, 1t appears now that the Judges are
taking as much time for consideration Of
applications as their predecessors on the
license bench There is misery in store for
many who expected nothing but joy.
Need More Time for Consideration.
The announcement of the change in the
Courts programme was made by Judge
Collier Yesterday "We cannot hand the
list down tonight, and. 1 doubt if we can do
so tomorrow" he said, as with Judge
Slagle he emerged from their private
rooms, where they had been
closeted all day, going over their
work of the past ten days. They
had worked from 9 o'clock in the morning,
doing without dinner and never ceasing
until nearly o'clock last evening.
.The job has been bigger one than we
thought" he continued in his pleasant
manner, eand we have decided not to hold
court tomorrow, but to put in the time I'm
ishing up the Pittsburg list. If we get
through with it tomorrow we will make it
public at once, but it will require big
effort and 1 am doubtful about it, very
doubtful"
The delay makes many of the applicants
feel nervous They thought while they
were being rushed through the mill in one,
two, three order, they were sure winners
Now, that the Court requires double the
time at first set apart for going over the
list, fears are arising that there will be
many disappointments.
Didn't stop 70 Get Dinner.
OF course it is impossible to say what part
of the work is consuming the judges time.
Judge Collier Jokes in bis usual manner
when ouizzed about the work, but guards
very cleverly against giving any informa-
ton that will indicate the progress of the
court. One thing is certain, they are ex-
erting every possible effort to reach the
end, so that the applicants NAV not be
kept in suspense. Sine. last Wednesday
the only dinner they hav. eaten was on
Sunday, the dinner hours on other davs
being spent in reviewing the applications
and the work has been continued every
night as well.
When the news of the delay in the hand
ing down of the list was circulated through
the city it caused general dismay among
applicants, and it was the general opinion
that the new court was not going TO be such
an easy snap after ALL A number of down
town applicants who are now in the busi-
ness smiled pleasantly when the subject
was mentioned. as if thinking: 1.-The
fewer licenses the less competition, and SO
much the better for us.
Said Matt Weiss, of Smithfeld street:
81 have expected the judges would be care
ful, observing and fair, and the fact that
they are taking time in going over the ap-
plications satisfies me was right. Only
good houses will be licensed and that will
be good for dealers and everybody con-
cerned."
Pleased With the Prospects.
John Newell, James Piatt and NJ. NJ
Frey all expressed similar views and
d
revision of the applications meant that only
houses with proper accommodations would
be licensed
Chief Brown was not surprised when he
heard that the Court was going slow in de-
Gliding the successful applicants 81 think
the Court wants to be tair," he said, land
will only grant licenses where the con-
ditions Justify. By this 1 mean that where
an applicant has a reasonably good char.
acter and a house equipped for furnishing
not only drink but something to eat and
plenty Of it he should have a license. If
he has good accommodations for dodgers so
much the better.
eff were on the license bench / would
carefully examine into all the applications
from present dealers, and after ascertaining
those who have kept proper houses during
the past year would grant them licenses
Then I would select those among the other
applicants who have houses which rise to
the dignity of places of public entertain
ment, and grant them licenses too. All
others / would refuse"
"How MANY licenses would you grant?'
Chief Browns Four Hundred.
"Not less than 400 and not more than 40
Too many licenses put a premium on dis
order, lawlessness, Sunday selling, all-night
saloons and general violation of law. If
premium goes onto the speak-easy business
and grows in spite of US. There is happy
medium between the two extremes. I con-
slider 400 that medium. The Brooks law is
intended to regulate the liquor traffic and
keep it within bounds. With the medium
1 have indicated our police department
would be able to control it and the law
would fulfil its purpose.
The liquor traffic" continued the chief,
sis after all proper subject Of police reg
ulations. The Judges have it to worry
them for few DAYS or weeks, but I, as
head of the Police Department, have it to |
look after for 365 days in the year. When |
assumed control of this department, there |
was no such thing as a closing hour; saloons |
ran day and night without interval
Wants a Decision From Court.
''I made an arbitrary rule that they must |
close at midnight and not open until 8 A. NJ |
There have been many criticisms of this |
rule, and l would like to have the Court |
this wear define what should be the opening |
and closing hours of a bar In support of |
my rule 1 would call attention to the !
thousands of men in various parts of the |
city who get through work or start at their |
daily toll between the hours Of 2 and 4 |
A. NJ No man will, wait around from
midnight until 3 o'clock in the |
morning merely for q drink and |
therefore by closing at IL all the loungers |
are driven home. But the thousands who /
are ont at in the morning and desire a
lunch, or for that matter drink, should be
provided for, and if the dealers are willing
to accommodate them they should he al ;
lowed TO do go. TO please a large class OF /
conplsiners hope the Court will define !