Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-07
WEED THEM OUT.
PROpaIETORS OF DISREPUTABLE HOUSES NAY
BE REFUSED LICENSE
By the Present City COuncil-A Number Of Sa-
loonisis Who are interviewed Oppose
Granting Of Licenses TO
Dive Keepers.
The dives must go.

So says the respectable element IN
the community, and great number OF
the reputable Saloon-keepers. A search-
ing investigation into the character OF
the houses kept by applicants Tor
license, will result in the rejection OF
a number, and a consequent wholesome
effect upon others which have been
loosely conducted during the past year.
There has been manifested lately a
commendable disposition among Coun-
cilmen to have q regard for the morals
and reputation of the city in the grant
ing Of liquor licenses.
Applications for license must be
handed in to Clerk Thoner not later
than Tuesday afternoon, in order that
they may go before Council at its regu-
lar session on the evening OF that day.
II not applied for at the time mention
ed, saloonists will not be enabled TO
open their places of business before
May 1st. As stated in the REGISTER
yesterday, the Committee on Ordi-
nances Of the City Council had the sub
ject Of saloon licenses under considera-
ton at it's meeting Wednesday night,
and instructed the City Solicitor TO
prepare an ordinance in accordance
with the resolution offered by Council
man Hupp on Tuesday night. The
ordinance will require ordinances to lay
over one or two weeks TO permit refer
ence to committee.
1t will be remembered that the ques-
tion OF refusing licenses TO proprietors
Of disorderly houses was agitated last
year, and five applications were rejected
but afterwards granted. The Saloon
keepers Association was in entire sym
patty with the original action of Coun-
Gil, and this year stands upon the same
ground. A RHGISTER reporter yester-
day obtained the views pleading saloon
keepers, which are given below;
LEO REIsTER.
"I am certainly opposed to the grant
ing of license TO persons who continually
violate the law. 1t is the conventional
custom among certain people TO decry
the saloon, but it cannot be denied that
respectable places are made to suffer in
consequence Of the dives which iufest
certain sections OF the city.
'My views are In strict accord with
those OF members Of the Saloon Keep
ers' Association. We admit no mem
bers without first referring the applica-
tions to a committee, and then the can
didates are admitted only after they
have run the gauntlet OF secret ballot.
Eliminate the question of finance from
the matter, and possibly a flavor Of po-
litical policy. and think Council would
reject at least dozen applications for
license"
COUNCILMAN o'MALLEY.
Mr.. ]. P. O'Malley, one of the Fifth
ward representatives in Council, and
who keeps a saloon at the corner OF
Twenty-third and Main streets, was
very emphatic in his views in regard to
the stricter scrutiny Of licenses than
had heretofore been observed.
THE history of the last Council, " said
Mr.. O'Malley, sis we'll known. A num-
Der OF licenses were turned down, owing
to the efforts of the Saloonkeepers'
Association; but by some inadverteHce
two were read out in open Council as
having been -favorably passed upon.
This mistake was critical, as others
who had been shut out claimed they
were as good as those who received
licenses, and as consequence at the
following meeting OIL. Council that body
granted all the licenses asked for"
''Do you believe in stricter law n
regard TO licenses"
Indeed do. There are several par
ties on this side of the creek who ought
never TO have been granted the privi-
lege of opening house. They are per-
nicious places run by unprincipled men,
and they are so well known that it Is
not necessary to advertize them by par
ticularizing their quarters. This class
of saloons exists in other sections Of the
city, and | am informed that more
young girls are ruined through their
influence than any other methods EN-
ployed in the city. ! am in favor OF
having them investigated"
Chow would you do this, Mr.. O'Mal-
ley?"
''Have a special committee, as has
been proposed, and let them inquire in
to the character Of the people. II
necessary, let the Committee summon
the people who reside in the neighbor-
hood of. the saloon to prove the charac-
ter OF the place; and, II they are intimi-
dated. why call in the Chief OF Police
and his deputies. There certainly must
be some protection this time, for sa oon-
keepers who run decent places and try
to comply with with the law against
those who are continually violating the
ordinances and bringing the business
into disrepute."
OTTO c. wEISGERBER
said: ut is unfortunate that some
well-meaning persons measure all the
saloons of the city by the disreputable
houses which flourish in certain sec
tions. Reputable saloonkeepers them
selves last year urged an inquiry into
the character OF places whose proprie-
tors asked for a renewal Of license, and
were disappointed that Council recon-
sldered It's commendable action in re-
fusing to grant license.
The result is apparent to everybody.
There have have been no less dives, and
there has been no improvement in the
general character Of certain places. In
fact, the reverse is true. To refuse IL
cense to say dozen applicants would
mean q decrease in the annual revenues
of 50, COO. This phase Of the matter may
be looked at by Council, inasmuch as
the estimates for the current year have
already been made out"
SOME PLAIN TALK.
A prominent saloon. keeper. who would
not consen. to the use of his name, was
outspoken in the matter. at is a no
torious fact" he said, "that saloons
uhara the law Is repeatedly violated.