The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-11-23
THE MAYOR VETOED IT.
Johnson's Variety SHOW Pound LdYo.
Gates In the Council.
THE QUESTION OF REORGANIZATION.
The Csmntssee Appointed 90 Inves-
tiEate it-Loaters and Ttuherns
Posing rs Privileged Character.
Dr. necermtek,s Report, Etc.

IN ttAth VI NSo Rtt1thh
at the regular meeting on Monday even
ing. Mayor Prosser presiding. The min.
utes Of pre- ious regular and special meet
ings were read and approved. with .
slight correction in those Of the latter.
The mayor announced that d. Z. Stew
art has sued the city and Richard
Schmidt jointly. This action comes from
the notorious Schmidt case against the
city for about $50, 900 on a contract, the
conditions Of which he failed to meet In
due time.
Mayor Prosser returned ordinance No.
200 without his signature. II is the ordi-
nance reducing the license on the variety
show OF o. W. johnson and others. The
veto message is herewith presented in
full. 1t merits perussl and approval:
TO the Honorable City Council Of North
Yakima. GENTLEMEN Il have the honor
very respectfully to return herewith ordi-
nance No. 209, passed at your last meet.
ing, without my ap )roval. Under exist.
ing ordinances 1t Is provided that exibi-
tons and other public amusements and
theatricals, except those given wholly for
charitable or benevolent purposes, shall
paw license into the city treasury Of IS
per day. Ordinance No. 2O9 provides that
this license shall be increased to $3.50
per day, except when paid for by the
quarter OF year, when II shall be issued
tor $l60 per quarter. This is a very ma
terial reduction and is intended. as un-
derstand, TO be for the benefit Of a class
of theatrical performances which l be.
lieve to be vicious, criminal and democrat
izing in their tendencies in the highest
degree and their introduction or mainte-
nance in the city Of North Yakima to be
not only unfortunate, but disgraceful. 1t
is needless for me to say that q grave
responsibility rests upon the city govern
ment In this matter or that the powers
with which we have been intrusted should
be exercised to limit and restrain, as much
as possible, all houses and places OF pub.
lie resort, which are not conducted upon
correct principles or in accordance with
good morals. The revenues which, 1t is
proposed, shall be derived by the issuance
of licenses Of this description will afford,
il this ordinance should become q law,
but poor compen alton for the evil and
corruptiDg influences which will be exer-
cised in the community by theatres OF
the class provided for in this ordinance.
By lending aid and ENCOURAGEMENT to
their existence and support we are simply
sowing dragons teeth which shall eventu-
ally produce plentiful crop OF criminals
to ill our jails and to add immensely to
the expense Of our courts OF Justice, to
cay nothing OF broken homes ruined fam
lilies and denoralized young men whose
future lives may be blighted by corrupt
and debasing associations in their early
years.
I am not willing by any act OF mine to
tarnish the present good name and fame
Of our city and county by encouraging the
introduction and maintenance OF this
class OF so-called amusements. do not
teel justified. therefore, in approving this
ordinance, and return the same for such
further action as you may deem proper
to take in the premises.
Very respectfully,
VIM. +. PRosBER, Mayor.
After the reading OF the message Coun-
Gilman Lince asked the mayor il he had
taken into consideration the fact that the
"show" might be hereafter conducted
without admission charge and thus do
more devilment than at present without
paying license st all. ave now have fufi
charge Of the institution" said LiRce,
"and We would virtually lose that control
should we lose the right to license the
house."
"The council has absolute control Of
that house now and it has 1t whether H.
cense be chargeable or not" ans Sered
the mayor with emphasis. "Should it
be run without charging an admission
fee there is in that fact no evasion OF liza
bility under the law. The city, through
its governing body, has absolute control
Of such places at all times. II they be
conducted in disorderly and indecent
way the business OF the council is to close
them u land it is our official duty to do
it. Further than that" added the may
or, warming up to his subject, "the coun-
Gil should pass and enforce an ordinance
closing all saloons at midnight and pro-
hibitlng their opening before six O'Clock
next morning. All MAJORS should be re-
fused admission to such places at all
times. l am told" said the mayor, as a
shadow OF disgust darkened his earnest
countenance, THAT fathers sometimes
take their boys into the variety show and
into saloons. The parent who commits
such disgraceful offense ought to be
punished fer it and the duty OF the off,
GERS of the Law is to see that he is"
Councilman Lince replied that he had
Frequently seen boys In the variety and
warned them that they were out OF place,
but they he'd to me about their age; and
what could dor"
Councilman Kuechler had seen them
there, too, ard had been bluffed out OF
summary performance OF duty by the es-
cort Of the boy claiming that the lad was
present in his custody and under his es-
pionage.
Attorney Murane sharply notified the
councilman that the law prohibited min
ors from visiting such places under any
condition, and he intimated that coun.
Gilman should know that. "No relief an
come to the child" he said, "from the
fact that he is with his parent or a GUS
todian of any character"
Councilman Kingsbury moved that
vote be taken on the passage OF the ordi-
nance over the mayors veto. Ayes
Kingsbury, Lnce. Carpenter and Kuech.
Ter; noes-Allen, Reed and Redmon.
the mayors veto was sustained.
DR.. Mccormick. the health officer, re-
ported the existence OF case or two Of
scarlet fever in the city and suggested
that the matter was OF more urgent i'm
portanee to the council than the exist
ence Of diphtheria in a neighboring val
lar HE xapnrf an rafoxraA 20 ha ,.oI;o.