The record-union., 1893-08-11
THOSE THEAIRR LICENSES.
General Clunie Treats the Supervisors
to Some Oratory.
He Declares That the Theaters Cannot
Open Under the Present License
Arthur Seymour Warns Up.

u6 Walls Ialfiy SQOOK WlL0 OraLOfN,
and there was repartee enough there to
delight man laid up with the gout. 1t
was all about the trouble which has
arisen between the county and the man
agement of the local theatres, over the
payment of licenses. 1t will be remem-
bered that the county has sued for some
alleged delinquent licenses. and the
theatrical folks, while denying that they
owe anything, also want the license fixed
by the county reduced for the future, in
order that the theaters might open per-
manently-theyc claiming that the present
license prohibits operation at profit.
General Thomas J. Clunie, Major W.
A. Anderson, e. a. Crouch and j. II.
Todd appeared before the board for the
purpose of asking for reduction OF the
county license on the Metropolitan
Theater and Clunie Opera-house. Major
Anderson acted as spokesman. He pre-
sented the petition which was shown to
the Trustees last Tuesday, signed by busi-
ness men, and asking that the license be
reduced. He also presented a resolution
to the same effect adopted by the Feder-
Rted Trades. The local theaters, he said,
were expensive to handle, and the pres
ent licenses meant that they would have
TO be run at a loss if at all. In all Euro
pean cities, he said, theaters were subsi-
died by the public. The latter recog-
niZed that amusements were necessary in
all cities. In no city in the United States
OF the size of Sacramento was such high
license demanded as is done here by both
city and county. AS it stands now the
present management cannot and has not
run the theater at a profit. On the con-
trary, in the past they had been
RUN AT A LOSS,
And in support of this statement the
Major read the affidavit of c.. L. Klein
sorge, who keeps the theater books, show
lug that Tor several years past the theaters
had lost money. The board should take
into consideration the enormous eX-
pense. The licenses had all been paid since
the present management took charge.
Because there was animosity in certain
quarters toward one member of the man
agement was no reason why the officials
should prevent the people from having
amusements, he said. a permanent stock
company at the Opera-hOuse was contem-
plated, but the man who was going to
undertake it had written that he couldn't
stand the license.
Chairman NJ OrrlsOu wanted to know
what the management would suggest as
a proper license for any outsider who
should open theater here.
The Major replied that it should be in
DIObOlIlOtl Win liIS license asked IOf DIV
the petitioners.
AT this juucture, General Clunie asked
permission to say few words, and he
soon waXed oratorical. He said the
combination" in the theater manage
ment complained of was not an injury to
the public. 1t was simply a method OF
protection adopted by the owners to save
themselves from loss. Previous to the
coalition both theaters lost heavily. for
thn that tbpU mt oA
others throats. What they proposed to
do now was to run both theaters-the
tlunle with permanent stock company
at cheap prices and the METROPOLITAN for
high-priced combinations. The General
said he had right to expect fairness at
the hands of the people of Sacramento.
lie had always been the friend of the
city, he said, and cited as instances his
work, when State Senator, in defeating
the debris bill, which, if adopted would
have ruined Sacramento; his subscrip-
tions toward East Park, the Riverside
road, beautifying Capitol Park and other
similar actions, all Of which, he said cost
him thousands of dollars. Still, he said.
he didn't suppose that when he applied
TO the City Trustees shortly for per-
mission to substitute electricity for gas
in the theaters that they would grant the
request because Mayor Steinman is inter-
ested in the gas company. The theaters
pay at the rate OF $40 month for gas, he
declared, and he guessed this was too
good thing for the Mayor to let go of.
WOULD EAT JUST THE SAME.
Continuing, General Clunie said he was
willing to sign an agreement that the Su-
peryisors should have access to the thea
ter books at any and all times, so they
could see how much money was being
made, if any, and he would further agree
that as soon as the profits exceeded per
cent per annum the license should be
raised. Il am not depending on these
theaters for living" he said, "but |
have an interest in Sacramento and her
people, ana | want them to have what
they are clamoring for-good amuse-
ments NJ cheap rates. / can close up these
theaters and 90 away, and Pll eat Just as
good beefsteaks as | eat now. | don't
think l am being treated fairly, gentle
men. Here, when | come back from the
East, l find myself overwhelmed with
lawsuits-unnecessa lawsuits. [ have
TO defend all of these, and that's expen-
pensive, as you all know. A couple o!
young lawyers here, who are not very
busy, evidently, have rushed into court
and branded me before the people as d
man who won't pay his bills. l don't
like it, gentlemen. These young men
should have come to me or my agents
first, and they would have been shown
the receipts proving that nay licenses
have been paid. They have not acted
rightly in this matter"
SEYMOUR REPLIES.
Arthur Seymour and f. Hartman. tine
''two young lawyers the General re-
ferred TO, were sitting in the lobby, and
their countenances indicated they did moi
relish the thrusts made at them. Mr.
Seymour arose, and addressing the
board, said: "FH answer all that when
the General gets through"
why not answer it now, before 1 get
through" asked Mr.. Clunie.
Seymour advanced toward the General.
and pointing his finger at him, said:
General, If you really desire it l'Il tell
you and the board, here, just how | called
on your agent Mr.. Crouch, in reference
to this matter, and II tell you, too, if you
desire it, just what Mr.. Crouch said to
me about IL"
''Go ahead and tell it." said Clunie.
Don't keep anything back on my ac-
count, sir. I'm not afraid of anything
you might say. My life is an open book.
Go ahead, now, don't keep anything hack,
l say
Chairman Morrison interrupted the
discussion at this juncture to tell General
Clunie that MeSsrs. Seymour and Hart
man were simply the servants of the
board and We're not altogether RESPONSE
Die for the law suits. They were EN-
pioyed for the purpose OF examining the
county license books and ascertaininG
who were delinquent They were in
structed to collect the money if possible
and il they failed, to bring suits for the
money. The theater people were not the
only ones sued.
General Clunie, however, adhered tC
the belief that Seymour was the cause o
all the trouble, and he charged the young
man with being unfair and too hasty.
1--WE known that young man since ht
was a child" he said. Il knew his daddy
l,nt.,.., him and nAvar e. rnncfad Il -