The record-union., 1894-10-08
COMMON SENSE FOR CONsIDERA-
TION.

A petition is on file with the City
Board of Trustees for the establishment
of a saloon on the approach to the City
Cemetery and within two blocks, with
street widths, of the entrance gates, and
directly upon the line over which
travelled by those who go out to visit the
graves of their loved dead.
The application was referred to the
Chief of Police and by him reported
upon adversely. This, however, does
not appear to have checked the persist
ence of the applicant. For some reason
none could be good-a second reference
of the matter was had to the chief, and a
second time that official reports to the
board for its action tonight adversely,
that it is not wise to issue licenses for
more saloons upon the cemetery ap-
proach to the city and is an offense to those
who use that walkway to the cemetery to
plant drinking bar where the peti-
tioner wishes it in this case.
There can be no question about that.
The Chief is right, and he ought to be ap-
plauded for his courage to withstand the
pressure. The plea is made for the peti-
tioner-and it is the only one-that with
his grocery to which the proposed bar is to
be an adjunct, he 'tcannot make liying''
unless he is granted this permission. In
1Nlo hoe hod lor
ton within ten days, when it was argued
in the board that because man was poor
and wished to sell liquor to support him.
self. therefore it would be cruel and op-
pressive to deny him.
We submit that this plea is unworthy:
the worst thing that can be done for the
poor man is to launch him in that direc-
tion for that reason. 1t is not a question
of charity or of the personal need, but
one of common good and right municipal
government. We submit that the people
who do not keep saloons nor frequent
them, and notably the poor who do not
resort to that vocation, have some rights
in such matter. They have the right to
have the approach to the cemetery kept
clear of what is so inappropriate, TO speak
of it in the mildest manner. We submit,
also, that city with a drinking bar-at
the lowest estimate as to bars and the
highest as to population-to every $50 of
all the people, men, women and children,
is amply supplied, to put it in no stronger
terms, and that it is an injustice to those
now licensed to permit any further dilu-
tion of their supporting patronage.
It might be granted that diminution OF
the number of bars would not affect the
consumption OF liquors, to show that this
is not a temperance question, but one re-
lating to the fitness of things. There is
one saloon upon the approach to the
cemetery now, and upon the only side of
the street having sidewalk. We submit
that it is quite equal to the task of sup
plying any need for bar and to plant
another exactly midway between 1t and
the gate to the Home of Our Dead is bit
of injustice to the present possessor of
the franchise. TO say nothing of the right
sentiment and common decency the Chief
of Police reflects in his firm report
against the issuance of further licenses
for saloons on Tenth, between r and Y
streets.
The people will await with consider
able interest the manifestation that will
develop whether the City Trustees viii
sustain the Chief, or yield to the pressure
brought to bear to turn the city license
bureau into charity box for everyone
needs open IA saloon to make living at
the expense of others whose wages ought
to go to their own and not his support.