The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-14
SALOONS MUST STAY CLOSED.
THE COUNCIL REFUSES TO REPEAL
THE MIDNIGHT CLOSING LAW.

lOOns-COI. Garrard Makes Some
Comparisons of the Work of the
Police Before and After the AdOp-
tion of the Early Closing Law.
The ordinance to repeal the midnight
saloon closing law was defeated last night
in the city council, after a spirited de-
bate. The final vote stood to 4. as fol-
lows.
Opposed 10 Repeal-Aldermen Falli-
giant. Carolan. Gleason, Bacon Tiede-
man. Lamotte and Garrard For Re
peal-Aldermen WiHink, Screven. Kol-
shorn and Hudson. Alderman Watson was
excused from voting
The fight against repeal was made by
Aldermen Falligant and Garrard. AL
oerman Kolshorn, who introduced the
ordinance. made a short statement say
ing that he introduced it not at the re-
G-est Of the saloonkeepers, but Of parties
representing large business interests in
the city. He requested that Mr.. T. 5.
Morgan, Jr., be allowed a hearing in
behalf Of the saloonkeepers.
Alderman Falligant opened the debate
by reading a paper which ne had pre-
pared, giving reasons from a physiologi-
cal and sociological standpoint why the
ordinance should not be repealed. He
appealed in behalf OF the wives and
at least five hours relief In twenty-four
from the work of dehauchery and degra-
dalton. These are the hours, he said, in
which the greater number of crimes at
trihutaole to the use Of liquor
are committed. Another reason,
he pointed out. why the ordinance
should not be repealed. is the strong
sentiment throughout the state against
the unrestricted sale Of liquor and If such
should be allowed here. he said, 1t IS
very likely that stringent legislation would
be sought and secured.
Alderman Falligant concluded by pro
posing a compromise TO the effect that the
closing hour be extended to 80 a. m, and
that in summer the opening hour should
be 4;30 a. m, and that such places as de-
sired to keep open all night should be al
lowed TO do on the payment of 800 ad-
ditional license
The saloon keepers who were present to
witness the repeal Of the ordinance listened
to Dr. Falligants paper with amusement
apparently.
Alderman Hudson said he felt like say
ing amen when Alderman Falligant con-
cluded.
Where is the common sense" he said
" II this is such d great evil, Of allowing
the saloon keepers to keep open all night
by paying 500 more"
Alderman Kolshorn said in reply to
Alderman Falligant that he was not asked
by saloon keepers, but by business men
having large interests to submit the or
dinance. He moved that 1t be put on its
passage.
Alderman Garrard said he had expect
ed to hear from Alderman Kolshorn some
reason for the repeal Of the law. II was
incumbent upon the alderman, he said to
give some reasons why the ordinance
should be repealed. IL should first be
shown why the present ordinance is an
evil. He was against the ordinance ne
said He did no To,
repealed. The people of Savannah are
allowed an opportunity to drink nineteen
hours In the day, he said, and he did not
consider 1t "A deprivation that they should
be kept out Of barrooms for FIVE hours
out Of the twenty-four. There are DIG
barrooms In the city, according to the
records in the clerks Office" said Col
Garrard, and our police force numbers
only 66 privates. We have 66 policemen
to look after 236 barrooms."
Col. Garrard said he had conversed with
respectable saloon keepers who said there
was no profit to them in keeping open all
night 1T means an increase of work for
our police force and an increase Of crime"
he said. During the week preceding the
passage of this ordinance eighteen arrests
were made by the police between the
hours of midnight and a. m. During the
week following the passage of the ordi-
nance the number of arrests during these
hours was nine"
Mr.. Morgan made an argument in be-
half of the liquor dealers He proceeded
to give reasons why the law should be re-
pealed. In the first place, it was passed
during a time of heated partisanship, he
said, and evidently as a partisan measure
He intimated that il was passed for the
purpose of putting Mayor Myers. then an
alderman and candidate for mayor, in
q bad light before the public. II was dis
covered all of a sudden by the last council
most of whom had been in office for four ]
years, that such a law was required.
Strange it is said Mr. Morgan, that |
the only two members Of that board who
voted against the ordinance now sit at
this table, the one at the head and the
other at the foot"
The sale of liquor Is either lawful or II
is unlawful" said Mr.. Morgan. IF you
license it, 1t has the same rights as other
lines of business. A man in any other
business can keep his place open every
hour in the twenty-four If he so desires"
Mr.. Morgan said it had been we'll adver-
tised to the public by the newspapers that |
the ordinance was to be repealed, and yet !
there had been no protest and no petition |
10 snow that there was any public SEN
timent against it.
Alderman Garrard said the speech of |
Mr.. Morgan would have led him to vote |
against the ordinance if ne had not already |
decided to do so. He did care, he said, |
who enacted the ordinance or why it was |
enacted. 1T was not an issue IN the cam |
paign, he said
mot word has been said in which there !
is solid reason. as to why we should sup |
port this ordinance. instead, we have /
simply had a feast of syllabub," said Col. |
Garrard.
Alderman Falligant made an eloquent |
argument against the ordinance In reply |
to Mr.. Morgan. He warned the liquor deal |
ers that if the matter were not care
fully handled in Savannah it would be !
taken up by the state at large
Alderman Tiedeman said he had spoken |
10 a large number of respectable saloon
keepers in the city, who had told him
that they preferred that the ordinance
should remain as it is. He had received /
messages TO the same effect from If
teen others.
When the ordinance was put upon its
passage Alderman Watson asked to be
excused from voting, as being an inter- /
ested party. The viva voce vote left the |
result in doubt, and the ayes and nays |
were called for, with the result as al |
ready given.
The HOrsa to Sail To-day.