The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-24
IT HAS A FUNNY LOOK
Some Names Not Included in a List of
Saloon License Payers.
THEY ARE IN BUSINESS TOO
The Whole Thing Was Disclosed In
a Little Suit for 500 In Judge
Almon's Court. Which Is
Not Decided.
THEY ARE IN BUSINESS TOO

A little trial which took place in
Judge Almons court yesterday after
noon contains little something of gen.
eral interest to saloonkeepers particu-
larly and to all taxpayers in general.
The suit arose out of a suspicion which
has long been entertained by a number
of Butte saloonkeepers that there are
some among their number who don't
have to pay license. While this suspi-
cion has been entertained for years the
saloon men did not think seriously of
investigating the matter until the Ii
censes were raised so materially after
the new codes went into effect. 1t was
then that a number of saloonkeepers.
including Ed Lynch, Savin Lisa, George
c. Fitschen and others concluded to
try to find out just what saloonkeepers
are paying license and just what ones.
IL any. are not paying. Mr.. Lynch
mentioned to John A. Cannon what the
suspicious of the saloonkeepers were
and how they would like to ascertain
II their suspicious were correct. Mr..
Cannon, 1t seems, was not directly au-
thorized to make any arrangement to
procure the lists desired, but mentioned
the matter to Mrs. Henry Wey. Mrs.
Wey said she could get the lists of sa-
loonkeepers who paid license, both
county and city, and said she would
do the work for 800. Mr.. Cannon, so
IL appeared in the course of the trial,
did not promise the 800, but said he
thought the saloon men would pay well
for the information.
Mrs. Wey procured the lists and
turned them over to Mr.. Lynch. 1t
seems, however, that the saloon men in
the meantime had lost interest in the
county license to be illegal. and the
saloon men generally concluded to pay
no license at all until the matter
should be definitely decided. They con-
cluded that il was best not to agitate
the matter of any saloonkeepers not
having previously been compelled to
pay license and thought they had bet
ter be satisfied with the decision given
by the courts and not stir up the coun-
ty treasurer any more than they could
help.
When Mrs. Wey completed her work
she turned in a bill for $780, The bill
was not paid and has been pending for
some time. She finally brought a civil
suit for the amount against Ed Lynch
and John A. Cannon Jointly, and the
case was tried before Justice Almon
yesterday, Attorney Smith appearing
for the plaintiff and Attorney Harvey
for the defendant. The defense claimed
that no contract had been entered into
to pay the 800 and no definite agree
ment had been made. The plaintiff
claimed that IL was a definite verbal
agreement, that the plaintiff should be
paid for doing certain work, and that
certain work had been fully and faith
fully performed. In proof thereof the
list Of saloonkeepers paying license as
obtained by Mrs. Wey from the county
and city books was produced
1t is this list which is of particular
interest just now. There are the names
of 1872 saloonkeepers paying license on
the list. There are some saloonkeepers
doingi business, in Silver Bow county
whose names are not on the county list
of license payers. Just why this is is
a matter which would seem to require
some explanation. Ii is possible OF
that Mrs. Wey made an error
and omitted n few names, but Mrs.
Wey claims that her list is absolutely
1t is barely possible that the
licenses of the saloonkeepers whose
names are omitted were not entered on
the books from which the copy is
made. but this is scarcely likely.
Among the prominent saloonkeepers
whose names do not appear on the list
displayed in Justice Almon's court yes
terday afternoon are B. Gallick a Co.
No. So East Park street: Chris Weide-
man of No. 3 South Montana street, |
and ID. Dorais. IT is believed that a |
careful comparison would show other
names also and the saloon men claim |
there are others. The names mentioned
appeared on the city list of saloon Ii
cense payers. but not on the county |
list. Those who were around the court |
room yesterday afternoon INDUCED in |
some speculation as TO how this hap |
pens. but no one seemed able to ex- |
plain IL. AS to the suit itself. after |
hearing testimony and argument on |
both sides. Justice Almon reserved his |
decision until 10 o'clock this morning
The fast trains on the Butte. Anaconda
& Pacific railway make the run between /
Butte and Anaconda In 45 minutes. AL /