The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-09
ALL MAKE EXCUSES
Charter Commissioners Avoid
the Liquor Question.
The sunday and Night Closing OF >a-
looms TO be an Alternate
Proposition
Or. TEMPLE AND HIS FRIENDS.

The alderna mic chamber. in which the
charter commission holds its sessions, was
a kind Of batting box yesterday afternoon
with the temperance people and the saloon
interest p.tted savageiy against each other.
and the members OF the commission acting
as spectators or as hackers OF one or the
other OF the contestants. Temperance was
represented by two advisers. Rev. ". IL u.
Temple and Rev. Clarke Davis, and the
spirit dealers by NJ. c. Winstock. Everett
Smith and @. F. CotteriIl, Of the AMI
Saloon League. were also in the box
Dr. Temple had preached sermon On
the previous Sunday, from the text, And
they all. with one consent, began 70 make
excuses" with particular reference 10 the
members Of the charter commission haY ns
''ditched" certain recommendations made
By the Anti-Saloon League. So he came in
u the discussion with a feeling that every
mans hand. or ear, was against MIN Dc
cause OF the things he had said about them
in his sermon. II was not so, but the doc
tor apparently thought so. He said be
didn't intend 10 refer 10 them personally.
If this commission OF Intelligent mel--L
spoke Of you as such IN nay pulpit, ne
said, and il was not very clear whether he
was speaking apologetically or sarcastical-
~. lie made an earnest, logical argument,
however for all licenses 10 expire al the
same time and for licensed places to be
closed nights and Sundays. They asked fer
very little. he said.
NJ c. Winstock replied to this that the
liquor men had asked for nothing at all ex-
cept to be let alone. The liquor business
was a legitimate business and paid $500
q year into the city treasury. The latter
was an unfortunate remark for Mr.. VIM
stocks side OF the question, as was
chance reference ne made to the influence
OF those who earend their bread by quench-
ing OF public thirst. II was much tossed
about when the commissioners got down
10 the work OF debating the question.
The Army Post Comes In.
Tremper moved an amendment TO the
licensing bill, in view OF the establishment
Of nited States military post here, that
no license be granted to any place within
one mile of any military post within the
limits OF the city. He said that We were
practically assured OF getting a military
post in the western part of the city. and
army officers who had visited here for the
purpose of selecting d site had requested
that some such measure be passed. other
wise. in their opinion, military post With
IN the city limits would be more of a curse
than a benefit. Joslin asked that the amend
ment be made TO include any state camp,
and this being done the discussion of the
bill as a whole followed.
Afraid of Public Sentiment.
Stein said they were all afraid to take a
position against what Is known as the moral
sentiment. and in opposing Sunday closing
OF saloons and closing them at n-ght, he
did not do SO on the ground that the city
is getting a revenue of $4,000 year from
it. ana that the city might lose that reve-
nue. He opposed il because it was an at
tempt to make people neral by the opera
ton of law. They could regulate the sell
ing Of liquor but they could not regulate
the thirst OF the individual. The saloon
was the result of d social condition. No
less an authority than Miss Willard, presi-
dent Of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, had said that instead of the saloon
being the cause of poverty, poverty was
the cause OF the saloon. His main ccnten-
ton was that the good people started
wrong Reform was individual If ell
United States and other taxes and licenses
We're taken off whisky, f il were made as
free as water. then the saloon and its evil
influences would disappear
Winsor suggested that the friends of tenn
perance frame the measure themselves. and
that It should go TO the people for adoption
as an amendment. If this bin went into
The charter as il stood, the whole charter
would be met 10y the opposition of the sa-
loon interest.
Later on in the discussion ne himself
moved an amendment 10 the charter that
the saloons close from II p. m. 10 a. m.
week days, and al day on Sunday, and
President Andrews came down 10 the floor
and made one of the most earnest appeals
of his life in its favor Joslin and others
were in favor Of giving the city council
full power 10 deal with the subject, and
then the temperance people could elect
their own councilmen.
Yes. and you know that the city coun-
ell would dodge the question just as we
are lodging It," replied President An
a
OF the situation and bore ont Or. Temples
text. for in the end the licensing bill of the
charter was not altered except as TO phrase
ology, and the Wlnsor motion was passed
as an alternative proposition, only three,
Allen, Joslin and Stein. voting against ii.