The record-union., 1898-09-01
THAT N0RDSTROM LICENSE.
CITY COLLECTOR ROBERT.
SONS EXPLANATION.
Acted Under Legal Advice-But
Can the Dance-House be
Maintained?

There was considerable Indignation
expressed yesterday by citizens over the
action of John Nordstrom, the Third
street dance house proprietor, in reopen
ing the place as an alleged soda water
rendezvous and continuing the music
and dancing that has been such a nuis-
ance to decent people who live in the
neighborhood. 1t was supposed that
when the City Trustees revoked his Ii
cense that would be the last Of it.
Chief of Police Dwyer had not been
officially Informed on Tuesday evening
Of the fact that Nordstrom had taken
out merchandise" (soda water and
cigaD license, the first he knew of it
being when Officer Bagley informed
him, about 8 o'clock, that the place
was open, with music and dancing as
of Old
There was naturally considerable
curiosity to know how it was that he
was so readily granted even a soda
water license, as his purpose was to
continue business at the old stand. On
this point City Collector Robertson
gave a very satisfactory explanation to
a Record Union" reporter yesterday.
As a matter of fact, Mr.. Robertson
tried TO avoid giving Nordstrom any
kind of a license and did not do so un
til he had taken what he deemed to be
proper advice on the subject. He said:
"A man by the name of Bilse called
at my office yesterday and asked for a
license for carrying on a merchandise
business at 1112 Third street, saying
that Nordstrom intended removing all
his wines and liquors and intended in
the fntnrp TO a q n Sp
Demonstrating cigars. soda water and
lemonades.
Il have no authority to refuse any
application for a merchandise license,
but in this case l did refuse him, but
he insisted that L had no authority to
do so. 1 then told him 1 would look the
matter up. He thereupOn left the office,
returning shortly after with his at
torney, and demanded a merchandise
license and rendered me payment for
the same.
L called on the Mayors Clerk, who is
an attorney, and he agreed with me
that l could not refuse anyone a mer-
chandise license who applied for the
same. 1 thereupon issued a license To
transact merchandise business
The Mayor also agreed with me that
~SN@AA w i1ONll4llS ClSS lItd-l 1SSOC lI6
license asked for.
Immediately after issuing the license
l requested the Mayor to instruct the
Chief of Police to keep watch on the
place and arrest anyone selling wines or
spirituous or malt liquors, which l sup
posed the Mayor did.
L have not issued any license for a
saloon or dancehall.
L have no authority to determine
the point as to whether or not any
place is a nuisance
IF l had refused to issue a merchan-
disc license I would be exceeding my
authority, and would also be laying my
bondsmen LIABLE
1t now remains to be seen if it is
really possible for this man to defeat
the intent of the law and the wishes
Of the public by trick. The old adage
OF where there's a viii there's a way"
should be applicable in this case. With
the Mayor. the Chief of Police and
Board of City Trustees working in
unison, there ought to be found some
way 10 enforce decency. even in the To-
cality of hoodlums and degraded wo-
men.