The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-24
rus LICENSE BOARD.

II|
The license board as at present or
EanIxed has. we understand, adopted
the rule OF former boards limiting the
number OF retail liquor licenses to 400.
This ia a wholesome act quite in ac-
cordance with public sentiment There
Is no law compelling such Limitation,
but until the city grows considerably
public opinion assumes that It viii be
maintained.
Important as is such a measure plac-
ing reasonable limit on the saloon
business under the high license system.
1t is vastly more important that the
school house limit should also be main
tained-a rule that has had the force
of statutory law and that now has the
approval of the school committee, and
that the people have heretofore consid-
cred would be forever recognized BY
the license board.
Former Mayor McGuinness former
secretary, Dorney. is not the first to
apply for a liquor license within 200
feet of public school house. but he is
the first. we believe. to have his APP
plication so far approved as to reach a
public hearing. other such applica-
tions have been peremptorily turned
down without troubling the public
about them. There is no reason of pub
lie interest why Dorney should not SIM
imilarly have been given leave to with
draw without encouraging his applica-
tlon by giving 1t public hearing.
There is no reason why the rule of
former boards exempting school house
territory from encroachment by the
liquor business should not be main
tanned in the present license board as
is the case with the rule limiting the
number OF saloons to 400. Prompt ac-
ton on the Dorney application in ac-
cordance with precedent would have
prevented the present public concern
aroused by a suspicion that Dorney is
attempting to sneak into school house
territory on the strength of his political
friendships in the present board II
this alarm Is needless. the license board
has IL in its power to allay II and re-
house boundaries shall not be passed.
Evidently the granting of the Dorney
license would create something like a
revolution. II one such license is
granted there Is no reason why others
should not be granted. Doubtless there
are eligible sites for liquor saloons
within school house territory, and
though the liquor dealers as a class re-
spect the unwritten law OF their ex-
clusion and are agreed with their fel-
low citizens as to it's desirability, many
OF them would naturally seek to get in
once the bars were down.
Don't let the bars down, gentlemen OF
the license board! Your fellow citizens
look to you to keep them up In the case
of Dorney as In all cases. There can
be no secret about how the vote stands
if the Dorney license Is granted. The
people have no fear that either Com
missioner Burnham or Commissioner
Smith will vote AYE on such a prop
osition. II they do not repose the same
confidence in Commissioners Sprague.
studley and Mathewson it is because
these are the majority that made 1t pos
sible for Dorney to secure the formality
Of a public hearing on his infamous
proposition. and these will be the COM
missioners responsible for the granting
OF the license. IL II Is granted. 1t is
evidently to the interest Of these COM
missioners, as we'll as in the public in
terest. to refuse to grant the Dorney
license, and public confidence in them,
until lately not lacking, will be restored
II they perform their plain duty and
allow Dorney to go into the liquor busi-
ness i'm some other locality