The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1899-01-28
LIQUOR LICENSES.

there was method in his manner Of pill
fering, as we'll rs an absolute lack Of
method and common business prudence
on the part OF those who from time to
time contributed to his pleasure fund.
under the delusion that they were paying
for the privilege of selling intoxicating
liquors.
1t seems that the saloon men OF the
county quite generally have, for several
months past, permitted the late sheriff
TO usurp all the functions Of the board Of
county commissioners in the matter OF
granting liquor licenses. The idea seems
to have become prevalent among them
that all that was necessary for them to
do to enjoy the privilege Of selling liq-
uor-a privilege carefully guarded by
the laws Of all the states of the union
was to donate a certain sum per quarter
TO the private Golfers OF Pease. As We
are advised, the laws in the state, while
liberal in regard 10 the sale of liquor,
nevertheless provide a perfect system
OF procedure to be followed by those who
desire to obtain a license to engage in
the liquor traffic; and there is one sbso-
lutte requirement. and that lie, get your
license before you begin to sell.
The sheriff is provided with blank Ii
censes by the county auditor and is
charged with each and everyone issued
to him. These licenses have a receipt
attached to the bottom Of them and
when they are sold to an applicant, the
sheriff must sign the receipt for the
amount OF money paid to him. When
the applicant is provided with such
receipt he should present it with his
bond and application to the board OF
county commissioners, who by law are
clothed with the authority to grant or
reject the application. II the license is
granted, the bond together with a stub
which is detached from the license 10
filed in the Office OF the county auditor
who is ex-officio clerk of the board.
Thus record is kept Of the licenses is
sued and an absolute check secured upon
theesheTif who has collected the money.
Under the recent regime there was no
check, except in the cases where the
licenses were actually obtained. There
was simply little debtor and creditor
arrangement between Pease and the sa-
loon men. 1t is true they have paid
their money, but they did not get what
they paid for, and as a consequence have
been running without licenses and clear.
ly in violation Of the law. The Pass
does not like to say I'VE told you !"
but the attention Of the public was edi-
torially called to the manner in which
this business was being conducted sew
eFal months ago.
While our sympathies are always with
the victims of any kind OF confidence
game, we are satisfied that in this in
stance the saloon men, if they are made
to pay for the licenses which they ought
to have had, are but the victims of their
own folly. We do not suppose that any
OF them Voluntarily connived at Pease's
system Of piliering; but they undoubte
ly made it possible by permitting Pease
10 collect their money and not demand
ing Of him the voucher they were entitled
TO. Had this been done the county
would have been provided with a record
OF the amount collected and Pease would
have been compelled to settle by the
record once q month, as the law requires.
Defalcation would then have been al
mort impossible.
The county is entitled TO the money
for these saloon licenses, the school fund
lie embarrassed for the lack OF it. To get
it the county must doubtless enter into,
or be dragged into, long seige Of expen-
sive litigation, all a result Of peoples
dealing with an official and not taking
the ordinary precaution OF securing the
protection the law gives them. II it il q
question whether the saloon men shall
pay this money over again or OF the
schools losing it, we say make them pay
- WV hhCJ LHcy bAl
complied with the law and made Pease
produce the license, the county would
have some record in case Pease had de
taulted, upon which to make his bonds
men pay; but as it is, there is nothing
TO show who las paid, when it was paid
and the amount.
/ haa haan a. -, -.
simply to present the matter to
our readers fairly and honestly, basing
it upon the instructions issued to Sheriff
Bradbury by County Attorney Goode,
the statutory provisions Of the law, and
the facts as they have been developed.
Mr.. Goode is the representative Of the
people and is pursuing the only course
which seems to us proper and right in
protecting their interests. His position
10 logical; it seems correct, and he is de-
terinined to follow the Law and zee that
IT 10 enforced, not only in this matter,
but in many other cases where public
officials have been disregarding it from
what they call "custom," at the expense
oil the tax payers. There are a nun Der
Of abuses that have been practic.d in
this county contrary to law that cannot
be continued and il any one voted for
Mr.. Goode with the idea that hc would
be mere figure head and conduct his
Office regardless Of law and his duties,
they were simply misjudging the man.
In these liqnor license cases he 10 fight
ing for the people and will be backed by
their hearty sunport and announcement