Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-10

From Judge S. l.. Cranmer, and
Also to Take Up Applications for
Licenses-Meetings of Various
Other Council Committees.
At the meeting of the Council Com
mittee on Petitions and "Reminiscences
last evening the applications for liq-
our licenses were not acted upon and
the time was devoted to discussing the
manner of granting the licenses. There
were present Messrs. George Bradbury.
Chairman; Fred Wilson, Mat Chew,
Walter Bloomfield. Chas Bachman
and John Ritter. Judge S. L. Cranmer
and Presiding Elder Moore, of the
Wheeling NJ. E. district, members of
1.-The one hundred citizens" were also
present.
After the committee had been called
to order Chairman Bradbury inquired
as to whether procedure on the liquor
license applications would be as Gus
tomarily, that is, to pass upon those
unobjected to and then take up those
to which objections are made sepa-
rately for discussion. This step was
decided upon and afterward Judge
S. L. Cranmer, who was present. arose
anu lQ0k CSoCO IAC CO1AIAllICC. TIC GStlQ
that he appeared in behalf of many
citizens and expressed objections to all
the applications and not TO any partie-
ular one. His principal objection was
to the course pursued in granting
license, with reference to the securi-
ties, rather than the applications. In
some cases, Judge Qranmer stated,
five or six individuals are known to
have gone on the bonds of many
licenses. He named one man in par
ticular, going security for amounts,
aggregating $4,000, whom he did not
think was worth the amount he rep
resented. The Judge showed that he
possessed list of sureties. most of
whom were brewery officials. A COL
lector assessed for 5000, he knew had
gone on a bond for 100000 To fur
Their substantiate his statements he
produced transcripts from the asses
sor's books. Judge Cranmer suggested
that the committee assume firm stand
for more rigid bonds and to reject all
license applications, which had INSULT
cient bonds, that is to say, sureties,
that are not worth the same they re-
spectively represented.
NJ. A. Chew then asked Judge Gran
mer and DR.. Archibald A. Moore. pre-
siding elder of the Wheeling district
of the M. E. Church, who was also
present, to offer suggestions with a
view of bringing, about a remedy for
the fault. He remarked that the COM
mittee was entirely governed by ordi-
nances, that the law prescribes that
Council has full power and that it is
a wrong impression in the minds of
many that the committee is vested
with authority to act Independently.
Mr.. Chew then cited an instance in
which the committee had been thrown
down" He argued that the committee
knew of three or four places that
should not be granted licenses and
that Council did not delegate it as a
veto. He maintained that the COM
mittee could only recommend the pas
sage or rejection of petition and adj
ded that the committee would gladly
countenance any suggestion to bring
about a correction. but that Council
would have to decide in the question.
In reply to several questions from
DIR. Moore, Mr.. Chew explained how
the bonds for licenses We're approved
by Council, saying that the acknow-
Judgments were taken before the Presi-
dent of the Second Branch or in his
absence, before the Mayor.
Judge G. l.. Cranmer said that he
thoroughly understood the limited au-
thority under which the committee is
compelled to act, but thought it should
take the necessary steps to have Coun-
Gil exercise greater care in the case of
sureties. He also thought it strange
that a man should swear to acknow-
Judgments and not be worth the
amount of money signifed in his
oath.
City Clerk OBrien next stated for
the benefit Of Judge Cranmer that the
brewery collectors were Unidentified by
Messrs. Reymann and Schmulbach and
Judge Cranmer replied that it is an
evasion of the law, as the law does
not provide for indemnities.
Mr.. Chew then said that if Judge
Cranmer would submit his complaint
in writing that the Committee would.
no doubt, be willing to submit II To
Council with its recommendation
Judge Cranmer expressed his willing
ness to pursue such a course and this
ended the discussion. Judge Cranmer
and DR.. Moore thanked the committee
for the hearing and departed. Mr..
Bachman then urged that the petitions
for liquor licenses not objected to be
taken up and acted upon, but he was
opposed on the grounds that it was too
late to continue the proceedings. On
motion the committee adjourned to
meet at the call of the President