Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-15

Hereby Presented.
The new license bill. taken to
Charleston by the Chic county delega-
ton and introduced by Mr.. Laughlin
yesterday. has stirred up things very
decidedly in this portion of the State,
and particularly in this city. and yes
terday those engaged in the saloon
business and collateral interests Were
buzzing about, wondering what
chances the measure would have, and
affecting to be surprised at the strict
terms of the proposed law.
The Register called attention to the
fact that this bill was in preparation
six weeks ago, and made reference to
its salient points. 1t is largely built
along the lines of the Brooks law OF
Pennsylvania, and is very much cast
iron in its requirements.
The discussion of yesterday had a
decided tendency toward a feeling that
the bill would pass, although it might
be subjected TO some amendment, and
those debating its features even
went so far as 10 predict how the local
Senatorial and Representative vote
would stand. In the course of these
discussions it was recalled that a ma
jority of the counties of the State
either refuse to grant liquor licenses
or strictly limit them in number. and
that the tendency might thus be in the
direction of a more stringent law on the
part of many of the legislators. This
was qualified, however. by the hope
that the decreased income to the State
from a. curtailing of the number OF
saloons. coming as it does at a time
when there is a demand for enlarged
State revenues, would give the Legis-
lature pause, and that the bill might
be rejected upon this ground alone.
This was about the only hope enter
tanned, however, by the gentlemen in
terested.
1t was acknowledged without at
tempt at concealment that the prepar-
alton and introduction of the bill was
entirely the fault of a certain element
Of the saloon-keepers themselves, just
as the same interests in Pennsylvania
were responsible for the Brooks law.
The Keystone State used to have a
very liberal license law, but it was
abused by that class who insist up
on interpreting license to mean liber-
ty to do any and ali things. AS a result
a slowly aroused public sentiment de-
manded and secured a new law which
brought tears to the eyes of the sa-
loonists, and in some cities, as in Pitts
burg, seven-eighths of them were fore
ed to go out of business, their hours
were restricted, and they were so
'hp6CA6 about fbat OF N +ip,a thor0
were only about forty saloons in Ale
gheny county, where there Were once
about four hundred. OF late years the
number has been somewhat increased.
but is still very far from the old list,
and If the proprietor and his employees
does not walk the chalk line exactly
80 he runs into trouble from which
there is no appeal. The same thing
occurred in Massachusetts, where all
saloons and ever hotel bars are re-
quired to close at IL o'clock at night
and remain closed until 6 O'Clock in
the morning, and it isn't healthy to
disregard the law, lately upheld and
more rigidly construed by the Su-
preme Court Of the State. In New York,
a few years ago, free lunches in sa-
iOOLO WCIC oDoOIulC]y plOLiDlJSu UG-
the privilege had been abused,
and in many other cities and States
there have been similar restrictions
imposed as to hours, license require
ments, numbers Of saloons and general
conditions.
AS stated, there is an element in the
business responsible for this sort o.
legislation. Some salo0nists obey the
law, exclude gambling devices and keep
quiet, orderly and respectable resorts.
Others place no restraint upon them
selves, and violate about every law
bearing upon the case with a total
disregard OF the fact that they are
only permitted to do business at all
upon suffrage and not as a right. That
sort of thing naturally results in un-
pleasantness and when it does the in
nocent suffer with the guilty. Such a
law as that now at Charleston has been
brewing for some years, and its draft
ing and Introduction has often been
predicted both orally and in the public
prints. 1t all results from taking a
good deal too much lee-way, where a
conservative curse would have been
just as we'll.
There was an intimation in this city
yesterday that a lobby would be sent
down to Charleston to fight the bill
under consideration, but enquiry could
not s~ubstantiate the fact that any
definite steps had been taken to that
end. A few days, however, will prob
ably clear up this feature Of the case.
Any such local effort to defeat or hold
UP the bill originating in this city
would probably be reinforced from Sis
tersville, Parkersburg. Huntington,
Charleston, Grafton, Fairmont, Man
nington and a few other cities and
towns in the State. and the fight would
then be an interesting one.