The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-07-18

REFUSE LICENSE WITHIN 200 FEET
OF CHURCHES AND PUBLIC BUILD
INGS
A most astonishing change has been
wrought in the liquor laws of the state
by the action Of the revision commit.
tee Of the statutes. AS the result OF
the insertion of few words several
prominent saloons in this city, to say
nothing Of others in the county and
state, will have to 60 out of business
after the present license year expires.
The particular section of the liquor
law which is involved in this change is
that which relates to the location of
saloons near churches, public build
ings, school houses, post offices and
cemeteries. The old law said that the
applicant must state in his applicable
If his proposed saloon was within 200
feet of any of the places named above,
| and left it discretionary with the COM
missiOnerS to grant the license. But
the new law makes it mandatory upon
the commissioners to refuse all appli-
''church editices or public schools, or
premises pertaining thereto, or any
post office, public library or cemetery" :"
And there is no loophole in the law
to let an old established place slip
through. All must be refused licenses
by the commissioners when application
is made for renewed next fall. In this
city the new law will affect several
we'll known saloons and hOstelrieS.
The Amazon cafe and Jackson house
on John street are both within the
prescribed distance, not only of the
Frst Congregational church but also of
the public library. Borg's place on
Bank street will have to close, as will
Carr's at the corner of Cannon and
Broad street and Stickles' on Cannon
street. These are only a few near the
center OF the city which now come to
mind. No doubt there are many
others about the city which may come
under the ban. If such is the case
nothing can save them when the time
comes to renew. 1t is we'll known that
there are many famous places through
out the county which will suffer. Not
the least OF these is the Central house
at Newtown, owned by former Senator
Michael J. Houlihan. The hotel is
right opposite church and is much
less than 200 feet from the property.
Heretofore in dealing with the locat-
ing of a saloon near any OF the pre-
scribed places the commissioners of
this county have generally discouraged
those who applied, and in cases where
the remnnstrance has been strong have
invariably refused. Where Jnere were
old established places and there was no
objection, as in the case, of Carr's -Sa-
loon on Cannon street, the saloon has
been allowed to remain. The action
of the revision committee in making
this change has aroused considerable
surprise. 1t was never supposed that
the committee would make any such
radical alterations as this, amounting
practically to tine making Of a new
law. But the general assembly gave
it the power and the members have
seen fit to exercise it to the limit In
tthis instance. The revision commit
tee has been at work on the statutes
for nearly two years. According to the
law under which it acted the new stat
utes 20 into effect from July l, last
when a copy OF the statutes were
placed in the hands of the secretary
of state. Preliminary copies have beer
sent around to the officials whose dut!
it is to enforce and interpret the law
The change made in the liquor Law
, will work hardship on some of the sa
looms, but there is no remedy, at leas
until the general assembly meets mex
|. January.1Bridgeport Post.