Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-30
clnim They Can't Pay 1t, but None
VIII Say That It Would Make Kim
Close Up-Drussist. Indignantly
Deny Being In the whfskev BUSH
ness-Judse Wits Course In the
Past.

fixing Its recommendation Tor liquor IL
censes at $500 was the subject of wide
spread comment among the sa loon men OF
the city yesterday. Inquiry among the
saloon men developed almost unanimous
opposition to this taxat ton, but when
questioned as to whether they would
close their places of business II the Coun-
Gil approved the finding of it's committee,
no saloon man was found who would
state positively that he intended to go out
of business.
There seems to exist undoubtedly among
the liquor men the belief that the Coun-
Cal will not approve the recommendation
of the Finance Committee. They are not
crossing Their bridges until they comc
10 them, ard the hope that the Council
will reject the $500 proposition burns
eternal in the hearts of the men who con-
duct the liquor business in this city At
the same time they are inclined to be-
lieve that there will be unquestionably
an increase In the present license but
they think that the proposition of the
Finance Committee will be cut in half.
If any increase is made-in other words
fixed at $50.
Cut Off the "Shorts.'
Investigation among some CT the sa-
looms in the vicinity of fifteenth and
Seventeenth streets yesterday did not
bring out any expressions OF opinion on
the question. except that they thought
that the $500 tax was too high. and it was
intimated that these saloons would have
to cut off their short" or five-cent
drinks. In order to get sufficient revenue
10 make up for the increase In their IL
cense fees.
The saloon men are very conservative
in what they have to say. The fear that
strong opposition to the proposed license.
and bitter fight in the Council against
ii, may precipitate the Issue of local op
.on seems to restrain any OF the saloon
men from taking too decided stand
against an increase. Certainly the opin-
ions expressed yesterday indicate that
the saloon men are willing to stand for an
increase amounting to double the present
lowest License which is $50, but under the
present scale Of graduated taxation upon
the saloons this wouiI he a, relief to those
saloons that now pay to the city much
larger license than s1c0
what Saloon Men Fear.
A well-known city official said yesterday
that the kind Of a fight that the liquor
dealers make against the increase OF the
license will either invite or postpone To-
cal option contest in the city. There
seems to. be no doubt that the Anti-Sa1oon
| League is preparing for this sort OF a
! campaign. When this would be started,
under ordinary circumstances, rests with
] the promoters of the League. 1t may be
/ a year or longer under present conditions,
but if the liquor dealers defeat the $500
license, it is expected that they VIII be
called unon in less than six months to
meet another issue that would mean
more than the cost of the license, the
( 1,robable total suppression of the saloon
in the city.
The temperance people have been quiet
lv considering this matter since the new
{, registration. They believe that the CITY
could be carried by the "drys by an
essy majority \ member of the state
Committee of the Prohibition party stated
recently to a reporter of the Dispatch that
The Constitutional Convention could not
have playeG into the hands OF the Anti
saloon people better If the Mann resolu-
Iion had been Incorporated in the consul
tuition He referred to the disfranchlse-
ment of the negro and 1llterate "Eite
vota which has hitherto been aligned
with the vets in local option fights.
want an Excise Board.
The saloon men who conduct reputable
nIaccs of business are agreed upon the
fact that the dives ought to be pro1iiol- :
ted but without exception they say ina,
tha high license Will not accomplish tiiis
! desired end. and investigation as 10 lhe
amount of business done by these places
seems to bear them out in this deciara-
tion They adhere to the belief that an
excise board. having complete controi
over the granting of licenses, can pest
snnnre,ss the disreputable resorts. ms
oninon was almost universal among lhs
saloon people. Even those whose places
have borne an unsavory reputation III
no,ice circles declared that the owes
ought TO be restricted. but they would not
saw that they would go out or ousisless
With a $500 license upon them one ol .iie
10 roest most prominent saloon men. saio
..-rhe truth of this whole matter is 'hae
,hara should be a flat license. ana every
SELDOM man should be left to hus1ie iof
his business If by attention TO business
and conducting an orderly place l can
nr,Id ,Ip successful business, why' that
| ,,are,v a matter of my business Sd
racitv." The inference left by this Saloon
nan was that hedid not desire 10 carry
/ ,he burden of his fellow associates III the
,,,,siness simply because they were en-
pa..ed in the same occupation.
Among the patrons OF the saloons,
! whose opinion. could not be given 'i'oei
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PACED