The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-29

ON LIQUOR QUESTION.
Continued from First Pase.)
behalf OF their own interests and in op-s
osition to the Crenshaw resolution was
thai an increase OF license to the figure
suggested and supported by the patron
of the measure would result in driving
numbers OF them out Of business It
would make it a matter of absolute I'M
possibility for them to clear expenses:
Each and every one of. the dealers
stated that the association was willing
and would recommend that a fat license
Of 500 be fixed upon the saloon men.
They thought such an amount just
and equitable return for the privilege OF
conducting the line Of business in which
they are engaged.
The remarks of the liquor men were
nearly all along the same line. only MT.
Nc Blake departing. and this was when
he referred to- the police captains recon-
mcnd!ng the granting of licenses to par
ties who should not have thenl.l None
of the other dealers referred to the class
of people engaged in the business at the
present time.
1t was the unanimous opinion of the
four men who argued against the sl,oVo
measure that the adoption of such
license would result in driving the better
class Of dealers from the business. while
theS people who are constantly violating
the law and make trouble for the police
conducting places of low character. would
pay the license and continue in business
because of the very fact that they re-
sorted to unlawful means for earning
their living.
Mr.. Rosene and Mr.. McBlal1e went so
far as to state that the adoption OF
the $1,000 license would decrease the num-
her of saloons in Richmond from three
hundred odd to in the neighborhood OF
fifty. or sixty, the most of whom Houlo
not represent the better class ot#tne traue.
The dealers had different ideas as 10
the proper time to close saloons at nlsn y,
the locality of the bar having much 70
do with the hour at which they should
close up shop. Mr.. Rosene said that ne
quit business for the day about CLOCK
in the afternoon. while Mr.. Brown, VINO
has a place on upper Broad StIeet, SUI
that if he should be required to shut down
before midnight that his business would
be ruined They appealed to entirely dlt-
ferent classes of trade, being 8focaled III
distinctly different portions of the city
RI M WAS CROWDED.
The meeting was called TO order Re"
minutes after s o'clock by Chairman Cor
=
receDtion of the public and the ADMISSION
of a committee from the Liquor Dealers
Associa ton as a result of which Inc
Commissioner of Revenues Office private
Office was very r>uch overcrowded.
The following resolution was read oy
the clerk. having been illed. nS me So. ses
,.etary of the Liquor Dealers Associations:
Resolved, That we are unutterly op-&
posed to the measure introduced in our
& CITY Council by Mr.. CrensEaw and known
sae the high license resolution, both as to
principle and expediency. for Its passage
would deprive a large number OF our
citizens of their present means of living,
a burden not imposed upon any other
class of tradesmen. and therefore it
would be class legislation of the worst
sort, and unjust TO our trade. Our city
is not in financial straits. and can there
fore afford to deal fairly and generously
with us in this matter. not by a COMPARE 4
son with other places. but in manner
to meet the conditions existing here. for
the trade Of Richmond is q regular one
and seldom influenced by transient GUS
tom, as in many other localities. 4
n. T. REDFORD.
Secretary.
Then. on motion, it was decided to
hear from the Liquor Dealers Commits
tee Messrs. j. p Brown. A. w.
Rosene and George NJ. Cease being pres
ent. j.. j. Rankin and NJ. w Law
renee, both of whom We're on the COM
mittee. We're unayoida bly, detained and
could not be on hand.
OPPOSED TO INCREASE.
Mr. Rosene was the first to have any
thing to say. In a very forceful and
straightforward talk he opposed the
increase in license upon numerous
grounds. setting forth that sucha move
would not only drive him out Of busi-
ness, but would result in numbers Of
the most reputable whiskey men in the
city giving up their only visible means
OF support. He finally drifted to the 4
creation of an exercise board by
special amendment Of the Legislature,
stating that In his humble opinion. such
a boardt would solve the problem and
result in a material decrease in the nuns
Der, Of saloons in the city.
Mr. Rosene was interrupted by Mr..
Brown who called the attention of the
committee TO the fact that. the associa-5
ton had on Monday night, by unani-
nous vote decided that an exercise
board was not wanted. Mr.. 1sosene
said it was simply an idea of his own
and not the body Of which he was
member as a whlskey seller.
Asked concerning an increase in the
license MI. Rosene said that the asso-
y
Of 500 be imposed upon all of the deal
ers in the city, adding that a $1,000 meas
ure would result in decreasing the mum
Der Of bars to fifty or sixty.
During the statement OF Mr.. Rosene
and Mr.. Brown. the committeeman man
ifested lively interest, asking many
questions OF importance. Each time
they met with ready and will ing an
swer Both gentlemen emphasized the
statement that the profits of the bar men
are not what they are commonly sup
posed to be. MI. Rosene stating that Of
ten he sold a gallon of whiskey with
only a profit of 10 cents.
sS PROFITS SMALL
The talk of Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Cease
were very much along the line Of the one
delivered by Mr.. Rosene, only neither Of
these gentlemen referred to the estab-
lishment of an excise board. The former
talked at some length regarding the earn
ing Of the average bar, citing his own
as an instance. He said that before he
cleared a single cent he was compelled
to sell over $40 worth of goods in day.
e..yy. coh -