Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-04
HIGHER, BUT NOT HIGH.
COMMON COUNCIL PUTS SALOONS
IN THREE CLAssEs-s1oo,
$3.50 AND $3.50.
CITY WILL GAIN $4,000.
Substitute for the Five-Hundrcd
Dollar Ordinance Adopted.
THE VOTE STOOD &c TO 8.
Council Chamber Throngcd With
Liquor Dealers, Whose Saloons
Were Dark on Account of To-Dny'x
MISUNDERSTANDING, Which VIII
BE Reported Back to the Lower
Branch.
Branch.

After q session lasting five hours last
| night the Common Council by vote of
Is to refused to adopt the substitute
| ordinance from the Finance Committee
| fixing the liquor license al $500, and adopt
ed another substitute providing for a
graduated scale in three classes, leaving
the determination of the class to the
Finance Committee according to the
| amount of business done by the respective
liquor dealers in the city. The highest
class will be $3.50, the next $3.50, and the
| lowest s100
It was stated last night that the
changes as proposed by the action Of
the Council would mean $4,000 or si00oc
Increase in revenues from the liquor buS-
ness.
There was large crowd Of liquor meE
and their friends present throughout the
meeting. This was made possible by the
fact that all of the saloons in the city
were closed on account of the election to-
day and because of the widespread inter-
est in the disposition of the amended
ordinance as presented by the Finance
Committee.
Half a dozen representatives of the
dealers addressed the Council asking for
fair play; that they be given the same
consideration accorded other avocations
in the city.
Mr.. Crenshaw, the patron of the origi-
nal ordinance, made lengthy argu-
ment for the adoption of the fat license of
$500. He led the fight on the floor. He
asked a number of questions of the repre-
sentatives of the dealers, the tenor Of
which indicated that he was seeking
information
The whole matter now goes back to the
Finance Committee, which will report n
ordinance embodying the figures given
above The question will not be consider
ed by the Board of Aldermen until the
Common Council shall have finally dis
posed of it.
For Fair Fight.
When the measure came up about s
o'clock on its report from the Finance
Committee, Mr.. CrenshaW moved that it
be laid on the table for short time He
said he was of the opinion that there
would be some citizens who desired to ar
pear before the Council and oppose the
ordinance, and he wanted to give them a
show. He thought, too. that all OF the
members had not come in and they would
want to hear the matter fully before vot-
ing upon 1t.
Mr.. Peters opposed any citizen being
heard by the Council, claiming that the
committee was the place for such argu-
ment
General Anderson moved. that an hour
be given the citizens who desired to be
heard.
Mr.. Peters moved that ten minutes be
given to each citizen. who desired tc
speak, and this was adopted
The Opposition Opens.
w 81
in his own behalf. He said he was a
retailer, who sold liquor by measure in
fancy grocery store, and not by the
drink TO be drunk in his store. He claim
ed that the present gradua ted rate of the
license tax was fair to the family liquor
stores, but the proposed measure would
place all under the same tax, regardless
of the business done.
He was asked q number of questions by
Mr.. Crenshaw and several other members
and he closed by saying he thought he
paid enough to the city.
Mr.. W. A. Izleversal took the floor next
and stated that the dealers present did not
want to go into their arguments until they
had heard Mr.. Crenshaw's statements,
and asked that the arguments for the
license be presented first
Mr.. Crenshaw said he was ready to
make his statement at any time. He
thought however, that If the dealers
had any opposition to make, that was the
time to make it.
President Bloomberg decided that the
dealers should continue unless the body
decided to reconsider It's former acton
Mr.. Shea moved that the action be re-
considered.
Mr.. Crenshaw objected to the motion.
claiming that this was the proper time
to hear citizens, and hoped the motion
would not prevail.
The motion to reconsider was lost by an
Overwhelming vote.
Mr.. Rosene Speaks.
Mr.. A. w. Rosene. vice-president of the
LIQUOR Dealers Association, was the next
sneaker. He said that he did not come
prepared to say anything against the
pronosed increase in the license. He had
argued the matter fully before the FL
nacce Committee, and did not think That
there was anything else that he could
saw He said he wanted reason for the
increase. ard claimed that the LIQUOR
business in Richmond was not sufficient
to Justify such an Increase as was pro-
nosed by the report OF the Finance Com
nlittee.
He Gained rents were too high In the
city to Justify the dealers to continue
I~nNTINJ ON SIXTH PAGE.)