Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-09
ENFORCING THE MULCT LAW
County Attorney Killpack Serves Notice on
City Officials
MUST COMPLY WITH ALL OF ITS TERMS
Notice Worries City OmciaIs, who Are
Fearful it VIII Mean Great
Loss OF Revenue to the
City.

County Attorney Killpack has served Of
fetal notice on Mayor Morgan that the
saloons Of the city must be run IN con-
formity with the provisions Of the mulct
law and that the change in existing con-
ditions must be made not later than the
twentieth Of this month. While so far
Mayor Morgan and other members Of the
city administration have declined to dis
cuss the matter, they made no secret of
the fact that the county attorneys notice
comes as a veritable thunderbolt at this
particular time, when the city is about
to figure on It's revenue for the ensuing
year.
In the event Of the county attorney in
sisting on the saloons running according
TO the mulct law, It means that the city
will in all probability lose half Of the in
come derived at present from this source.
There are about forty saloons in the city
paying an annual license each Of 81, 900,
which goes into the police. fund and con-
stitutes one OF the main sources for the
general fund, as when the latter fund runs
short the surplus in the police fund is
transferred to Il. 1t has always been con-
tended that many Of the saloons could not
keep open and make expenses IL compelled
TO abide strictly by the requirements Of
the mulct law and that the greater num-
Der Of them would be forced to close their
doors and go out Of business.
Under the muIct law the saloons cannot
open before s a. m. and must close at 10
p. m. They cannot open on Sundays or
holidays and. can have no side or back
doors. Further they cannot maintain
screens or any distractions in the win
dowS so that patrons Of the bar may be
visible TO any passerby on the street out
side.
warns City OmciaIs.
what motive County Attorney Kiilpack
has in making this sudden move the city
officials are at a loss to understand, al
though IT Is conceded that it is in his prov
ince to enforce the mulct law II he feels
so disposed. The county attorneys. sud
den activity in this direction, however,
came as a great and equally disagreeable
surprise TO the mayor and other city Of
fcials, who regard It as a hard blow TO
the city. especially when the munIcio pal
ity's finances are at such a low ebb as at
present and Will be during the ensuing
fiscal year. Without the usual revenue
derived from the saloon licenses The city
officials are at a loss to see where suf-
fcient revenue can be derived to maintain
the fre and police departments consistent
with the needs of the city. BoLh depart
ments are paid from thesgenerall fund the
levy for which cannot exceed ChdCF thk
law 10 mills. The levy Of 10 mills On the.
present assessed valuation Of CheC ckty
brings in little more than $4,000, an
amount entirely inadequate by itself TO
maintain the several departments Of the
municipal government.
CITY ~oficials when appraised Of the county
attorneys move we're inclined to the Opin-
ion, although they admitted they had no
evidence to justify IL. that the motor com
pany was back Of It. They say that TO
enforce the mulct law IN the city would
result in driving all the trade of. The sa-
looms TO Lake Manawa on Sundays nEd
week nights. One city official In discussing
the matter yesterday declared thai II
County Attorney, Killpack persisted In en-
forcing the mulct law in the city. ne w'uld
be called upon to do the same regarding the
saloons at Lake Manawa and elsewhere
throughout the entire county. Thers rs 40
doubt from the expressions of the city
authorities yesterday that the saloons and
other resorts at Lake Manawa VIII De
forced to comply with the law the same as
in. this city II the county attorney adheres
10 his resolution regarding the saloons
within the city limits.
In view OF the notice served by the
county attorney on the mayor. II is OK
pected that a special session. OF the city
council will be called this week to dis2lss
the situation.