Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-08-20
RepealS Ordinance to Submit License
Question to the People.
MEMBERS TOOK SNAP JUDGMENT
SpeciaI Session Catches Opposition
Unprepared and the Saloonmen
Kill an Important Law.

Seven memters Of the Mart'nsourg
city council. with Mayor Minghlni
presiding, held a special meeting az
the city hall Mon6s az night and accom-
rlished the Surprising and wholly I'M
expected act of repeating and wiplng
from the ordinance books the recently
enacted law providing that the
question of license or no license should
be submitted to the voters OF the city
at each municipal election.
As will be remembered by every
body, the council passed this ordi
nance upon the petition OF number OF
well-known citizens. many OF whom
were identified with the prohibition
and temperance movement in this cry.
and who were backed in their efforts
by q wholesome and widespread public
sentiment. The object OF the ordln-
ance was to give the electorate an OPP
portunity each spring to vote whether
the saloons should be granted license,
or refused permission TO continue bust
ness. At the election in May the
question was submitted to the voters.
and sslicense" was voted for by an
overwhelming majority.
Not satisfied with this, and the very
apparent fact that many people voted
for license solev to be reasonable and
fair with the saloon interest, several
saloonkeepers have since been quietly
agitating not only the repeal Sof the
above ordinance, but the passage OF
another permitting the saloons to re-
:uain open until IL O'Clock at night,
instead of II O'Clock, as at present.
Owing to tie publicity given the mat
ter, and the powerful public sentiment
againstit. the latter measure has new
or been attempted, but Monday night
the other was made an accomplish ed
fact. and the people were caught by
snap judgement and are now powerless
to prevent the council carrying out
the terms of~the repeating resolution.
The special session was daily sum-
moned by Mayor Minghini. the call
reading that it was Ito consider any
business legally brought before the
meeting. - There was no reference.
however. to the proposed repeal of the
license ordinance, and consequently
there was no opportunity TO rally any
opposition against il. except that
offered by Mr.. Thompson and Nj.
Lemen on the floor.
When the meeting was called to
order by the mayor there were present
Oouncilmen Mcdonald. Lemen. Barry,
Hutsler. Thompson. Grozinger and
Schill. The first matter introduced
was the establishment of market
law, wherein it was provided that
produce could be sold on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday in front of the
market house from to s a. m, and
on the streets from a. m. until the
following day at Moons except on Sat-
urdays, when selling should cease at
noon.
The other business transacted was
that nothing but concrete sidewalks
and enttets shall be placed in the
future on the following streets: On
Martin, from the Baltimore & Ohio
depot to Maple avenue; on Burke.
from Spriug to Maple avenue; on
Queen, from Martin to south side of
square; on King. from Spring to the
Cumberland Valley depot
1t was also decided to get estimates
on paving with brick North Queen
from Gilbert's corner to the square.
ORDINANCE is REPEALED.
Then the repeal of the ordinance
submitting the license proposition
was brought up by Councilman Schill.
who made a statement in which he
said the saloon people were opposed to
granting the prohibitionists the priv
ilege of spending the taxpayers money
each year to help their cause-that
they had nominated national and state
tickets and the proper thing for them
to do was to nominate a ticket in
Martinsburg and fight their battles
the same as the other parties. Mr..
Schill therefore moved that the ordin.
anCe be repealed. The motion was
seconded by Councilman Barry, and
the debate was on.
Councilman Thompson stated that
he would vote against the motion if
1T was pressed. and offered an amend