Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-15
WITHOUT LIQUOR
CITY JAY TOWN
COL. LANKERSHIM SAYS THAT
PEOPLE WILL DRINK
Doesn't Indulge Himself, He Tells the
Police Commission, but His
Guests Must Be Pro-
vlded For

name of the city Of Los Angeles Col
onel ]. B. Lankershim appeared be-
fore the commissioners yesterday
morning to warn them that, should
they refuse to grant him saloon IL
cense Los Angeles would soon be
known all over the country as a Jay
town.
Lankershim has tried to get the
Quicili license. According to his own
statement his path along this line has
been thorny one. First the brewery
demanded q big price for the license.
Then when 1t was taken away from
them by the commission and the COL
onel thought 1t was as good as his
the board decided to sell the licenses
at auction to the highest bidder and
thus open new avenue of revenue
for the city, In anticipation of the
boards taking action on the license
question the leading liquor dealers in
Los Angeles attended the meeting.
The first act of the commission yes
terday morning was to adopt the fol-
lowing report, and set next Tuesday
for action on the principles it contains:
"The undersigned, your committee
appointed to investigate and report
upon the power and authority of the
board of police commissioners Of the
city of Los Angeles to grant permits
for retail liquor licenses to the high
est cash bidder, have the honor to re-
port that since the board has discre-
tionary power to grant or withhold
permits. your committee is of the opin-
ion that the board has undoubted
power (the respective applicants hav-
ing the necessary qualifications and
having otherwise complied with the
rules of the board and the ordinances
of the city, to grant such permit to
the applicant who donates to the city
the largest sum Of money" Signed
James and Gates.
COL Lankershim's Plea
| Colonel Lankershim then addressed
the board and said in substance: "Peo-
pie come here and L find that they
want to drink and unless they can buy
liquor they kick and give the town II
bad name when they go away. I was
raised by strict temperance people and
do not drink now, but 1 find myself
burdened with hotel where if it is
to be known as first class hotel there
must be place where liquor is sold
at retail, as people are drinking more
each year.
'I am merely asking for a permit
to carry on a strictly legitimate busi-
ness and 1 do not see where the legal
right of the board to refuse to give me
that permission exists. I feel that the
| license which is at the present time
vacant should be given to me, and
that I should not have to buy it,
Commissioner James asked him if he
regarded the license of any value
Lankershim said the license was neces-
sary
| Mayor McAleer then took a hand in
the proceedings and informed the col
onel and the board that he thought
that the city should sell the licenses
"These licenses have been hawked
about and sold by one person to an
other" continued the mayor, when
| they had no right to the license it.
self, which belongs to the city. The
city needs the money and believe that
If these licenses are sold by the board
| it will benefit the city. 1t is a plain
business proposition and I have prom
| ised the people business administra-
ton and intend to fulfill my promise"
| The subject will come before the
board for action next Tuesday.
Applications Referred
The following applications for liquor
licenses were referred to Chief Ham
mel for investigation:
Lacour's application for a wholesale
liquor license at S71 Also street.
The request that the saloon license
at 355 South Spring street be trans
ferred from Adolph Jahnke to John C.
Kippen.
The application of the p. Schoenhofen
for wholesale liquor license at 800
Keller street.
Request of Lawrence & Fitch for a
restaurant liquor license at 12O West
Fifth street.
Alexander j. Asher's request that the
license of the saloon at 1874 San Fer
nando street conducted under the name
of Asher & McAvoy be transferred to
| himself.
Application of schleibtz & Gumpert
for transfer of saloon license in Hunt
! ington building from Los Angeles
Brewing company to themselves. also
for restaurant license at same place.
Application of Charles S. Sawyer for
restaurant liquor license at 1915 West
Thirty-sixth street.
Application of M, Abraham Goldman
for restaurant liquor license at 312
West Seventh street.
| HONEST LIVING FROM POOLROOM