Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-22
AGREEMENT PROVES A SNAC
Compromise Of Last Year Between Civic
Federation and Saloons.
LINER THoNAS ENCOUNTERS DIFFICULTY
protests Against Issuance of License
on Account of selling Liquor
on SUNDAY Heard by
the BOARD.

Like an avengng monster the Illegal /
compromise. made by the saloon Keepers |
II Omaha and the executive committee OF !
me Civic Federation in the matter Of liquor |
Licenses last year. and agreed to by the !
Hoard of Fire and Police Commissioners. |
iose I'D last night to harass and embarass |
Elmer F. Thomas. the attorney for the |
civic Federation, who this year is seeking |
TO prevent the granting of licenses to sa- |
loon keepers whom he alleges broke the !
law during the last year. The attorneys
or the saloon men alleged before the Board |
~ Fire and Police Commissioners Thurs |
day night that the protestant. Elmer T..
Thomas, was not acting in good faith. and
as proof Of this assertion, John Parish.
attorney for the saloon keepers now and
a year ago, took the stand and made the
following statement of the compromise
made at that time
At the time Of the granting of licenses the
rst of the year Mr. Thomas. as attorney
FOR the Civic Federation, protested against
Tho granting OF a number of licenses on
yarious grounds, among which was the sun
day closing talked with MT Ia In nod,,rsd OF,
lostponement of the case. After that 1
met with a number Of the saloon men and
was given authority to meet Mr.. Ihomas
and the members of the executive commit
ice of the Civic Federation. The meeting
was held in the Office OF T. ]. Mahoney and
Thomas r. ] Mahoney C. S. Hayward, ".
e. Graham, Dr. Somers and James w.
Hamilton. il was agreed that II tAe
saloons would close at II o'clock and the
doors be locked by 1880, no liquor TO- be
aSia 70 minors the SUNDAY Closing would be
waived. | stated at the time that II the
Sunday closing was insisted upon the con-
ference would end at once. Mr. Graham
and Mr. Hayward then said: Your pTopo-
sition is fair. 1t is all we want and all we
are entitled to. and we are perfectly willing
NAL agreement.
The agreement was made and 50 stated
10 the board, and Mr.. Thomas Withdrew
Ills protests and licenses were granted.
Thomas objects to Evidence.
Mr.. Thomas made objections to the in
PRODUCTION OF this agreement as evidence
and when he was overruled he asked until
Friday in which to secure evidence with
which 20 answer and through 1t all /. ].
Dunn, erstwhle reformer and helper OF
Thomas sat across the table, attorney for
various saloons.
During the afternoon and evening Mr..
Thomas introduced testimony to show that
a number of saloons had sold liquor on
Sundays and that the view from the street
into the barroom was INSTRUCTED by screens
and curtains. The allied attorneys for the
saloon men offered no evidence TO rebut
the testimony that saloons had sold liquor
on Sundays and every question Mr.. Thomas
been done on Sunday was promptly over
ruled by the board. The attorneys offered
evidence TO rebut the statement by the
Civic Federation detectives regarding the
obstructons In the saloons. but when their
witnesses were asked regarding the Sun
days referred to by the protestant's wit
nesses they did not know of their own per-
sonal knowledge. and when asked IL they
had sold liquor on Sunday the objections
were always sustained.
Police Testimony Kept Ont.
The board also put the seal upon the
mouths of Chief Donahue and Captain Haze
when Mr.. Thomas asked them regarding
Sunday opening. The attorneys objected to
the question as being irrelevant and i'm
material and Chairman Broatch promptly
sustained the objections
George Brunnenkant. who runs saloon
at 317 South Seventeenth street, said he had
been at his saloon on a Sunday upon which
Detective Gavien said he had bought liquor
there. The witness said ne had gone home
before noon and left porter there to clean
up He swore he had told the porter not to
sell anything but he did not know whether
he had followed his Instructions, though the
porter was acting as bartender in those
days.
What were your cash sales on that Sun.
Tho allied attorneys objected in chorus
ADD Chairman Broatch sustained the objec
ton. A dozen different ways Mr. Thoma:
tried to find out II the proprietor had any
way to check up the porter, but tho at
torneys refused 70 allow the man To answer
Session "a Long One.
The session Thursday began at / oclocl
and lasted until 10 at night and, though
much evidence was taken, a great portion
OF the time was taken up in a discussion
Of a mode Of procedure. 1t was in tn
carly part of the afternoon session thu
the allied attorneys objected TO any testi
mony being taken, because they allege,
Attorney Thomas was acting in bad faith
After much discussion II was finally agree
20 hear the testimony and then decid
whether It should be acted upon by tn
board.
Previous to the introduction of testimon
the protests against the following wer