The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-05
LIQUOR MEN
 WILL BE VISED They Must Pass the Police
 Committee TEAGUE MEASURE PASSED Alderman Sullivan Protested
 Against the Ordinance saIoonkeepers to Get Licenses In Mont semery Shall Have Good Moral Characters and Be vouched For.
TEAGUE MEASURE PASSED

Against the unremfttfng enorts oi Aldeman J. J. Sullivan, who fought the measure single-handed to the last ditch allowed by parliamentary rules tne Montgomery City Council last. night passed the ordinance laying proo- ably a stricter hand on the retail liquor dealers of the city than they have felt since each began his operations here.
 The saloonkeeper who wants to do business in Montgomery hereafter will have to have his moral standing put under the spectroscope of the police committee before he gets his license. If the saloonkeeper gets the stamp of approval of the committee on his moral status and accompanies his application with a check for half the license, or $4o1, his name is sent the Council There the Aldermen can deal with him individually and do as they deem proper" with his application.
 Sullivan Was Alone.
 Alderman Sullivan was alone in his assault on this regulation Of the saloon business. He considered 1t both as an unjust chastisement of the liquor re- tailers for what they have not done, and an unpardonable discrtmination against that class of business
 "Why should applicants for liquor licensesshe compelled to have their mor- als sifta# by three men all the time, and the grocer not subjected to such re- quirements?" asked the Alderman from Ward 6 with all the intensity of his Irish blood. 'Is the saloonkeeper any worse a man than him who runs any other business in this city of Montgom- cry? Has not the saloon man con- tributed as much as any other class of business to the church enterprises and charities of the city
 The man who runs the bar puts more money into the city treasury than does any other licensed business in this city. What has he done to deserve such treatment. I ask you again2 I know that I shall be the only Alderman in this body to cast a vote against this measure, but wish to be sure that my vote is registered against it"
 Alderman Gaston Gunter said at first he was not in favor of giving a com mittee of three Aldermen the power that is now given them in the license matter, unless they were men of prac- tice in performing executive duties. He said he believed now that the Council would make no mistake In assigning the Investigating duty to the three members of the police committee who are sworn not to discriminate against any business or person. In support of the ordinance he referred to the section which makes the Council the final arbi- ter of a mans fate who applies for a liquor license. He did not believe that injustice would be done the liquor traf- fic under the ordinance.
 Have we not law on our books which will break up house of disor- derIy repute?" asked Alderman Suili- van, by permission of the speaker.
 GunteP Answers Sullivan.
 We have one such ordinance" re- piled Alderman Gunter. but it's en- forcement may be uncertain, and it is the purpose of the ordinance we have before us to keep disorderly places from starting. The selling of liquor is uni versally recognized as traffic of such nature that 1t must be under police regulation. And the people of Mont gomery expect the Council to examine the character of the men who will have charge of dispensing intoxicating drinks in their midst" 1~
 Alderman Sullivan made repoindeT to Alderman Gunter and Alderman Strauss, who spoke on the same line with Mir. Gunter, and repeated that the saloon men should be put on the same level with other business men and that their licenses should be issued under like requirements. He also criticised the city license inspector for what he insinuated to be his incidence in going out after licenses that should bring money into the treasury which is not pouring in.
 The Alderman from Ward 6 drew a picture of the license inspector sitting under an electric fan all day when he should be out hustling, He also said the city needs only one clerk. These remarks were made to indicate. as he thought. that the city should get from other business classes licenses that are due Instead of imposing hardships on the saloon men.
 , After final appeal of Alderman Sul- livan, a vote was called on the passage of the ordinance. All Aldermen pres ent except the gentleman from Ward 6 voted in favor of the ordinance.
 An amendment of Alderman Strauss was also adopted which requires all ap- plicants to accompany the applications with a check for half the amount of the license and they are to pay the other half on or before December 1 of the year in which the license is issued.
 Under the ordinance as finally passed. the applicants are also required to get character testimonials from at least ten freeholders in the ward in which they Intend to set up business.
 The ordinance was drawn and intro tiuced by Mayor elect W. M. Teague.
 Who WIlI Reap the Benefits Thomasville Echo