Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1905-10-08
AN INJUSTICE
SAY LIQUOR MEN
GoTHENBURG OFFER CREATES
WIDE DISCUSSION
Members of Police Commission Dis
agree as to Powers of Board.
Special Election Probably
viii Be Held

The proposal of twenty-five of the
most prominent business men and cap
italists of Los Angeles to take over all
the saloons in the city and conduct
them under the Gothenburg system.
met with the hearty approval Of many
of the city officials yesterday, but called
forth heated discussions on the neces-
sary legal steps to be taken before the
city can adopt the system. The opin-
ion was divided on whether or not it
would be necessary to amend the char
ter, but all agreed on one essential.
and that was that the question should
be submitted to a referendum vote of
the people.
One question that none of the dis
putants was prepared to answer was
the legal rights of the saloon keepers.
The supreme court has decided that the
liquor traffic has no legal standing as a
trade or business. but the saloon
keepers have a legal right to their
property, and to turn the 200 saloons
over to one company would make a
forced sale of all saloon fixtures neces-
eary. The general opinion was that
the saloon keepers do not have to agree
TO this unless they choose.
May Amend Charter
Assistant City Attorney Robertson
was of the opinion that the charter
would have to be amended before the
city would have the authority to enter
into a contract with one company to
operate all the saloons.
"I am not prepared to give definite
answer to that question without max
ing a thorough investigation" said Mr..
Robertson yesterday, but 1 am of the
opinion that the charter would have
to be amended before anything of that
nature could be done. Certainly the
people should be allowed to express
their opinion by vote. / think, how
ever, that something of this kind would
be a benefit to the city of Los An
Eeles If a company of reputable men,
such as appear to be behind the enter
prise, under proper restriction, can take
the liquor problem in hand and close
mp the saloons that violate the law. the
city would lose nothing by it,
Powers of Commission
Frank James. a member of the police
commission, the organization which will
probably be called on to take final ac-
ton on the question, stated yesterday
that he had not looked into the Gothen-
burg system of regulation and was not
prepared to talk on the proposition.
But I believe that the commission
could grant these licenses without an
amendment to the charter, If it sees
fit to do So" added Mr.. James. The
commission is given wide scope in
determining questions of this kind. OF
course, it should be submitted to ref
erendum vote to secure the opinion Of
the people on it"
Police Commissioner L. c. Gates held
an opinion on the boards power in the
case dramatically opposed to that of
his colleague.
1.-THE commission would have no au-
thority to grant these licenses to the
Gothenburg opponents without change
in the ordinances under which 1t now
operates" said Mr.. Gates. 1.-THE ordi-
nances now provide for 200 saloons
at a fixed license fee. and the plan of
the promoters of the enterprise, as l
understand it, is to reduce the num-
Der of saloons and raise the fee, main
tanning the same revenue.
In Doubt as to Benefits
ct have been studying this Gothen-
burg system, but am not yet prepared
to state whether it would he good
thing for the city. The names of the
men who are behind the enterprise
would seem to insure that the best in