Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-09

WILL STA
CITY COUNCIL REPEALs REsoLU-
TON LIMITING LICENSE
DISTRICT
ACTION A So RP R L S Z

Taken In Former One, Adopted in
February, Appears as if by Magic,
But Finds Plenty of Friends.
From Tuesdays Daily.
Like bolt from clear sky, reso-
luton to rescind the councils saloon
limit resolution passed last February
was introduced in the meeting last
night, and almost before the friends OF
the limiting measure knew 1t, their
pet plan had been utterly killed. With
seven of the nine councilmen present.
five votes were cast favoring the re-
pealing Of the original resolution, only
two of the aldermen who formerly
stood for the establishing of saloon
limits voting against the new PROPOSE
ton. Aldermen Spry and O'Malley,
who voted for the resolution when the
limits were established, were both
absent last night Unless Mayor Suits
can, by refusing to sign last nights
resolution, continue the old one in
force the saloonists who have been
facing the necessity Of removing from
outside the prescribed limits will be
privileged to continue their business
as in the past after August 10, when
the six months of grace will expire.
The oreina! Resolution.
The city council on February 10
passed a resolution fixing limits out
side of which no saloon permits should
be granted. The resolution was sup
ported by Aldermen O'Malley, Spry,
Keyhoe Cone and Humphrey.
Mayor Suits favored it also and sign
ed it. 1t provided limits as follows:
South boundary-north line of the
c., r. I. & P. railway tracks.
Beginning on the west at the juno
ton of the tracks and Wapello street,
north to alley between Main and Sec
ond streets, east to Washington street,
north to Second street, east to Green
street. south to alley between Main
and Second streets, east to Union
street and south to the Rock Island
tracks.
On the South Side, saloons were pro-
vided for only on Church street, be-
tween Myrtle and Davis streets.
Alderman Johnson's Surprise.
The resolution which was passed in
February was sprung as complete
surprise upon several of the council
men by Alderman Keyhoe. 1t Sc
cured five votes and Alderman John
son. who voted against it, explained
his vote by saying that he had not had
time to look into the matter and was
against deciding it on such short
notice. Though he preferred to vote
blank he allowed his vote to be re-
corded mo" at that time. Last night
he enjoyed his little surprise. The
council meeting was moving along
smoothly enough when Clerk Miller
took up a resolution from his desk
and read it. 1t provided for the re-
pealing of the resolution of February
10. There was no signature.
Resolution "Just Growed."
"Who introduced that resolution, u
asked Mayor Suits. No one seemed
to know Apparently the resolution
had drifted in through the open window
and settled quietly into the pile OF
papers on the clerks desk. No one
owned the responsibility for its author
ship, but just when the silence was
i getting almost oppressive Alderman
Johnson moved the adoption of the
resolution Alderman Weidenfelle1
seconded the motion. Then Alderman
Keyhoe found his voice
The representative from the fourth
ward stated that he had no prejudice
against man who sells intoXicants
and did not introduce the former reso
luton on that account He said, how
ever, that he favored establishing ant
maintaining limits because he desired
strict observance of the mulct law
which would be impossible to secure
with the saloons scattered all over the
city. He spoke on purely bushes:
basis, not one Of sentiment. He de
clared that. the saloon business cost
the city more than any other line ant
more than the city secures in revenues
from the liquor trade. He reviewed
briefly the points that were brough
up in the general discussion of thu
resolution when it was first brough
up in February and declared his op
position to the pending resolution.
Alderman Humphrey announced tina
as he had voted for the original resolr
ton and still believed it should prevail
he would vote against the pending res
olution to repeal it.
Alderman Johnson favored the ney
resolution because, he said, the council
now has the right to refuse permit
to would-be saloonists and a districtin
Doing Business at the