Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16

them But it takes time and money
to work up a case, and when 1t is done
the offenders are brought into the
police court and let off with an insig-
nificant fine, only to resume their ne
farlous practice.
Every one conversant with police
affairs must readily assent that we
have In Walter II. Auble one of the
best and most efficient chiefs the city
ever had. But he Is handicapped by
the want of money and men to put OF
case of this kind and ferret out the
perpetrators.
Despite all these drawbacks he has
now succeeded in collecting evidence
against eight or nine offenders In this
line and is pressing them hard.
"On every hand we hear of the lack
Of revenue in the various city depart
ments, but this lack Is felt no more
keenly than i'm the police department,
where extra men are needed very badly.
To obviate this | may suggest several
remedies, first of which would be the
increase in the number of saloons. but
tc this there seems to be a great OPP
position, the reason for which 1 fail to
comprehend.
Sales Increasing
"The increase in population condi-
tions an increase In the sale of in
toXicants, as every one will admit;
and in my opinion it would be better
to have the liquor sold openly by an
additional number of saloons. dis
tributed in certain well defined dis
tricts, than surreptitiously by drug
stores. Fifty more saloons at the pres
ent ration of license would bring the
city an increase in revenue amounting
TO $4,000: 100 would bring $50, 000
Another remedy to offset this illicit
sale of liquors would be the issuance
of licenses for wholesale liquor houses
who would thus do the business legiti-
mately that is carried OH illegitimately
by drug stores If for 100 drug stores
thriving on Ill gotten gains could be
substituted 100 wholesale liquor houses
with monthly license of $50 the city
would derive another additional $4,000
If this is thought too high let the num-
Der be less.
Raising Licenses
"a third remedy for the increase Of
the city's precarious financial needs
would be the raising of the saloon
licenses from $75 per month to $100 or
$l25. For the 200 saloons now doing
business this would mean an increase
to the city's Golfers to the amount of
100000 or $120,00O, as the case may bet
To this but few saloonkeepers would
object as every one Is now doing a
thriving business.
"In my opinion this plan would be
very feasible and increase the city's
revenue from $150,000 to 100000 an
nually.
"Such an increase would be judicious-
ly apportioned among the various de-
partments. notably the fire and police
departments.
THE latter is sorely in need of funds,
the present appropriation for whole
year being barely sufficient to last for
more than eight months.
IF this were done more policemen
and secret service men could be en-
ployed, more money be spent for the
gathering of evidence. arrest and con-
viction of the parties violating the
liquor laws than can be done now.
I'm presenting these views to the
public / confess that | am actuated
only by a desire to do the fair and
square thing, as conceive it.
Not All Guilty
II know there are a goodly number of
drug stores that re not tainted by the
Illicit sale of intoXicants, for which they
deserve credit. But the illegal sale of
liquors should be stamped out at once.
"On June 1905, the people by a
nearly two-third majority authorized
the sale of Intoxicating beverages in
this city. If another election were held
again it is my firm belief that this
verdict of the people would be re-
iterated even more emphatically. In
view of these existing conditions it
would seem wise to regulate the sale of
liquor by judicious limitations, and to
get all the revenue from this source
that the city is entitled to.
CHARLES SADDLER.