Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-04
MAYORAND MASON
HAVE WORDY WAR
M'ALEER ASKS RESIGNATION
OF COMMISSIONER
Refuses to oult-Talks Freely After
Meetine-Trouble Arises over
Granting Of Restaurant
Privileges

and Police Commissioner George Mason
we're strained almost to the breaking
point yesterday morning. In fact. the
mayor attempted a complete break.
asking Mr. Mason. in the heat of in
dignation. to resign from the police
board. Mr.. Mason refused to tender
his resignation and declares he will
not be bulldozed into leaving the po-
lice commmisson.
incidentally Commmissioner Mason
said some things to Mayor McAleer
that did not have the effect Of cooling
the executives temper. It was an
opportunity that Mr.. Mason had
awaited long time and he made the
most of It.
He accused Mayor McAleer Of stand
his influence to the traffic in saloon
licenses, which the board grants
at the rate of 5000 a year
and which usually cost thousands of
dollars when a transfer is to be made.
AS the charter limits the number of
saloon licenses in the city to 200. there
is always a great demand for them and
persons anxious to engage in the saloon
business willingly pay the possessor
transferred.
Trouble Begins
Mason early in the session engaged
in a wordy war with Commissioner
James. Mr.. Mason declared that res
taurant liquor licenses were frequently
nothing more than q. pretext for selling
liquor on Sundays and after legal
hours. He demanded that the proprie-
tors of the Chutes and Bohemian cafes
be compelled to appear before the
board and show cause why their
licenses should not be revoked Com
missioner James said he did not believe
this action should be taken until the
restaurants had been warned. Hot
words followed between Commissioners
James and Mason.
The argument between MIR. Mason
and the mayor came when an applica-
tion for transfer of the license owned
by the Robb estate and located at 161
San Pedro street to d. B. Jerrue & Co.
was asked. This application was
granted without comment
Commissioners Surprised
The commissioners expressed surprise
when the next order of business was an
application of David HUFFMAN that the
license which had just been transferred
to Jerrue be retransferred to him.
This was denied John G.. Mott, at
torney for HUFFMAN, whispered to the
mayor that the probate court had con-
firmed the sale to HUFFMAN and that
the commission would relieve itself of
long legal difficulties it it would trans
fer the license it had refused. He added
that he was anxious to do the best he
could for his client.
Better see the brewery, them said
Commissioner Mason with unmistaka-
BILE sarcasm In his tone.
IF you don't like the way we do
business on this commission you can
". cnfd q mo
now in rage. You came here this
morning with chip on your shoulder
and have insulted every member of the
commission"
Mr.. Mason explained that he would
not resign, that he had not sought
place on the police commission but had
been voluntarily offered it by the
mayor, and that he would continue to
discharge his duties on the police board
as he saw fit. He taunted the mayor
with the lack of business in his admin
istration and started to enumerate
some of the mayors blunders, but
thought better of it and stopped his
harangue.
Tht breach between the mayor and
Mr.. Mason has been expected for some
time The commission is composed of
five members, of which the mayor is
chairman. The mayor, Commissioners
James and Hagan form the solid
three" of the commission. This, then,
makes quorum and nearly all licenses
of every kind that are granted are put
through by this combination Commits
sioners Johnson and Mason are openly
opposed to the liquor interests and sell
dom vote in favor of any kind of
license.
Commissioner Mason talked freely
after the meeting of the board and in
an interview said several things he had
refrained from saying during his argu-
ment with the mayor.
Mason Talks Freely
"As long as I am a member of the