Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-23
THOMAS GOES AFTER SALOONS
Civic Federation Will Push Prosecution for
Violation Of slocumb Law,
CLAIMS SUNDAY BUSINESS IS TRANSACTED
serves Notice on City Attorney OF
Intention to Renew Mandsmus
suit Against Fire aud
Police Board.

Saloon keepers pried open the lid and
sold drinks in the business, residence and
burnt districts last Sunday. according TO
evidence said to be in the hands of the
civic. Federation. At meeting of the
executive committee OF that body Thurs
day morning IT was decided TO take drastic
measures al once to compel the enforce
ment Of the slocumb law.
The first manifestation of new activities
by the federation in regard to Sunday clos
ing was tho serving upon City Attorney
Breen 81 notice 10 the effect that the
mandanlus case against the Board of Fire
and Police Commissioners would be taken
M before Judge Sutton. Friday afternoon.
This case was postponed indefinitely by the
federation when promises were made by
lawyers for the saloon Inen that the liquor
shops would DO closed tight on the first day
Of the week. The, alternative writ of man
damus issued required the fire and police
board to furnish transcripts of the evil
dence and pleadings in the protests to 10
liquor licenses and to revoke these licenses
at once pending the disposition of the cases
individually by the district court.
Thomas says He Has Proof.
Attorney +. Il. Thomas, for the Civic
Federation. says;
I'VE have learned a number of saloons
transacted business and sold liquor last
Sunday in direct violation of the agreement
made through attorneys that saloons would
be closed Sundays. We have evidence that
saloons in the burnt district were open pub
lcly that is, both front and back doors;
that a few of the downtown saloons per-
mtted persons 20 enter by side and back
entrances and supplied them with drinks
and that the same conditions prevailed at
some Of the saloons in the residence DIS
tricts.
'The knowledge OF these facts, It Is con-
sidered, calls for drastic action on the part
of the federation and this will follow. The
hearing will be for the purpose of introduce
ing our evidence and completing our case.
It has been agreed with the court that the
pre-emptory writ will be issued the same
day the evidence is completed. The case
will then go straight TO the supreme court.
II the decision of the district court is up
held there II means we will be in a position
TO prosecute each saloon license case in
dividually in the district court.
No Effort to Revoke.
mo attempt will be made to have the
license of the 10 saloons revoked at once.
While the application for a writ of man
damus demanded this yet 1t will not be
insisted upon. The closing Of these saloons
would involve $4,000 belonging to the
school fund. which has been paid in for
licenses, and severe financial injury to the
men in the liquor business It is the desite
Of the federation simply to be in a position
TO secure the revocation of the licenses
through the courts whenever any of these
saloons shows disposition to violate the
law"
City Attorney Breen says he cannot we'll
take up the case until Monday and II IL
possible a criminal trial before Judge SUIT
ton may also tend to delay the hearing un-
til that date.
About town there had been no general
intimation that the lid had been raised
even TO the slightest degree.