The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-16

Police IIallock appeared AT the Savoy
saloon and informed Laxell a Company
iis proprietors, that he was directed 10
clo-e the house. The firm. consisting
Of John Stephens and Henry laxell.
immediately went TO the police Office
and gave q eash bond In the sum Of
Atty dollars for their appearances in
court nj 2 O'Clock this afternoon.
There the matter stands for the mo-
ment.
This action. ~ far as the city's side
of the issue goes Is fully explained In
the communication Of Mayor wise TO
the Council last night, and appearing
az length In these columns and the
subsequent action Of that body In
connection with that communication.
aud the majority aud minority reports
Of the council committee on health and
police.
After the proper bond was given. the
house continued it. nights business
without further molcstation. Without
any desire 10 take sides In the matter,
but simply TO ascertain how the firm
Of lAxwell 4 Company felt In the
premises, an expression was sought
from the firm and was readily given.
II am being punished for daring TO
open my dance hall before the leaders
Of the successful party In the recent
campaign chose TO have me open up
said John stephens. when he had re-
turned from the police court. Il have
been in the saloon business in this
city for thirty.nine' years and this is
the first time have ever ben impos'
ed on by any council or set Of officers.
For all these years have paid not
only NJ. saloon licenses, but my prop.
eriy taxes without demurr or default
of any sort. and have 10 look away
from the saloon business altogether
for an excuse for this invasion
"lt Is as | said before. simply pay
mcnt for my choosing TO open my
place for dancing before certain people
were ready for me to do 50. opened
up in manner. as 10 drinks. that put
me beyond any question Of breaking q
city ordinance. and this ! can prove by
the mayor himself who with Council
man Morton, visited my saloon some
little time ago and sampled all the soft
drinks | had ON the bar. The har and
dance room are in separate buildings
and II l. a matter Of general knowl'
edge that my place has always been
freer Of oiTensc against the ordinances
that any house in city.
"when the campaign closed sought
the advice Of several Of my friends In
this city, among whom were two mem
bcrs of the police commission and the
city attorney himself, who assured me
that II opened up my place for dane
ing. ON the plan OF soft drinks and an
orderly, quiet conduct Of the place
that | would not he liable TO any oillc.
ial interference. But, abide from this
advice. was told by the mayor and
one or two others. that for me to throw
the place open just at that particular
time. would have the effect of iniuring
the plans and purposes Of the party
and that had better wait till after
the June election. This was not able
to do, for the reason that having been
assured by those in a position to know
that the fight Just closed by a rousing
majority for the Citizens had decided
the issue Of an open town, | had gone
to nearly $500 extra expense and this
would have been utterly lost by wait.
ing; so | went ahead with my engage
mcnts and opened up as ! have de-
scribed.
AS to- the matter Of my license
money. my application, my bond and
my money has been in the hands Of
the city authorities since the 2Snd Of
December. | have always paid this IN
season. and the mere bagatelle Of my
having failed by few days in filing
my application within the prescribed
time. that is all bosh aud moonshine.
There Is man in this city now who
was three months in getting his money
and application before the authorities,
and not word was said to him about
II. His license was granted TO him last
night, though my license was rejected
over the favorable majority report OF
the committee that had II In charge,
No, the license has nothing whatever
TO do with this thing. 1t Is a personal
fight on Mr.. Laxell and myself be-
cause we would not meet the wishes Of