The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03

The supervisorial committee on Ii
censes and order listened to both sides
of the high license question yester-
day and will announce its decision
within few days. 1t is announced by
those who claim to know that the IL.
cense will be raised to s40O a year,
which rate is acceptable to the Cali
fornia Liquor Dealers Association and
the knights OF the Royal Arch. who
represent the big liquor interests The
Catholic clergy and laity, represented
by Archbishop Montgomery, asked
that the license be $500, while clergy
men of other denominations were firm
for $1,000.
The rooms of the Board of Super
visors were crowded with liquor men
and hundreds of others who could not
squeeze into Mowry's Hall fingered on
the sidewalk outside. There was no
bitterness on either side. 1t was one
of the most temperate discussions ever
held on subject on which there is
much strong dissension. An outburst
of applause that greeted Timothy P.
Mcguire, representing the San Fran
cisco retail grocers. who was the first
speaker for the liquor interests, was
quickly checked by Chairman Kelly
and the meeting proceeded quietly.
The strong sentiments expressed
against the corner grocery saloon by
all of the representatives of the clergy
angered Mcguire and he expressed
equally strong sentiments in retort.
But that was the only time that the
debate threatened to become bitter.
MONTGOMERY WELL RECEIVED.
The liberal measures advocated by
Archbishop Montgomery were well re-
ceWed by both sides of the contro-
versy and the intense earnestness of
the speaker held the listeners. He
said
1T has been agreed between the
committee l represent and others to
lay before you first the ideas of the
Catholic clergy and laity and l think
that the proposition will meet with
the approval of the majority of these.
We do mot come here to dictate or call
names. This is subject on which
there is the widest diversion of opin-
ion. and we would not add to the bur
dens you alreadyvhave.
I'm this work of reconstruction we
have been taught at an awful cost
the necessity of a firm foundation.
There are other things. of course, the
widening of the streets, the rebuilding
of the sewers and a better water sup
ply DuI THESE dIC ali uldleIldt tHlASS.
1t is also necessary TO look TO the
building of the city's morals.
Il believe that there are as good men
in the liquor traffic as there are in
any other business. The trouble does
not come from the trade itself, but
from the frailty of human nature We
must deal with this question broadly
and justly. The Catholic church has
never taught that it was wrong to
Spi1 1in1nr The hi ffirultv c
in the bause of it, We should come
together and do what we can to pro-
tect the young and the weak
BEG FOR CLOSED SALOONS.
The proposition we put before you
is advocated by one-half of the popu-
lation that is disfranchised. 1t repre-
sents the sentiments of your wives,
your mothers and your daughters i
have received letters from the camps
from the wives, the mothers and the
daughters begging me to advocate
keeping the saloons closed. You must
take that part of the population into
consideration, you the representatives
of all the people. The propositions
that we advocate are the minimum of
what ought to be asked,
Here the Archbishop presented the
conclusions arrived at by the Catholic
clergy and laity They are as follows
First, that the annual license for
retail liquor dealers shall not be less
than $500.
Second, that the number of licenses
shall not be more than one for every
500 people.
Third, that on week days the sa-
loon shall close at midnight and not re-
open until a. m.
Fourth. that all saloons shall be
closed on Sundays.
Fifth, that there shall be no saloons
in the immediate neighborhood of
schools or churches.
Sixth, that the corner grocery saloon
be eliminated entirely.
MORAL FOUNDATION NEEDED.
I'm rebuilding let us build deep and
strong continued Archbishop Mont
gomery. You are fathers as well as
Supervisors. We would not add to
your burden, but we Catholic priests
know life and thought as no men do
We know too well the evils wrought
by the corner grocery saloon
Il am glad to come to you when there
is no party strife. You represent the
whole of San Francisco, and you are
representing it well.
The workingmen are vitally inter-
ested in this, especially in the PROPOSE