The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
MAYOR PREPARES
TO RENEW FIGHT
Administration Against Whisky
and the Gambler
THREE FIGHTS PENDING
AS to Increasing Whisky License-Un-
der Wle's Direction 700 Gamblers
Were Arrested In One
Year.

From various acts of the city admins
tration it is pointed out that Mayor Ward
and Chief Wier are Enthusiastically against
the gamblers and what is known as the
whisky element
At this time there is a fight pending as
to the ACCESSIBILITY of decreasing the num-
Der of saloons In the city. There is an
other fight as to the advisability of in
creaslng the license charged for the re-
failing of liquor. There is another fight
| pending as to the advlsability of allow
! ing pool room proprietors to serve whisky
and other liquors in pool and billiard
rooms.
| In all of these contentious, the Mayor
is against the whisky interests. He is in
favor of having fewer saloons, as has
| been shown by revocation of licenses and
strict police supervision. lie is in favor
of increasing the license for retailing
| whisky from 5000 to $1,000 per annum. He
is strenuously opposed to allowing the
service of liquors in pool rooms.
An interesting compilation of figures
given out is to the effect that during
| the present year nearly 700 gamblers
had been arrested, record greater than
that of any previous administration, is
another bit of evidence showing the policy
of the present authorities.
Pool Room Drinking.
As was published in The Age-Herald
some days ago, the ordinance against
serving beer and vinous liquors in pool
rooms, which was defeated at the last
meeting of the board, is, 1t is said, to
come again before the council. The Mayor
took the initiative yesterday afternoon
when he called upon Clerk J. C. Murray
for a copy of this ordinance. This is
taken as indicative of the fact that the
Mayor is preparing to renew the fight.
Mayor Ward as is known, is strongly
in favor of this measure, and he believes
that when 1t was defeated that other and
kindred ordinances requiring the saloon
and the pool room to be separated was
practically annullled. With Mayor Ward
on this proposition are some of the strong
est members of the board, notably Alder
man Gray, Alderman Moore and Alder
man Heidi. At the last meeting of the
board, Alderman Parker Alderman Bar
boui' aiuciidi oOiih CpPSie,iid, <AioSliiidii
O'Neil and others voted against it. AS is
remembered, the bill was lost by vote
of 10 to g..
Increasing the License.
Mayor Ward was interviewed yesterday
afternoon concerning the proposed in
crease in the whisky license. He stated
| that no time had been set for the meet
| ing of the miscellaneous committee be-
fore which the entire license schedule for
another year will come. In addition to the
whisky license, It is practically certain
that an effort will be made to increase the
license of several other branches of bust
ness.
On the matter OF whisky license the
miscellaneous committee will probably be
at variance, 1t being now minated that
the vote will probably be tied. So persis-
tent, however is the intention of those
who desire an increase, that 1t is rumored
the matter will eventually be brought be-
fore the board for adjustment, even in
case the committee itself defeats the
proposition. In other words, it is rumored
that a minority report may be made.
However. 1t is generally understood that
, a majority of the aldermen are opposed
to an increase. and especially opposed to
an increase from 5000 to $1,000