Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-20

main OF individual discretion on the
part Of license boards and other sim
liar bodies subject 20 e%xtraneous in.
huence. ana makes Il a matter Of SIM
pie evidence and decision Of the court.
Thus. obedience Of the law becomes
essential to existence. and depends
no longer u9on the character of the
l~icensee or his pull with certain dis
c%retionary authorities.
These are the vital principles of the
proposition. and We are free 10 admft
that they commend themselves 10 ouF
judgment as being based upon com
mon sense and promising a great
measure of relief from the conditions
that have aroused popular criticism
and condemnation.
No definite suggestion is made as to
the mount Of license that shall be
imposed. other than to advise that
while it should yield an adequate re-
turn 10 the government for the priyi-
.lege accorded. 81 should not be SO high
a. 10 encourage the handling Of im.
pure liquors and the evasion or viola
ton OF restriction as t hours OF
closing. the sale Of beverages 20
minors ana intoxicated men and siIe-
liar of'enes against good order.
II Is proposed that no new license
HttffNNl Nv t#EAFA III AAAG AANAAt AAN
the proportion becomes not more than
one for each 500 Of population. and
further additions should then be
made only a- the community nay de-
mand.
A rider is included advocatirs a
penalty against any minor over eigt-
teen years of age. who represents
himself to have attained MS MAORI
in order to procure intOxicants. These
provisions seem lust and IN the inter
ests Of wise legislation.
3 The whole question of hours 1f
sale and like details are To be LETT 10
the jurisdiction II the local eomrlur-
iiy In which the license Is held.
The operation of he model license
law, II we have grasped It's provisions,
would not affect such districts in
Kentucky as are already under local
option uutil such time as public seH-
timent permitted Of the establishment
Of the trade within their border IN
q case such as that of Louisville du-
less the voters declared for the Wu-
ing out Of the existing licenses. Il
would make permanent those already
granted and prevent any increase un-
tn such time as the proportion had
reached thai OF one In 500, which
would not De uHtti our populatip ~ dt-
tanned nearly the 500 600 mark.
There Is hui one criticism that sug
gests itself to our MIND as being fair
~ based upon the provisions Of the
proposed law. il being granted nat
the end sought is desirable. W. fear
that il might fan short Of its ve'y
purpose TO eliminate the business
from politics by leaving the que stion
Of saloon regulation 10 local sonti-
ment
suppose in an election IN Lou Mile
for example. two tickets lresn II
themselves. one has "a platform
advocates sunday closing, early
saturday night. closing at
midnight every other night and open
ing not earlier thar Z O'Clock in the
morning; The other advocates SundI.
opening and allnight saloons. Does ii
become "a matter of interest 80
saloon Keeper 10 support and seak
the success Of the ticket giving him
the widest latitude IN his businr IS,
md Will not this make the traits & I
disturbing factor To the local paint al 1
situation II we are mistaken o his
we viii be glad to be
by the originators Of the law
The whole question is one TO whttl
fullest and most earnest cousiG- 4
and discussion should be-
given. Every good citizen win well
the spirit Of readiness 90 co-op
crate In the solution Of "a veXed ana
yeNatious question which the gentle
men OF the Model License league have
manifested. and we are greatly dis
posed to the belief that along this
road lies the most hopeful outlook for
remedial treatment of existing
wills mat has Vet been Offered. our
'olumns are open for expression NJ
ON the subject. vhi.h st1a't
be- made AS concise an' 'ui ted as
possible.