Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-10
Attorney General Byers Noti-
ties County Attorney Mulct
Law Must Be Enforced
STEPS TAKEN TO COMPLY
Saloons Given Ono Week in Which to
Remodel Buildings Loss of Many
Thousands in illegal Revenues Wor-
rying the City Officials - May Close
Forty Saloons.
spec,a, TO -,mes-Repunl,can.

| SpSSldt 10
Council Bluffs, Dec. 10--A lid for
Council Bluffs! That is what is about
to be added to the city's sartorial
adornment, uncomfortable tho it may
look and uneasy tho it may rest until
its wearer has become accustomed to
the new regime. Now that Council
Bluffs is a city of greater easy virtue
than other Iowa cities of similar size
and location, for it is not the case, but
that it should have been singled out
| by the state authorities for an APP
picationsof drastic methods in the full
| fillment Of the laws. is one of the
causes Of the present agitation of more
or less of the city's inhabitants.
Attorney General Byers has said the
word and his word Is law here. A let
ter from the attorney general adj
dressed to County Attorney j. j.
Hess under date of Dec. 5, was as fol-
lows:
My Dear Mr.. Hess: Within the last
week several complaints have been
which the saloons are operating and
carrying on their business in your
county, and especially in the city of
Council Bluffs. l am informed that in
your city some of the saloons run on
Sunday, have rear and side entrances,
some Of them back rooms, and a good
many Of them open practically all
night.
This condition of affairs must not
be allowed to continue. The saloons
in that county with either have to
comply with the mulct law or go out
| of business.
Il know you are very busy man,
and that ordinarily the public prosecu-
tor is not expected to commence pros
ecutions on his own motion, but the
saloon situation in several counties of
this state, including your own, is an
extraordinary one. and you will be en-
tirely justified in taking prompt, and
even extreme measures, to compel a
compliance with the liquor laws of the
state. and l would suggest that you
notify the saloon keepers Of your coun-
ty that from this time on every pro-
vision of the mulct law must be COM
piled with, and follow the notice with
| injunction proceedings and grand jury
Investigation of every saloon keeper
who fails to heed your warning.
Il hope that you will not feel l am
trying to di tate to you or interfere
in any manner with your work as a
public prosecutor, and that you will
receive this letter in the spirit In
which it is written. II. w. BYERS."
Hess Takes Prompt Action.
County Attorney Hess did not take
the public into his confidence in rela-
ton to the matter, but on the second
day following he issued a letter to the
saloon keepers of the county, in sub
stance complying with the suggestions
of the attorney general, except that the
county attorney gave the saloon men
until Dec. Is in which to make such
necessary changes in their buildings.
| Upon this feature of the case, the
attorney said: while Attorney Cen
eral Byers suggested that the enforce
ment of the provisions of the mulct
law be begun at once, decided that no
harm would be done by allowing the
saloon men one week in which to make
the necessary changes in their places
of business. They will have week
| in which to remove all screens, swing
ing doors and anything else that might
tend to prevent clear view of the In
terror of the saloons from the out
side 1t is my intention that the mulct
law shall be strictly and impartially
enforced. No favoritism will be shown,
and every saloon, wherever located
will have to live up to the law"
The Question of Revenue.
The question of revenue, the moment
anything tending to reduce it is done
comes up for vital consideration.
County Attorney Hess, when asked if
he intended to move against the
gambling houses as we'll as the saloons
said in reply that the grand jury
meets four times each year, and that
no one has even been denied hear
ing before it, indicating that he would
not interfere with the houses unless
ordered to. That the present move
will sooner or later lead to attention
agree, hence the money derived from
them IS COnS1u6Eeu dlOIlE Will a piOD
able reduction in the city revenues.
Well informed men believe the en-
forcement of the mulct law will reduce
the number of saloons by 40 pei
cent. Many of them will not be able
to exist, when compelled to close at 10
o'clock and required to obey the other
feature of the law, hence there is sure
to be a falling off,
There are in Council Bluffs, sixty
one saloons, the net revenue to the city
from which is s3S,210.40. There are
four gambling houses which pay an an
nual license or fine of $4,000, or $3.50
each per month. If there is but %
per cent reduction in the annual fees
to the city from saloon licenses, the
annual loss will be s9,552.60, to which
with the gambling house license OF
$4,000 added, make total of $21,-
$3.50.
The city of Council Bluffs only col
lects S37 900 in general tax each year
or a little over $4,000 more than is
expected will be lost to the city from
the tabooed saloons and gambling
halls.
BRITT RESIDENT DIES.