The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-07-26
COMMISSIONERS
HEAR FROM DAVIS
A STORMY SESSION WHEN THEY
DENY HIS SACRED RIGHT TO
MAKE SPEECH.

The Board of License Commissioners
was again a storm center at its meet
ing yesterday afternoon, the clashing
element this time being Attorney G. a.
Davis, who appeared before the body as
a representative of Chung Tong Chong.
Mr.. Davis wanted a rehear,ng of the
application of his client for a liquor
license, which was refused some time
ago as was later a petition for a re-
hearing. This application was there
fore a second request for rehearing.
Davis launched his case as soon as
Chairman Ballentyne took his seat, in
fact before the chairman had declared
the meeting had opened. He present
ed a formal petition in writing, and
then wanted to make an oral statement,
but the Board declined to listen to him,
although accepting the petition. This
precipitated a hot controversy between
Davis and Chairman Ballentyne, in
which the latter confined his remarks
chiefly to statements that the Board
would not stand for oral arguments.
Davis declared that the board had
assumed arbitrary, and unwarranted
power, and that it could not support
it's stand in a court of justice. He de-
clared that the liquor law did not give
any such authority to the board to pre-
vent applicants from being represented
by counsel, or the right to argue the
matter or examine or cross examine
witnesses. Any such construction, he
declared was unconstitutional.
The attorney declared that he would
test the matter, and that he would in
convenience the members of the Board
to the limit by keeping them harrassed
with summons as witnesses during the
progress of the case.
The board finally put an end to the
row by going into executive session, al
though Davis stood just outside the
door for some time and continued to
air his opinions of the commission in
no very complimentary terms and in
voice that must have carried well into
the executive chamber.
In executive session the board de-
cided not to reopen the case of the
application of Chung Tong Chong.
Judge Perry was granted permission
to be heard in the matter of rehearing
in the application for a license to Oil
veira, proprietor of the Cobweb saloon
on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Several applications for licenses were
ordered advertiserd the hearing to take
place on August %. Among these was
that of a Chinaman who wants to
open a wholesale place on King street
opposite Aala Park and saloon in the
former site of the Asahi saloon at
King and River streets.
One matter of considerable interest
taken up by the board but which was
not settled, was that of the Criterion
saloon which for some time has been
serving out a hot lunch for two bits
with a glass of beer or other drink
drown in. There is a question raised
as to whether this is not infringing
on the restaurant business, and if a
restaurant license should not be re-
quired. c. J. Mccarthy had been sum
moned before the board in the matter,
and also with regard to complaints that
his wholesale department is being car
ried on under his saloon license. The
question raised is that under saloon
licenses liquor can be sold and deliver
ed to customers only on the premises.
If this is enforced it will prevent a
saloon man from delivering liquor in
any form or quantity outside of his
place of business.