Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-03-29
DISTRICT OPTION
BILL AGREED ON.
COMPROMISE Between Liquor Interests
and Brewers, and Anti-Sa-
loon League.

MADISON, Wis, March 26.-[Spe-
cial. THE Assembly committee on
state affairs has practically agreed upon
q bill which is d compromise between
the Brown Baker local residence dis
trict option license measure, which IS
practically a duplicate of the Thayer
bill of two years ago and which was
advocated by the Anti-Saloon league, and
the Bancroft bill which is a modified
form of the same measure submitted by
the brewing and dstilling interests OF
the state.
Chairman Turner and Mr.. Sprague are
as yet uncertain as to the exact provl-
sions of the subsection which describes
the districts which shall not be regarded
as residence districts. All the other
provisions of the bill have been agreed
to and will meet with the unanimous
recommendation Of the committee.
Legislation Practically Assured.
The bill provides that any residence
district containing from 100 to 1000 cleo
tors shall upon petition of certain
number of electors take vote on the
question of whether or not licenses shall
be granted for saloons within that dis
trict. Two years ago the Thayer bill
was one of the most bitterly fought
measures before the Legislature. 1t was
killed and revived three or four times
and finally killed by a majority of one
vote.
This year the brewing interests APP
parently came to the conclusion that
some such bill was going to pass any
way and bent all their endeavors to
make it as reasonable as possible.
$50 Persons Support Saloon
The bill adds to the statutes of 1898
eleven new sections.
One license may be granted to each
25O inhabitants or major fraction there
of in the various communities except
that in cases where a larger number
are in force June 1, 1907, the local au-
thorities may allow the larger number
but may not grant any more until the
population grows to bring the total with
in the provisions of the bill.
The locations shall remain the same
unless the owner refuses to extend
leases. No licenses shall be issued in
communities where mo license" has
been voted until the condition is re-
districts may be withheld from the pro-
visions of the bill in clearly defined and
compact districts in which between 100
and 500 qualified electors reside, no part
OF 1t to be used in determining another
residence district.
Excludes Business Streets.
No residence district shall include
streets either or both sides of which are
devoted along one third it's length to
business purposes or the street frontage
of either side of such street or the front
age Of either or both sides of a highway
in towns or unincorporated villages with
in distance of 300 feet. if one third of
the lineal feet of the property abutting
is devoted to business.
Property used for educational, relig-
ious or charitable purposes and public
parks in residence districts shall not be
used in determining the boundaries.
Defines Residence District.
Any territory of between 100 and
1000 electors in a town, city or village
wherein no license has been issued prior
to the filing of a remonstrance, bounded
by corporation or ward lines or streets,
may be constituted residence district.
The remonstrance must be filed May 1
IN any year with the village or city clerk
IN writing, signed by a majority of the
electors therein. This restriction may
be conceled only by a similarly en-
dorsed petition to allow a license.
All Governed by Petitions.
After July 1, 1908, no license shall be
issued in residence district properly
constituted until a counter petition shall
be filed, the time for filing petition and
counter petition being between May l
and May 10 of any year.
The petitions and remonstrances shall
be signed by certified electors with their
addresses and none may sign more than
one petition or remonstrance. The bill
provides for petitions in parts circulated
separately. The number of electors in
the district shall be determined by the
last previous registration of voters or
enumera ton made by law.
Provides Appeal to Court
Notice Of intention to circulate petit
tons or remonstrances must be published
In newspaper and posted at least five
days before the work is begun
Authorities may take action regarding
licenses ten days after the filing of the
documents referred to. In case any per-
son shall object to the sufficiency of the
proceedings, a hearing is arranged for
and correction may be made within
fifteen days from the date of the petition
or remonstrance. If no correction is
made within this time, the authorities
may use their discretion. Review of ac-
ton may be had by appeal to the circuit
court, if taken within thirty days from
the date of the final decision of the au-
thoritles. No new license shall be grant
ed pending the hearing of an appeal.
Applies to Every Community.
No license shall be granted to a nom
resident of the community, to any but
full citizen of the United States or TO a
person convicted of an offense punish
able by a prison term.
The provisions of the bill shall apply
to every village, town and city of the
state whether operating under the gener-
al laws of the state or by special act.
The bill repeats inconsistent previous
legislation and will be in force from and
n for &c