The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-11-12
LICENSE LAW
To Govern and Regulate
Saloon Business TO be
up Before Legislature
MANY QUESTIONS ASKED

Columbus, Nov. 10-Almost from the.
moment of the convening of the sec.
ond session of the Seventy-seventb
general assembly at Columbus, Janu-
airy 6, the liquor question will be an
issue.
The first proposition with which the
legislators will be confronted will be
one submitted in the form of reso-
luton by Representative Frank Hillen.
kamp, of Lucas county, to amend the
constitution of Ohio so that retail
liquor dealers can be licensed, as they
are in Pennsylvania and some other
states.
The Hillenkamp resolution was in
troduced during the legislative session
Of the winter of 1906, but had not been
acted upon at the time the session was
adjourned suddenly because OF the
critical illness of former Governor
Pattison.
Calendars for the legislative session
OF 1908 have been prepared and sent
to the members in advance. On the
house calendar the Hillenkamp resolu.
tion is the fifth matter for considera.
tion on the first day of the session.
The resolution provides that the
question of amending the state consti
tuition In a manner that will authorize
the licensing saloons, be submitted to
the voters at the general county, state
and national election 10 be held in
November, 1908. The present constl
tutional provision with reference to
the sale OF liquor Is to the effect that
II shall not be licensed In Ohio. The
result Is that any man who pays the
government license OF S25 and the
state Dow tax OF $1,000 can engage In
the saloon business at any place In
Ohio, excepting, OF course, territory
that has been made dry under the /.
Beal, Brannock and Jones laws.
Said Representative Hillenkamp this .
morning: Il have not determined, .
even in my own mind. how much the .
saloon license ought 10 be, but ! should .
think IL would be well to grade It In
some way II might be made higher
In cities than In country townships,
and perhaps the saloon keeper on
Summit street ought TO pay more than
the little dealer in the suburbs.
NO continued Mr.. Hilenkamp In
response as to what officers should be-
vested with authority to grant saloon
licenses, Il don't know Just what
should be done about that, either. II
he voters of Ohio decide that they
want the constitution amended and
ohio made license state, the amount ,
II the licenses. the manner of grant.
ng them, and other questions that will
rise, can be fixed by legislative ac, at
he session In 1909. These things
hould be fully discussed on the floor
4 the assembly and carefully consid.
red
But | am sure OF one thing" as.
erted Mr.. Hillenkamp with emphasis,
the licensing OF saloons will put out {
business two classes OF people-the
Professional anti.saloOns agitators AMI
he dive keepers who sell liquor In
win tbelf business.
In Ohio, under our present laws, y
ny man, even murderer just from u
ne penitentiary. can engage In the v
iloon business II II were licensed 5
nd properly regulated, the liquor bus f
less would be placed on a higher Il
lane. Licenses should be granted
My 10 responsible men Of good char q
tier, and they should be required 10 a
I've big bond-sl000 to $2000-to Il
,nduct their business properly. II Il
ley forfeit the bond. their places OF q
lsiness should be closed and there a
lould be provision that they shall Ia
ever again be granted a. liquor H. Il
nse in Ohio. That would be a good s,
ays toward cleaning up" g