Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-24
COUNCIL GRANTS
ASCOT SPECIAL
LIQUOR LICENSE
Only Two Votes in the
Negative
Consolidation Commission Explains
Implied Understanding Was
Given to Jockey
Club

With only two councilmen objecting
the city council yesterday voted to au-
thorize the board of police commission
ers to grant a special retail liquor IL
cense for Ascot park grand stand
Councilman Wallace stood arrayed
against the saloon proposition and
Councilman Wren voted no merely be-
cause of the emergency clause at
tached.
The action of the legislative body
was taken after n frank statement by
Messrs. Butler and Mott OF the con-
solidation commission, who said that
they felt that the city's representatives
were morally bound to grant the re-
quest. inasmuch as the agreement with
the Ascot people was that If they with
drew their injunction proceedings
against the entry of the shoestring
strip into the city they should be per-
mitted to continue their race meeting
with all its privileges until April
next. This the commission had prom
ised to recommend to the council.
The Ordinance
The ordinance which the council con-
sidered and which finally passed was
as follows:
An ordinance authorizing the board
or police commissioners of the city of
Los Angeles to grant a special permit
to the LOS Angeles Jockey club for a
retail liquor dealers license at Ascot
park in said city.
Whereas the city council did on
the 23d day of January, 1907, adopt q
certain resolution declaring that 1t was
the sense of the said city council, by
reason of the matter set forth in said
resolution, that an ordinance be adopt-
ed authorizing the granting to the Los
Angeles Jockey club a retail liquor
license at Ascot park, the said license
to continue only during the present
racing season and to terminate not
later than April /, 1907.
Now. therefore, the mayor and
council of the city of Los Angeles do
ordain as follows:
Section l. That the board of police
commissioners be and the same is here
by authorized to grant a special per-
NIT to the Los Angeles Jockey club
for retail liquor dealers license to
sell vinous, malt and spirituous liquors
at the grand stand in Ascot park for a
period to be fixed by said board of DO
lice commissioners; provided, how
ever. that said permit and the license
issued Hereunder shall expire not
later than April 1, 1907.
Sec. 2 That the license issued un-
der said permit shall be issued in the
same manner as other retail liuuor
licenses are issued by the said city
upon the payment by the said Los An
geles Jockey club to the tax and license
collector of the said city of the sum Of
500 per month for said license the
said sum to be paid into the salary
fund of the said city,
Sec. 3. This ordinance is urgently
required for the immediate preserva-
tion of the public peace, health and
safety"
Chairman Butler Explains
When the APPLICATION for the license
had been read Chairman Butler of the
consolidation commission took the
floor when President Pease called for
some one to state the case.
"At the time Of the annexation cleo
tion we met representatives of the
Ascot park track" said he, land after
reflection 1t was declared the sense
of the commission that compromise
was advisable, as nothing we could do
then could stop racing.
ION the other hand if we could in
duce them to discontinue proceedings
to tie up the annexation election we
would gain great deal. Time was the
essence then. The law committee came
to this conclusion.
"The compromise was that track con-
ditions should continue as they existed
then through the race meeting or until
April /. That was the understanding.
The city is under a moral obligation to
carry out this agreement. We have
nothing in common with Ascot, but
they withdrew what would have been
a stumbling block, and it is our duty
to recommend-as we are doing-that
the spirit of the agreement be carried
out"
Moral Obligation
Answering questions Chairman But
Ter continued:
THE commission took it upon itself
to accept this compromise to help the
annexation movement. We had no
authority. 1t was simply question of
recommendation. The preceding coun-
Gil looked upon 1t as moral obliga-
tion and passed the ordinance which
because of an error was void"
Did you get an Endorsement from
the chamber of commerce?" said Mr..
Wallace.
mot as body. Many of the mem
bers indorsed our work, and President
Washburn came forward to second our
efforts. AS body we couldn't ask the
chambers Endorsement, as it represents
so many interests"
Councilman Wallace said he felt,
from his knowledge of the situation.
that the city was committed to permit
ting the racing but he had not re-
garded the saloon feature as obliga-
tory.
1.-The people on the other side evinced
the utmost faith in our promises and
we should stand by them. 1t is within
the province of this council to take
away the privilege" continued Mr..
Butler" but they depend on us to give
them this recommendation, thinking
the city would do the right thing. We
have simply applied a remedy that
protects the people,"
Mott Corroborates
Attorney Mott of the law committee
ment.
Regardless of the merits and de-
merits of the case our understanding
and theirs was that If they dropped
their litigation they should be allowed
10 agn nfasV 4.