The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-25
MAKE STRONG PLEA
FOR RESTRICTIONS
Finance Committee Of Petersburg
Urged to Adopt Ordinances,
i but Decline.
1snecial q rhe rlme. .plspatch. ]

rumcnt In favor OF the proposed re.
strictton and regulation of the liquor
traffic in Petersburg was heard for
two hours this evening by the Finance
Committee of the City Council at 8
meeting. to which tie public was IN
vited and at which 1t was present IN
large numbers. Chairman Patteson nj
times finding 1t necessary to rap for
order when demonstrations of approval
or disapproyal were too noisy.
The resolutions and proposed ordin-
ance cinbodyfng the recommended re-
strictions adopted at the recent tenn
perance ass-meeting at the Academy
OF Music were presented to the com
mittee by Councilman Richard b.
Davis, chairman of temperance conf
mite OF two citizens from each ward,
who were appointed by mass meeting
held several months ago, and drafted
the present plan of regulation.
He also presented petition signed
by about 500 voters requesting the
Council to adopt the proposed restric-
tions. Mr.. Davis made the main argu-
nlent for the temperance party, MAX
ing a strong plea for the proper regu-
lation of the liquor traffic as essen
tial to the economic as we'll as the
moral welfare of the city. The speak
err disavowed any intention of injur-
Ing liquor dealers and expressed belief
in careful regulation. rather than pro-
hibition of what he characterized as a
dangerous business.
Other speakers advocating restric-
ton were Bartlett Roper, a prominent
wholesale grocer. Rev. ]. B. VIM, pas
tor of the Washington Street Methodist
Church, and Augustus Wright Rev.
DR. David Klein, rabbit of the Union
Street Synagogus, expressed the view
that II the liquor business was pro-
nounced by the courts a menace to the
public welfare, 1t should be altogether
prohibited by the concerted action of
the people: but in this respect he ex-
pressed doubt that any Supreme Court
had defined the liquor business as
privilege, but not right granted to a
citizen.
A large number OF well-known liquor
men were present, but no representa-
tive of their side spoke.
After hearing the speeches the COM
mittee went into executive session. The
restrictions in question are reduction Of
the number of bars to fifteen, increase
of the license tax from $3.50 to $1,000,
combining their location 10 the lower
business section OF the city. requiring
them to remain closed from 10 at night
TO in the morning, and a few other
minor requirements
The Petition Denied.
In considering the license tax ordi-
nance. the Finance Committee in eS-
ecutive session decided to recommend
no increase in the present liquor IL
cense tax of $3.50, to leave the ques-
ton OF the number of saloons to the
Judge Of the Hastings Court. to whom
the applications for saloon license are
made, and not to limit the location of
saloons TO any one section of the city,
thus disappearing the main features OF
the ordinance recommended by the
temperance committee and mass-meet-
ing, and presented TO the finance COM
,nittee this evening by the temperance
people. The committee decided to re-
commend that the saloons be required
to be closed from II o'clock at night
to o'clock in the morning. No i'm
portant changes in the present license
tax ordinance will be recommended by
the finance committee in Its report.
For Selling to Minors.
Various phases OF the temperance
question are at present the subjects
of main Importance, not only In the
most important committee of the Com
mon Council and Board of Aldermen
the Finance Commttee-but also In
the Hastings Court, which to-day, with
the cases of the several liquor dealers
under indictment for selling liquor
to minors. In the first case called,
that of Charles Dabney. colored. bar
tender for Willis Gillian. proprietor Of
a Well-known negro saloon, Messrs.
ID. Hamilton WILCOX and Robert Gill
liam. Jr.. counsel for the defense,
sprung a radical surprise on the prose-
cution by moving that the indictment
be quasheu on jhe ground that the
statute lander. Which it was found is
Unconstitutional The defendants
counsel claimed that with reference
to the penalty for the sale of liquor
to minors the statute in question falls
10 comply with the requirement of the
Constitution that an act of the Legis-
lature must state in its title the pur-
pose of the act. Judge Mullen said
that he was inclined 10 grant the mo-
ton. but wanted TO hear argument.
Whereupon Mr.. Richard B, Davis. who.
with Commonwealth Attorney r. II.
Mann, is conducting the prosecution,
requested that the court take recess
TO allow counsel time to examine the
law on the question. After a recess
of an hour and half argument on the
motion to quash was begun, the jury
being discharged until tomorrow
morning. After hearing argument
Judge Mullen rendered his decision this
evening, denying the motion to Quash
he Indictment. and UNFOLDING the con-
Iututionality of the act, which is the
Mann law. The court also overruled
The demurrer entered by counsel for
the defense. and the case will therefore
rome up for trial before the jury to-
morrow morning.
hlny shorten the Division.
An interesting report is current here
that the Norfolk and Western Rail
road officials are considering shorten
Ing of the division of the road be-
rause of the new law limiting an en- .
Eineer's hours of work. 1t is said
that in order TO meet the requirements
IF the new law the Norfolk division
pr the road, on which Petersburg is
located, would have to be shortened.
Fith Addison instead Of Crewe as the
western terminus. or else that a belt
tine for through freghts must be built
>round this city. The change of the