The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-28
SALOON LICENSE HEARINGS.

N'NNf''
many years in the latitude they allow
applicants for licenses In examining,
through counsel those who appear mi
opposition, Thoughtful men and women
have for long time felt keenly the
treatment received by protesting wit
nesses who for reasons of their own
oppose the location OF q saloon at Il
given and specified place. More often
they are forced to appear as indicted
persons against whom prima facie
case has been entered on the ground OF
spite or ignorance. As a rule the appli-
cant is permitted to appear as the ag-
grieyed party, the one person In the
room at the hearing to be regarded as
innocent Of all questionable conduct un-
til proved guilty.
The rules which should pertain are
not at all complicated. A certain man
wishes to open a saloon at a given cor
ner or at convenient place in a block
of buildings, near a center Of popula-
ton He conforms with the law as to
advertising his claim, etc If protest
is entered a hearing is held at stated
time. Both parties are in attendance,
The proceedings should be exceedingly
simple from this out The applicant is
entitled to bring before the commission
ers whatever evidence he has or can
muster showing him to be fit person
to sell liquor, beer and light wines, This
done the protestants should be given
every chance to shw In their own way
why in their judgment the petitioner is
either an improper person to be en-
trusted with a license, or the site he
has selected is an improper one If the
commissioners, who are the sole judges
of the application, have reason to sus-
pect the existence Of improper innu-
ences at work t is for them to ask
whatever questions are necessary to
establish that fact They should not
give an attorney indefinite latitude in
order that he may make earnest and
well meaning people, who should not
he put to the expense Of retaining a
lawyer, appear ridiculous This is too
frequently done,
At hearing before the commission
ers recently a protest was entered
against a certain application for IL
eense on the ground that the location
was not suitable one, being near a
church and a religious institution. The
rector of the church was put through
the PAGES in the form Of a biting cross
examination, as II by daring to testify
against the issuance OF the license he
was controlled by improper motives. He
was asked if he were not opposed to
saloons wherever located. when his
views upon that general subject had
nothing to do with the inquiry at hand
He was present to protect against the
particular license under consideration
for definite and specific reasons. 1t was
further intimated in question, which
should have been promptly ruled out
that his opposition was In fact due the
personal influence of another saloon.
keeper, who had interested him in tho
application OF business rival, rather
than to real objection on the part Of
the church society with which he was
connected. The entire examination was
conducted in spirit frequent enough
in the rooms OF the county commission
ers but of objectionable prejudice. Tn,
county commissioners exist, under tn,
circumstances stated, as much for tn,
protection of respectable citizens as FOL
the protection of an applicant for Z
saloon license.
1t is possible that there are Difficult
ties In the way of the county commits
sioners revolutionizlng the prevailing
methods at a hearing. If there are theI
they should be removed at the earlies
possible moment. 1t is we'll to remembe
that eventually impressions of thi
sort take on a shape which leads to &C
ton against things as they are consti
tuted II is conceivable that they nigh
materially strengthen the suspicion o
the usefulness of the county politica
organization, already more or les
widespread, and in addition lead to tn
enactment of laws restricting the mum
? Der Of saloons and tightening the con
ditions under which licenses may b
issued The matter is not ole confined
to the protestants alone The commits
sioners and saoonkeepers are equal.
interested, though perhaps 1t is not We
= clear to them.
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= The New York courJs have ordcre
@ the opening Of the ballot boxes whlc
4 contain the votes in the last lnayuralt
contest there. Mr., Hearst aas predc5
ed all along that a recount would shol