The Virginia enterprise., 1908-05-29
COUNCIL wRfSIlfS WITH lt0 QUESTION

COUNCIL WRESJlES WITH liO QUESTION
Act Of Mayor flawkiosoa H. Refusing to
Sign Cohen & Meadeison license
Brings Ou: Spirited Discussion.
The council had most interest
ing session Tuesday evening, one of
the chief topics of discussion being
brought ont bya report submitted
by Alderman Mattson, a member Of
the license committee. a result of
the action of Mayor Hawkinson IN
refusing to sign the license granted
by the council to Cohen & Mendel-
son at the meeting two weeks pre-
viOuslY.
This report as read cited the fact
that l.. Cohen, of the firm, had, on
or about July 28th last, been con-
victed of keeping his place of husi-
ness open on the Sabbath day con
trary to law, and that he had paid a
fine therefor; that since that time
other offenses of a similar nature
had been committed by the firm of
Cohen & Mendelson, and witnesses
were named who could be produced
to give evidence of such violations,
the latest of which was named as
having occurred on Sunday, May
24th; that the license of said firm of
Cohen & Mendelson, had expired on
or about May 14th, and that since
such time the said firm had been
running without license. The re.
port further cited the law govern
ing the granting of license to any
person convicted of violation
within one year from date of con.
viction, and the law governing the
conduct of the saloon business and
the running of saloon business
| without license
Alderman Mattson supplemented
his report with a motion that a res
olution be drawn ordering the re-
funding of license fee which
Cohen 4 Mendelson had deposited
with the city treasurer, but no sup
port was offered this motion. At
this juncture Judge John N. Martin,
as counsel for Cohen & Mendelson,
asked for few minutes of the
body's time and stated that he un-
derstoOd the reason ascribed by the
| mayor in refusing to sign the
license was because of the fact that
a member of the firm petitioning
had, within one year, paid a fine
for violation of the liquor laws, but
expounded at length the alleged
| reasons for said member having
plead guilty, claiming it was done
because of sickness in the defend
ants family and consuming de-
sire to go elsewhere for immediate
treatment. Judge Martin also con-
tended that the charges as made in
the report were naught but mere
rumors until formal complaint had
been made, and that the council
had no right or authority to con.
slider the complaints contained in
the report az authentic.
| AS chairman of the committee on
licenses President Osborn asked
that the committee be given one
more week in which to consider it's
proba bic action, which wa granted,
it being the sense of the motion
that this respite was granted for
the purpose of giving the commit
tee time in which to look up the
charges made against the saloon
keepers named.
| Rev. Clark, one of the many
spectators and as a member of a
committee present to look after the
matter, asked if it was not a fact
known to the council that Mrssrs.
Cohen & Mendeison were at that
time running saloon without a
license, the reply being made in
the affirmative but supplemented
with the statement that the money
for such license was on deposit
with the city treasurer.
The motion for aging the ma tier
over for one week embodied a
citation that Messrs Cohen &
Mendelson appea before the council
at the next meeting, that they
might in person make replies to
any questions touching the matter
and it is likely the coming meeting
will be of lurid hued order, az
both sides will doubtless be pre-
pared for an interesting game.
II Alderman Edward e. A. Johnson
of the Fourth Ward, who is moving
nto his new building in the Thirc
Ward, rendered his written resiyna
ton which was accepted, vote o.
regret being taken at his exit from
the council. 1t is likely his sue
cessor will be appointed at thu
coming meeting of the council
! Tuesday evening.
Humane Agent Grae, of Biwabik
as officer of the Duluth Human,
/ Society, who had previously asked
for donation to the Society's funde
; was present, and a resolution donat
, ing 500 to such cause was passed
A similar sum has been don ated b,
the city of Eveleth, $500 by Hibbin.