The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-11
SALOONS AND LICENSES.

doubt TO drive the saloons out Of th,
residence districts altogether, and con
centrate them in the parts of the city
that arc thronged with people during
the day and evening. One very desir
able result to be obtained would NJ
doubt be the closing Of 4 number OF
disreputable resorts. commonly called
dives, and the putting of the liquor
business in the hands of more respon
sible parties, persons who could be
reached by right aims to keep their con
tract with the city, obey the law, and
keep quiet, orderly places, or be got at
by law in case they deserved punish
ment.
One proposition is to increase the Ii.
cense by fifty per cent, making 1t $500
a year. Another is TO make il $4,000.
Our idea is that the higher the better;
even $2400 would not be out Of the
way. That would assure n still further
reduction in the number OF saloons and
presumably n higher responsibility by
those who have the licenses toward the
city, toward the people, and toward the
law.
An important feature of the proposed
change in the municipal programme for
saloons ought to he the enlistment Of
the hearty support and cooperation of
the saloon men themselves in the city s
determination to eliminate dives and
the low, disreputable saloons. At the
Brewers convention in Milwaukee late
". the elimination of gambling dens,
immoral resorts and confidence games
of all kinds from connection with sa
looms was strongly and earnestly urged
upon the trade. The openly announced
purpose was TO elevate the saloon bust
ness, or at least raise il above the
depths of degradation TO which IN
many places 1T has fallen.
We believe that there is an excel.
lent opportunity in Salt Lake City for
the Council to purify the city and at
the Same time get increased revenue
from the saloon business. The great
difficulty in high license is 10 prevent
The surreplitious selling of liquor. If
the license is made high there will be
toughs who will take the risk Of run
ming Joints and dives without any Ii
,enso at all. And in spite of the ut
most vigilance of the police, the eXpc-
-ience of other cities has been that such
lives can he conducted for time with
put being found out. 1t is right there
hat the cooperation of the saloon men
10, 1v,,h
IT can find out, if they are vigilant and
when and where such un
licensed concerns arc open, and can aid
he authorities. It should he made 90
he interest ot the licensed saloon men
also TO take part ia ferretlng out all
liquor selling and the
,pening of any dives or resorts where
liquor could be had without the pay
nent of the regular license and submit.
ing TO the law and the regulations
provided for their operation. 1t has
,een suggested in some places, although
We do not know to what extent it was
,ver put into effect, that the privilege
# selling liquor should be auctioned off
o the highest bidder, with the under.
tanding that the successful bidders
vould cooperate fully with the officials
# the city in stamping out all illegal |
liquor selling. That we consider an i'm.
,ortant matter to be reached. In fact, !
he cooperation of all good citizens |
hould be invoked for the full carrying
nut of the law and of the regulations in
his regard. And assuming that the |
,ettcr saloon element which would be !
,rought TO the front by this pro.
,ramme is composed of good citizen. !
hip, il is no more to ask that they |
hall aid in the enforcement of the law |
nd the regulations than TO ask that |
tber good citizens should do the same. |
We think it may be taken for granted |
hat the morals of the city would be
luch improved by the programme out
med by the Council committee We
hink also that the finances of the city
I;ll be bettered by the Increased Ii. !
ense, and that there is no particular
eason why that Increase should be es.
ecially limited; and the Jealous CO.
PtlhJioh u cNcIJDOuy suOdIu De OBJ |
aimed in stamping out all efforts
oward illegal selling of liquors.
The Council committee is evidently
n the right track in this matter, and
'e trust that its efforts will be mag
animousiy open toward the highest
gurc that is practicable, and tnat the
vhole Council will zealously and
back the efforts of the com
llttee on the points referred to- The I
umbec OF saloons should be decreased
hose remaining should be required to
ay an increased sum for their licenses
he highest practical amount, in fact,
nd the united effort of all concerned.
including all the good citizenship of the
ity, should be directed zeaIously and
ffectively toward the suppression of
he dives and all illegal or unauthor.
zed resorts.
HISGEN's VOTE IN NEW YORK.
Hl1