The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-01
Friday, May 1, i00s.
AN INToLERABLE SITUATION.

There have appeared In the edi- torial columns of The Journal Cour- fer from time to time carefully con sidered comments with regard to the conduct of the liquor business in the city of New Haven, and especially with regard to the intelligently selfish duty of the respectable dealers of the city towards those who hold the liquor laws in contempt, and who per mt kind of behaviour on the part of patrons which can not be and ought not to be either palliated ar excused These comments have been made in good faith. in a desire to recognize the legality of the trade. on the one hand, and, on the other in a purpose to rid New Haven of the low dive which accomplishes so much for the ruin of both men and women.
 The action of the county commis- sioners of New Haven county, with whom lies the power of discretion in the matter of granting liquor licenses in granting license to an applicant who has been condemned by Chief Cowles of the police department as a man unfit to be trusted with the sale of liquor light wines and beer, brings every thoughtful citizen and every reputable hquor dealer face to face with an intolerable situation The character of the khern saloon has been clearly set before the commis- sioners by committee of the City Nilsson association appointed by that body to watch applications for licenses. by individuals who are know ing 10 the policies and practices of the objectionable saloonkeeper and finally by the chief of police. The testimony has been overwhelmingly against the reliability of the man and the responsibility of his saloon. So determined and reinforced has been this campaign against liquor dives that 1t has attracted the attention of citizens, of reputable saloon dealers and dive keepers. Each class has felt that upon the outcome of the appli- cation for a license might hang fu- ture efforts on the part of decent cit izens and law abiding saloon dealers to raise the standard of liquor sell ing and the enforcement of the law.
 It will at once occur to the thought fui man, that if the voluntary judg- ment of the chief of police, whose business 1t is to enforce the liquor laws, Is to be set aside by the county commissioners, larger license than the formal liquor license contemplates is at once issued by artificial process The issuance of one license to an ap. plicant who has been declared unfl by the head of the police force k calculated to do more harm by tho encouragement It gives the dive keep CT than a dozen arrests for violation of the law can do good. Not only Is tht action of the county commissioners II this case a deliberate undermining 0 the authority of the police and { thoughtless encouragement to every law-breaker, but 1t is q source 0 heavy discouragement to the reput able liquor merchant, whose dispos ton is to work in harmony with th' various forces which ask only tha the laws shall be enforced The sa loon business of the city of New Fla ven Is for the large part in the hand of men who realize that their owl self preservation lies in their obed fence to the law, and who admit tha 1t is for their interest to have license granted only to those who will main tain respectable places and not per init their use for assignatlon and othe equally foul purposes. It is becaus this Is so, and because there Is a wei settled determination on the part o the representative heads of familie in this city to see that the liquor bus mess is managed with a respect fo the rights of others that the decisio
 of the county commissioners is sin cerely regretted.
 It Is perfectly true that 1t take more than a single swallow to mak summer. Applying that gentl philosophy to the grant of a sngl objectionable liquor license, 1t save one from the contemplation of a bus mess, which, dangerous in itself, under the control of reckless and in different men At the same time tn willingness of the county commis sioners, under any pretext whatever to grant single license to man no