The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
ORDINANCE ADOPTED RAISES
LIQUOR LICENSE 70 $40.
SIGNED BY THE MAYOR
Alderman Gate. only Opponent to
New Ordinance on Final Vote.
Mayor and Firth Wanted Number
Of Saloons Limited.

ings were raised from $240 a year to
$140. the maximum allowed by the
state law, at last nights meeting OF
the city council, during which every
phase OF the question Of limiting the
number Of saloons in the city was
thoroughly threshed out. When the
adoption Of the ordinance was voted
on Alderman Gates was the only
member Of the council, who voted no.
The aldermen advocating the ordi-
nance finally overcame the aldermen.
who opposed 1t because it did not
provide for limiting the number OF
saloons, by urging the consideration
OF the ordinance.
Two ordinances were introduced
originally, one providing for the rails
ing OF the licenses without limiting
the number Of saloons, as was advo.
Gated by. the retail liquor dealers as
ISOLATION Of the city, and the other
raising the licenses and providing for
limiting the number OF saloons as the
liquor men asked in . petition pre-
senteds to the council several weeks
ago.
Unable to Agree.
From the start 1t was evident that
at least four Of the aldermen favored
the ordinance raising the licenses
and were opposed TO limiting the
number Of saloons. Another was non
committal, while another had an
amendment to offer providing for
more signers on q petition for q II
cense. Alderman Firth opposed rails
ing the liquor licenses without limit
ing the number Of saloons, while Al
derman Gates expressed himself as
opposed to any legislation looking 70
the raising Of the licenses.
Inability to get together and agree
upon one Of the two ordinances 81
amendments to one ordinance was re
sponsible for the p%rotracted session
which did not adjourn until midnight
With the mayor. Aldermen Soule and
Woods opposing any attempt to delay
action on the ordinances, Alderman
Gates moved first for q recess Of "a
hours, but his motion failed to re
ceive q second. Later he moved Il
adjourn and his second motion was
accorded the same treatment as the
first.
Foster States Views.
After the passage Of the ordinance
last night Mayor Foster signed II
Before Its passage he stated that he
was in favor Of an ordinance which
provided for the raising 81 the licenses
and limiting the number Of saloons
as he believed that the situation u
present demanded that both things be
done. He stated, however. that II
the saloon men Of the city would con
cede to raising the licenses in order
to secure legislation limiting the mum
her Of saloons and would give thei,
support to an ordinance providing FOL
both, he would veto an ordinance
which simply provided for raising the
licenses. On the other hand he said
that II the saloon men continued u
oppose an ordinance Of the character
he advocated and would not support
1t, he would sign an ordinance simply
raising the licenses.
Must Have Forty signsrs.
The mayors statement. intended
apparently to overcome the opposition
on the part Of the saloon men to the
ordinance, providing both for raising
licenses and limiting the saloons, had
little effect since no advantage wa.
taken to insert an amendment In the
ordinance passed. which simply pro
vides for the raising Of licenses, but
the opposition continued and thu
saloon men who are members Of thu
council did not give their support t
the ordinance providing for both rails
ing licenses and limiting saloons.
The ordinance AZ adopted last nigh
carries with It the amendment oherei
by Alderman Stafek requiring that