Amador ledger., 1908-08-14
RAISING THE SALOON LICENSE.

increase the retail liquor license from SIS $45
per quarter surprise to the citizens generally Few
that any such contemplation was
unheradd by any discussion of the subject pro and
The action is based any petition of property bus
which is the usual when radical change
proposed in the conduct of municipal affairs Trustees
supposed reflect the sentiments of their constituents but
the Ledger unable explain the true nwardness OF this
change of the license SYSTEM either regards the motives
behind the object sought to be accomplished thereby
The proposition has been the subject of great deal of dis
cusson and the expressed widely divergent 1t
admitted that the saloon business overdone both in Jack
and throughout the county Saloons have been ostere
and encouraged by system of low license extending
period of many years. the increase being gradual AS al
general proposition is conceded that high license the
practicable method of regulating the liquor traffic The
suberfuge of trying limit the number under low tariff
proven vexatious and unsatisfactory every way But
concedng this, the wisdom C rushing the thing blind
fold and hurredly is viewed with serious misgivngs byl
many 1t is simple matter of getting rid of half al
dozen saloons less but the disturbance OF property
values that necessarily flow from any violent shift of
policy that mparts gravity to the situation Jackson was
Incorporated less than three years ago under implied if
express pledge that business interests would not bel
menaced any material increase of license In other words
city licenses would be graded conform with county licenses
Jackson now and has not been for years. enjoying
thing like BOOM The demand for business houses in the
business section is fully supplied Any radical step that
would suddenly drive number OF saloons out OF business
should be we'll pondered before decisive action taken
1t is long way from being the simple problem that 1t looks
The business the pusating heart of any Strike
the heart and the whole community suffer. Vacant
business premises loss of population, and tumbng of
rents with the inevitable result of general depreciation of
property Values corresponding shrnkage of the
ment roll and cuament of city and county de-
rived from direct property So that increased revenue
is the ultimate aim the apt bring bitter disap
pontment. This is the view taken by the conservative,
thinking element.
On the other hand some who take an exclusively moral
view of the subject will commend and applaud any that
squnts in the direction of essenng the saloon evil 1t
purely sentimental question with them separated from the
economical and civic AS rule they property
holders and have little vested interests be jeopardzed
They sincere enthusiasts and would hail the absolute
prohibition of the liquor traffic fell swoop regardless
of its immediate consequences reform victory OF the
jump in the license taken at their request
their initiative.
1t cannot be denied that some would be benefited The
of saloonmen who would be able to meet the
ebed toll would expect be than repaid by the IN
creased business which they calculate would come from the
Knockout of competing establishments. This aspect is SO
utterly selfish that will fail command the respect of any
outside of the few benehcares concerned Surely the
governing body of any city would be influenced by
appeals prompted by such spirit In the absence of any
petition calling for radical departure from the existing
policy more less wild talk is bound be INDUCED
in The Ledger believes that the majority should rule and
trusts this matter-which is truly delicate one-w be
fully discussed by citizens generally and acted upon
inelgenty with the sole view of promoting the ctys well