The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-05
LIVELY COUNCIL SESSION.
The Question of Raising the Saloon
License to $1,000 Per Annum Not
Received With Favor.

haySViile, June 3.-The session of the
Kaysville city council last night was
very spirited affair from start to finish.
The occasion of so much animation in the
proceedings was the presentation by a
committee of citizens of petitions. signed
by 10 citizens, asking the council to make
tne saloon license at KaysVille at least
Sl-AO per annum. John G. NJ. Barnes, Hy-
rum Stewart. DR.. ]. T. Morton. DR.. j.
h Grant and DR.. s. Gleason were among
the advocates of the high license, and
tney were allowed TO present arguments
IN favor Of the petitions. The opposition
was out in numbers as well. and it was
made evident that the saloons have their
advocates and that there will be a fight
before the end sought by the petition
ers IS gained. During the very heated
discussions there were several exchanges
or personalities, that served no purpose
other than TO emphasize the fact that ir
reconcilable differences of opinion exist
on the question at issue
The members of the council. with one
exception, seemed unwilling To go on rec
ord last night. Councilman c. Burton, jr.
was the exception. He tried to get a mo-
ton before the council fixing the license
al 1900 as asked by the petitioners but
placing the time the ordinance should be-
come effective at six months after its
passage and approval The motion failed
for want of a second. Later, he moved
that an ordinance be drafted increasing
the license. This motion was intended as
a compromise and il would doubtless
nave resulted in a raising of the license
to $500 or $1,000. But not another coun-
Gilman would go even that far with Mr..
Burton, and again his motion failed. Fin
ally. he did get a second TO motion to
take the matter under Amusement until
next session. This carried. The petition
ers were none too iubilant over the results.
They went before the council claiming
TO represent the majority of the citizens
and taxpayers of the city, and they SEEM
a
was accorded the petition. But they will
not quit the fight. II may take some
time TO effect the reform but that it will
come is certain. as is shown by the over
Whelming sentiment in favor of prOhibi-
ton, and by the class of citizens that
are supporting the movement.
Councilman George H. Blood injected a
dramatic episode into the discussion last
night when he arose and in the midst of
an impassiOned speech demanded TO know
why the advocates of high license for sa-
looms We're not consistent enough to urge
the same for tobacco dealers, alleging
that the use of tobacco leads on to the
liquor habit. In support of his assertion,
that minors were able TO buy tobacco at
most of the stores in KaysVille, he pro-
duced four packages Of tobacco that were
purchased yesterday from four Kaysville
dealers by a youth of tender years. 1t
is not known whether prosecutions Will
follow this alleged infractiOn of the law
by the merchants or not. but inasmuch
the attention of the city officials, ii IS
presumed that action 10 punish the often
deTs will be taken. Indeed, ii is difficult
to see how an excuse can be found by /
the proper officials for not prosecuting. /
after having the evidence laid before !
them by a city official.
The electric light situation in kaysville |
is not at present satisfactory to the pub !
lie, who, in patience and lOng-suffering. |
have awaited the installation of the light |
ing system. Some months ago. when B. |
+. Slusser of Salt Lake City came here |
and sought a franchise, he was given eV- /
cry possible encouragement liberal !
franchise was granted him. and he COM |
menced work at once. On May ! he had 50 I
far established himself that lights were |
in use by the business houses on Main /
street and by residents on a few of !
the side streets. Then Mr.. Slusser dropped |
from public view, and shortly afterward I
il was rumOred that the gentleman had /
gone 10 Wyoming 10 develop lighting /
project I'm the Big Horn country. 1t was
stated that the miscarriage of a scheme /
TO generate electricity i'm Davis county /
was what had discouraged Nj. Slusser. |
Meantime. a number of citizens had wired |
their houses. expecting to be connected /
with the Slusser system, the city cOun-
ell had declined to pass a franchise APP
piled for by a Pennington company, and |
the public had been deceived into believ-
ing that the lights were 10 come into /
general use. Mr.. Slusser had spent for
material and labor $1,000 or more, il is
said. and had secured "A contract for cur
rent from the Utah Light x Railway
company. He is now reported to be ready /
10 sell out
The city council has taken up the mat
ter. and. in order to arrive at the wishes /
Of the citizens, a mass meeting has been
called for Thursday evening, at which the /
question of the city or a company OF !
citizens taking over the SlusseT property
will be discussed. In case neither of /
these ways of handling the matter is de
cided upon. the council will in all prob
ability grant license 10 the Farming
ton company i'm which case kaysvillc /
will be lighted with electricity generated I
i'm the county. Pennington has already
installed "A lighting system, which is be
ing rapidly extended.