The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-19
FIFTEEN SALOONS
FOR PETERSBURG
Citizens Committee Urges That
Only This Number be
Licensed.
NOT FOR LOCAL OPTION NOW
Think Restrictions for the Traffic
Which May Be Secured and En- /,
forced, Better for Present.
NOT FOR LOCAL OPTION NOW
tspccIalto The Times pIsnn,eb. !,

tHp'N'"'i w ING lIfnes. DI9n1tcfl.1
PETERSBURG, VA, February 1s.-a
mass meeting that crowded the Aco.
deny of Music tonight heard ard
unanimously adopted the report sub.
mitted by the committee of thirteen
citizens with Richard 'B. Davis n,
chairman. which was recently appoint.
ed at a big public meeting to con.
sider and recommend measures for
restricting the liquor traffic in peters
burg. The report was read by Ber-
iiard mann. who presided, in the alb
sence OF Chairman Davis. and read q
letter from Mr.. Davis expressing his
regret tfat he was prevented by sick
ness from attending the meeting.
speeches strongly indorsing the COM
nlittee's recommendations as reason
able and conservative expressions OF
the opinion OF the best citizenship of
Petersburg were made by Bartlett
Roper. Augustus Wright. Rev. j. b.
VIM. pastor OF Washington Street
Methodist Church. and Arthur Kyle
Davis. Every reference to prohibition
and local option was received by the
big audience with prolonged applause.
and Mr.. Winn's clear cut avowal that
he was utterly opposed to all saloons
aroused great enthusiasm. On motion
Of Pew. j. NJ. Pitcher the report was
overy man in the building coming to
his feet. When the chairman asked
the opposition to rise. not man moved.
Mr.. VIM offered resolutions thank
ing the committee for its work and
requesting 1t to strive for the adoption
of It's recommendations by the city
government The resolutions were
unanimously passed.
Reporr OF the Committee.
The committees report follows:
To the citizens of Petersburg in gen.
eral meeting assembled.
Your committee, to whom was refer
red the duty of taking into considera-
ton and formulating such measures
for the restriction or abolition of the
sale of spirituous liquors In the city
of Petersburg as, in their judgment.
would best subserve the interest OF the
city and of the citizens at large. beg
ined the subject as fully and carefully
as they were able to do, and find that
there Is a very strong sentiment In
favor of local option.
In view of all the circumstances,
however, your committee deems 1t in.
expedient t present to recommend any
steps looking to the holding of an
election for the purpose of establish
ing local option in the city, and espe-
ctally so II the restrictions upon the
sale herein specified can be adopted
and faithfully carried out.
1t is recognized, and has been as
serted by the highest court of tho
United States and almost all of the
States. that the business of dealing in
spirituous liquors is dangerous one,
and 1T has been declared by judges,
keepers, sheriffs and others an
gagged in the administration of the
laws and who have examined
into the subject. that about from four
hfths to nine-tenths of all the crimes
committed in the Commonwealth is
traceable to the use of spirituous IL
quors and that the existence in any
community of bar-rooms In which IL
quor is sold to be drunk where sold
necessitates large increase In the
police force in order to conserve the
business and order Of the community.
Under these conditions 1t Is apparent
that licensed liquor saloons being scat
tered throughout the city and in nearly
every part of 1t will make adequate
police protection over them well-nigh
and that without such strict |
supervision these saloons endanger the
public business and public welfare and
are also very serious temptations in
the way of the young people of the
community.
In view of these acknowledged and |