The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-01
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

1853 an ordinance passed that all d1Ster1eS cease
operations after April 1s The action evidently stirred
I'D Brigham Young There was good profit to the
man invested with power to control the manufacture
and sale of liquor and the Estate of Deseret as one
of the perqustes of the CROWN had given the control
of the liquor sales to the governor. Accordingly,
Governor Young went down to the council chamber
evening in February, 1858, and inquired OF the
city council whether it considered that 1t had the
right to enact laws contrary to the laws OF the terri
tory The council made haste to vote unanimously
that it had not Governor Young then stated that the
territorial laws had sanctioned the laws OF the state
of Deseret with relation to the liquor question, and
that the control of the manufacture and sale OF liquor
had been given to him. He said that therefore he
had not been strenuous. The council was not SO
blind but what it at the point, and on
motion of the mayor all ordinances with relation
to the manufacture and sale of liquor forthwith
repealed.
During the period, at nearly every session of the
council, there petitions presented praying for
licenses to sell liquor and to run distilleries Our
good friend, Jeter Clinton on July 1st, 1858, was
granted license to sell liquor at his dwelling for
the consideration of $50 per year. and at the same
session of the council nine petitions for licenses
presented On July 9, 1853, three petitions of sim
liar character were handed in. And now it becomes
my painful duty to shatter one of our idols in the
interest of truth of history Dr. Jeter Clinton was
after all, but clay. He a member of the city
council and high quarantine physician and yet Dec
ember 49, 1858, his license to sell liquor at his dwell
ing was revoked for the reason as the records show,
of the diSOrdered conduct of the house" But,
though he fell from grace, he evidently repented and
promised to obey the law for July 20, 1854, he
was granted license to sell liquor in the thirteenth
ward for year. Another good brother had
charges made against him. On July 30, 1854 John
Mellon asked for a renewal of his liquor license. The
assertion made that he in the habit of
selling beer to children, as if such things could be
those days of concentrated temperance virtue and
simplicity His petition laid until he made
satisfaction to the council" He made satisfaction
August 18th, and the petition granted August
26, 1854 four petitions to sell liquor granted,
O Robert CamObe11 for
many years recorder of the city
The foregoing facts and records we're all taken
from the books in the city hall at Salt Lake, which
are teening evidence of the alcoholic harty of the
times, and they also show that the church was the
civil government and that it covered all the public
money, local and national, into its treasury. The
chosen ones were an accumulative people.
In 1855 the city council contemplated an ordinance
declaring dstilleries, breweries and saloons nui-
sance, but it not enacted The mayor was given
authority to regulate" the sale of liquor-by the
Mormons, of course, for there were no Genties
yet in the soul destroying business
Continuing his remarks Judge Powers said:
And now come to one of the most remarkable
reports ever presented to council filled to its palate
with temperance and virtue. July 3 1861, the special
committee to whom was referred the subject of the
and sale of liquor presented report
reading follows:
10 the T1OIOrdDle the mayor OF Salt Lake City:
Your committee to whom was referred the subject
of the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquor
would report that they visited several dstlleres in
and near the city and would most respectfully re-
commend that the city council purchase or rent the
dstillery erected by Brigham Young near the mouth
of Parleys canyon, and put the same in immediate
operation, employing such persons as shall be deemed
necessary to manufacture sufficient quantity TO an
Swer the public demand; controlling the sale of the
same and that the profits accrung herefrom be paid
into the city treasury
Alderman Clinton
Alderman Sheets
Councilman Felt