The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11
MAYOR MAY HANDLE NEAR BEER CASES Chattanooga Officials Are Sus-
 piCiouS of Traffic LICENSES ARE IN DEMAND Tax on Near Beer Satnds Is $50 a Year and Some Members of City coun-
 ell Think the Amount Is
 Entirely Too Small.
LICENSES ARE IN DEMAND

Chattanooga July 10.-(Special) IA let ter from Mayor Crabtree to the board of public safety has added another phase to the near beer question. There is now a possibility that the whole proposi- tion may be shot over Judge Fleming,s head to the mayor, and the citys chief executive be called to close the near beer stands in the name of law and or der. Such proceeding would of course entail interesting legal complications. In his letter to the board Mayor Crabtree calls the attention of the officials to the enforcement of prohibition laws. The mayor intimates that it has been inti- mated to him that intoxicating liquor is being sold in a number of the business houses opened for the sale of soft drinks and asks that the department take all necessary steps in the enforcement of the law. The letter seems to be based on an opinion similar to that which Chief Me- Mahon holds, that the near beer stands are mere cloaks to cover illicit sale of liquor.
 Enthusiasm Is a word that describes only In part the alacrity with which the ex-saloon men of the city are taking" to the proposed $50 annual tax by county and city upon the soft drink business. Several of the members of the city coun- ell are of the opinion that the tax is too small, and will make an endeavor to have it raised In the municipal legislative body. The license of $50 per annum im- posed by the county court was also re- ceived by the dealers with great satisfac- tion, and in a few hours after the pas sage of the resolution in the county court Tuesday several soft drink dealers had called at the office of the county clerk and paid the license. These were followed by others, and but few of the near beer dealers have so far failed to take out the license. There is also much opposition being developed in the city council to the provision that the city license be turned over to the police and fire department pension fund, to be placed in the hands of the board of public safety for that purpose. Many believe the money should go into the gen. eral fund as all taxes are.
 After July 16 a uniform signal system VIII DC III cIlcCl dI dll IIl6 TdllTOdd grade crossings in the city, and the safety of the travelling public will be materially in- creased. The announcement of the uni form signal system comes after an agree ment between F. H. Dowler, agent for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railway in this city, and Superintendent G. F.lMiller of the Chattanooga Railways company.
 C1aa rfnUo If fha no ffav,o the week ending July 8 shows a gain of $l54, f91 10 over the corresponding week last year. The amount of the clearings for the week just closing was $1, 403, ,061. AT while for the same week in 1908 it was $1,24S, ,570.57.
 It is understood that City Attorney Bachman has submitted an opinion to Mayor Crabtree in regard to the sale of the water works bonds, in which he stated his belief that special resolution author izing the sale of the bonds should first be passed by the council before they are advertised According to the practice of selling all city bonds heretofore 1t has been necessary for a special resolution authorizing their sale to be passed by the council before the bonds can be legally sold. It is argued that the water works bonds should come under this same rule.
 Superintendent Gilbreath of the Chatta- nooga public schools has compiled a spell CT which he will attempt to have intro duced in the schools of Tennessee, and is now in Nashville for the purpose of lay ing the matter before the sub-text-book committee. Superintendent Gilbreath' s speller was recently adopted by the state board of education of Louisiana.
 
 Having been thoroughly overhauled and improved, the steamer N. B. Forrest has left for Decatur, Ala. The repairs and improvements cost several thousand dol lars, and the Forrest Is now one of the handsomest boats engaged in river traffic. She will in all probability be used on the Chattanooga-Paducah line.
 TURTLE FIGHTS CARP.
 Victor and Victim Are lassoed After