The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-08-05

1Here is an ordnance now before the
Council at Racine which if adopted
and enforced in this city would eff
fectually close the saloons at the hours
prescribed in the regulations and would
do away with all the difficulties of the
police In proving to the satisfaction
OF a court that any saloon had been
keeping open after hours. In the
proposed ordinance all screens and
other distinctions are required to be
removed from the windows of saloons
from closing time at night until open
ing time in the morning and failure
to comply with this ordinance is pun
ishable by a fine of 1926 for each and
every offense. The same rules. in re-
gard to window screens are to apply
on election days when the saloons arc
supposed to be closed. The proprietor
of the place or his assistants are per-
mltted to clean up and make repairs
during the required time of closing
provided, IF course, that the shades
are kept up while they are at work.
1t would be a very simple matter to
secure convictions under this law for
1t would not be necessary to prove that
any saloon was open and doing bust
ness after hours. That the shades
were down after closing time is
all that would have to be prov
ed. 1t is not impossible that a
similar ordinance might receive con
siderable support in this city from the
saloon men themselves. In ninety-nine
cases out of a hundred all business
done by saloon after closing time is
done at loss and in great majority
OF cases the only thing that makes
saloon proprietor violate the law and
Keep open after hours is the knowledge
that other places are open and that if
ne turns any of his customers away
they can get in somewhere else and
such action on his part is liable to
result in a permanent loss of business.
He is practically forced to keep open.
Almost all the saloon men would be
glad enough to close up on time if
they were sure that every competitor
would be forced to do likewise. Int
when it is matter of common knowl-
edge that the closing ordinances are
not enforced the saloon man can hard
ly be blamed for not taking the risk
OF offending his customers by closing
at all times. AT present
his customers know that he is runnino
little risk by violating the law, but if
some such ordinance as that outlined
above was in force and enforced, under
which conviction would be certain. and
his customers understood the situation
he could close promptly without max
ing enemies.
Contrary to the belief in some quart
NAa thO Iu1JcIlty VI lu6 members of
the Retail Liquor Dealers Association
would much prefer to conduct their
business, strictly according to law. but
putting that aside and getting down to
a strict business basis it is possible
that they may see in this kind of an
ordinance the chance they have been
looking for of doing away with one
of the big expenses of their business
and support it. As stated above there
is no money for the saloon men in this
after hours business and most Of them
are always looNing for Il valid excuse
to got rid OF it without losing custo-
mers AM tic idea of new deal all
around by meaas of new ordinance
may appeal to them. 1t would give
them the chance 70 gain public favor
and save money at the same time.