The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-02
LEAD CITY COUNCIL
GOING AFTER SALOONS

From the following extracts of the
report of meeting of the Lead city
council, published IN the Lead Reg
lister, it is evident that the Lead au-
thorities are determined on better
enforcement of the law:
Anderson of the fire and police
committee, made the following re-
port: The committee had made the
rounds of the different saloons and
found them in very bad condition
Some had complied with the requests
of the committee, some partially, and
some had nearly defied them. He
referred the council to the report
submitted by Acting Chief Of Police
Woolcock. Chief Woolcock's report
was read and showed very plainly
that those who were of disposition
to comply with the law in every re-
spect were very few indeed"
after the report had been read,
Anderson made motion that the
city revoke the licenses of those who
had not complied with, or endeavol.
ed to comply with the law. And right
here is where the fun started
THE mayor said that he would
carry out the instructions of the
council in regard to the matter, and
hn1 o~Io hi 70 hn
censes he would most certainly 90
SO, unless the saloon men complied
with the law"
Anderson wanted the wine rooms
cleaned out, the back and side doors
locked, and all Instructions to the
public gaze taken down in order that
no women or boys should be allowed
in the places, as they might be in the
saloons at the present time without
the knowledge of outsiders. He also
wanted the II o'clock and Sunday
closing laws enforced"
poole asked the city attorney fol
information as to the law on the mat
ter of distractions.
'City Attorney Stanley then reao
the law on the subject, which was
very clear, stating that the windows
must not be obstructed and that no
partitions were allowed in bar rooms.
He said that the law did not allow
restaurants, as they are generally
known, as a blind in order to allow
drinking at unlawful hours. No
gambling games of any kind are al
lowed in buildings occupied by sa.
, looms, and if they were the fine was
not less than $50 or ten days in Jail
or both, or more than $500 or three
months in Jail, or both. The attor-
ney said it would give him great
pleasure to prosecute any who offend
ed the law, if the city SO desired. >
Anderson said that if the matter
/ was dropped by the council, parties
! from the outside would take the mat
ter up and force it to an issue OF
some kind"
| Cooper was sore. At the last
meeting he did not want the matter
brought to head, but as long as the
council insisted on reform, he was
willing to give 1t to them. He said
that he had now turned radical, ano
insisted that the law be enforced tc
the letter.
Goodman wanted to shift the
matter on to the county or state of.
, ticials. Harris wanted the mayor tc
handle it.
"Morthland said that he was moi
radical, but that he wanted the Law
enforced to the letter, without show.
ing any favors.
Goodman took the side of the sa
loon interests, and said he though
that the council was going too fast
He wanted police regulation instead
of SO much law, and was not In ia
vor of such radical measures"
Harris wanted gambling stopped
and the L o'clock and Sunday clos
ing laws obeyed.
| 'Morthland wanted the back doors
closed, all partitions taken out, al
games and excessive boozing stop
ped.
! Anderson again made the motor
that the licenses of those who had
not complied with, or endeavored te
I
comply with the law, revoked
Morthland seconded the motion.
| Cooper again showed that he was
turning radical. and offered an
amendment to the motion asking
that or endeavored to comply with
be taken out Of the motion. Clark
seconded the amendment.
The vote resulted in a tie. Those
voting yes were, Clark, Dayton, An
derson. Poole. Morthland and Coop
er. The nays were, Goodman, Fer
guson, Matulovich. Schieke, Pinson-
fnault and Harris. The mayor cas-,
the deciding vote by voting yes. The
amendment carried.