Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-17

this one room as a lawyer adds to his
sectional bookcases as his library
grows larger.
This proposed ordinance gives 'un-
restricted and arbitrary power to the
board of police commissioners to grant
refuse or revoke a restaurant license.
IAN improperly conducted restaurant
is prolific of crime. A lawless res
taurant is conducive of immortality. a
restaurant where young girls and boys
are permitted to indulge in intoXi-
cants and then seek the seclusion that
should not be permitted the young,
or the unattended, finds no apologist
in me. But, unrestricted and arbitrary
power is always a dangerous thing.
Does this council propose to grant
to future police commissioners unre-
stricted and arbitrary power, power
denied to the president of the United
States, to the senate or house of repre-
sentatiVes, to the very supreme court
itself?
THE proposed ordinance makes the
right Of annual renewal dependable
solely on an affidavit that the saloon
keeper is not connected in any way
with the brewery or a wholesale Ii
quor house. The annual license of a
liquor dealer should be granted, as
are other licenses, without question,
is some just ground for its REFUSAL
or unless the business for which appli-
cation for license is made has been
forbidden by the vote of the people.
Make the annual renewal of license
dependable on obedience to the law, the
maintenance of order. the observ-
ance of decency, and let the saloon
keeper know that he will not be inter-
fered with in the conducting of his
fc "a
properly. Provide for the renewal,
from year to year. unless the holder of
the license has been convicted by a
jury the second time of a violation of
the law then make the law so PLAIN
in its provisions, so certain in its ac-
ton, so free from the possibility of es-
cape that the holder will know OBJ
servance Of the law means the continu-
alton of business and nom observance
of the law means the forfeiture of bus
mess. Such a license. dependable on
his own conduct only, renewable year
after year (unless abolished by the
vote of the people, would be too valu-
able an asset to be thrown away.
Il would suggest that every holder
of a liquor license should be required
to be an American citizen. by birth or
naturalization, and that every holder
of a license should be required, once a
year, to answer under oath the follow
ing questions:
"(a) Have you or any member of
your firm, or any officer OF your corpo-
ration, ever been convicted of a fell
OnX?
"(b) Has any license to retail liquors
in the city OF Los Angeles, issued to
you, or any member Of your firm, on
any officer of your corporation, been
revoked or forfeited under the provis-
ions of this ordinance?
"(c) Have Intoxicating liquors been
sold in your place of business to minors
within the past twelve months within
your knowledge?
"Cd) Have you, or any member of
your firm, or officer of your corpora
tion, knowingly, within the past twelve
months, permitted females to remain
in your place of business longer than
was necessary to eject them, during
forbidden hours? CThis to apply to sa-
looms only)
"(e) Have you, or any member of
your firm, or officer of your corpora
ton. within the past twelve months,
knowingly permitted minors to remain
in your place of business longer than
was necessary to eject them? CTo ap-
ply to saloons onlyD
90 Have you, or any member of
your firm, or officer of your corpora
ton. knowingly within the past twelve