The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-07-28
DRAMSHOPS
CONTROLLED
RECORD or ENclsE COMMISSION.
~ cAULFlELp IN CITY or
ST. LOUIS.
An onles Created by a Party Caucus
Finally Made Useful In Law en-.
foroement-Revenue Re.
suits Compared.

licenses 30 freely that saloons had an
easy way OF getting the necessary
legal permission to operate. Only
n license was issued 10 each saloon
good for six months, and on that the
collector levied and collected for the
city $3.50 and for the state $50. max
ing the annual license tax on each
saloon 5000.
A committee Of prominent citizens,
organized to secure legislation TO reg
ulate the licensing and conduct Of
saloons. asked the legislature to pass
a bill establishing an excise board
Of three commissioners, two to be
appointed by the circuit court and
n by the governor, the chairman or
executive commissioner to have a sal
airy OF $4,000 a year and the other
commissioners $1,000 each. the whole
board TO pass upon petitions and
grant or refuse licenses and try an
cases involving violations OF the
dramshop laws. The bill passed the
the Republican members and was
house with the aid OF a majority OF
~ NNEAAANAA AANlANNAN anu wa"
about 10 pass the senate when the
Democratic leaders. including Govern.
or Stone. called a party caucus at
which a substitute bill was agreed
upon, creating the Office OF excise
commissioner for the city OF St. Louis
TO be appointed by the governor and
10 exercise the authority OF a county
court Ia granting saloon licenses and
also authorized { collect a fee Of 50
for each license issued for his sery.
ices. The bill VA enacted and Hon.
Nicholas NJ. Bell was appointed ev.
else commissioner by Governor Stone
He required two licenses for each 50.
loon-one in the name OF the city and
n In the name OF the state-thc fec
OF 50 applying to each license-;hus
giving him SO from each saloon for
each period Of ak months. or So a
year. Al that time about $500 ga.
looms were licensed. and the commits
sioner got about $4,000 a year in
license fees besides a nice sum ln
~notarial fees The office was the
~juiciest plum ever handed out by "a
Democratic governor. and no doubt
the fees were a great help 10 the
Democratic state campaign fund. for
Il Ia not likely that an appointcs iu
those days was permitted 10 have and
10 hold all that came 20 him through
such a partisan source OF revenue
In course OF time the pay ~ The
commissioner was limited and tho bol
anee OF fees collected went into tho
state treasury. Eventually the law
was changed radically. the commits
sioner being allowed $4,000 a year sab.
airy and $4,000 for expenses. 10 be-
sim the best office. In point Of salary.
in the gift OF the governor. Governor
Folk appointed Thomas r. MuIyIhIll
10 the office and told him 10 enforce
the dramshop laws. including the sun
day closing Of saloons. The order
went forth and was called by the
newspapers the I'D" a term now
known all owe the world IA conntc.
ton with law enforcement Mr.. MuIyl.
hill made a good record IN the office.
barring n too dictatorial policy "a
dealing with saloon men who dId not
always understand or respect the new
order OF things. He made many enc.
niles. but surely did make the office
effective, something that could aut
have been said Of Il during the al.
ministration OF either Of bis prcdoccs.
sors.
In 1903 Governor HAdley appointed
Henry 4. Caulheid, then a member
Of congress. excise commissioner. and
he took the office April J., after his
congressional term had expired TO
was then and Is now one Of the lead.
ing Republicans Of St Louis.
During the incumbcncy OF Commits.
sioner Caulhcld he has Increased the
state license tax $50 per license. As
there are two state licenses issued
to each dramHhop keeper yearly and
there are about AGO saloons. this 90.
crease will amount 10 about SagG.0 D
per annum.
II Is interesting 20 compare The
| difference between the dramsh0p
taxes and fees collected during the
last year ~ Mr. MulyihilIs admins.
tratlon with that Of the nrst year OF
Mr.. C~aulheld's:
April 1905 April D. 1909
49, "a HNM. ...