The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-04
Discrimination to Be Practiced
Between Illegitimate and
Legitimate Bodies.
MEMBERS OF LATTER
MEET LICENSE COMMITTEE
Six Principal Organizations
Would Not Object to Rea-
sOnable License.

NerSltys Moose CommeTC)al ana Eagles
with representatives of the retail
liquor dealers met with tho special
license committee OF the city council
in the council chamber Saturday after
noon to discuss the question of license.
Tho Alta club was represented by
Waldcmar Van Colt. the Elks by A..
w. Raybould, the Commercial by Jo
seph Il. Caine, the Moose by II. w.
Dennett. the University by j. Walcott
Thompson and George n. Lawrence and
the Eagles by Max NJ. Beaver.
Mr.. Van Cott said that tho bar at
the Alta club merely is incidental, is
not run to make money, does not make
any, and that members only were per
mtted 10 drink at the bar, He thought
it would be manifestly unfair to tax
were taxed who were In the business
for gain and could sell TO the public
although he said that the Alta club
would not object to paying a far
license, as its members were business
men largely and desired to do what
they could toward the progress of the
city. He thought license Of $500
would be fair, and he did not believe
the club would object TO paying that
amount.
In Similar Vein.
Joseph Il, Caine, for the Commercial
club, talked in a similar vein. The
Commercial club bar, he said, had
showed a profit, but this was because
only the salaries of the bartenders had
been charged up to it. Had the bar
been compelled to pay its pro rata Of
not believe il would show a profit. He
also said that the bar was not run for
the purpose of making money. 1t was
run the same as the dining room-at
the least possible expense to the mem
bers. The dining room, Mr., Caine
added, did a business OF $4,000 last
year with profit of $685..
Mr.. Caine said in conclusion, how
ever, that tho Commercial club would
be willing to pay fair license, $500
to $500 a year.
j. Walcott Thompson and George N.
Lawrence, for the University club, said
that they had only about 160 members,
that their bar was run at considera-
BILE loss and that they did not see how
they could pay any considerable sum
A. w. Raybould, for the Elks club,
grew eloquent regarding tho charitable
features of that organization, but said
the the club would be willing 10 pay
Il reasonable license.
Anti-Treat Rule.
Fl. W bennett, for tho Moose club,
and Max M. Beaver, for the Eagles,
made q similar report as to profits,
saying that their bars did not pay,
but had TO be maintained to promote
social life. Mr bennett added that
after January ], 1911, an anti-treat rule
would be In effect at the Moose club
and that this would tend to decrease
the revenues. However, both gentle
men were willing to pay a reasonable
license.
Councilman Mulvey then took the
floor and said that all present were
aware Of what club life is, There are
six clubs here with large membership,
he continued, paying the same govern.
ment license as the retail liquor dealers,
but escaping the city license.
"Some Of you" Mr. Mulvey went on,
"have a membership of approximately
1000. Just give any saloon man in this
city that many regular customers and
YOU won't hear him complain about
the license. No club can have legal
right to sell liquor without license. -
so-Called Clubs
There was some discussion then as
to the so-called clubs that aresnot con-
sidercd 'Degitimnte, but call them
selves clubs for the purpose of selling
liquor and evading the city tax In
: this connection MI Moreton produced
list Of 100 places in Salt Lake hold
ing a government license. but having
no licenses from the city 10 sell liquor.
This caused considerable discussion and
it appeared to be the sense of the meet
ing that an ordinance should be drafted
so as to license the legitimate clubs
and compel the illegitimate concerns to
close.
And right here was where Councilman
Mckinney made ten-strike. "This
council has the right" said Mr.. Nc
Kinney, "to refuse to issue license
to sell liquor to any person or firm that
about clubs selling liquor without a
license when it is our duty to stop it.
II this is being done let US see that
il is stopped at once. We have the
authority. and it is our duty to enforce
the law
Mr.: Mulvey suggested that $500
would be fair amount at which TO
fix the license for the legitimate clubs.
: but Mr.. bennett for the Moose and
a Mr. Thompson for the University club
0 expressed the fear that such license
. would put them out, of business.
5 Unfair Competition.
F. A. Stewart was the only retail
liquor dealer heard. Mr.. Stewart said
y that the retail liquor dealers nre being
0 heavily taxed and that it was unfair
for big clubs TO sell in competition with
them without paying a cent for the
privilege.
, "Bars in these clubs may not paw in
one sense, Mr.. Stewart dccla nsd
"but it is big incentive to member.
ship and 1t pays in the long rum
7 Mr.. Stewart also declared that whea
! the stringent Sunday closing law went
] INTO effect two years. ago. about sixty
: applications for membership went into
! the Eagles club within ten days. This
statement wac Indignantly denied by
: Max Nj. Beaver, secretary of the club.
!. 1t was finally decided TO ask Waldo
: mar Van Cott, George n. Lawrence and
: j. Walcott Thompson TO meet with CITY
! Attorney Dininny and assist him in
!. drafting an ordinance that will distin-
!. guish as between Legitimate and
"illegitimate' clubs.
!, The meeting then adjourned.