Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-03
REGULATION AND
REVENUE

100000 and 100000 a year would be
commanded. In addition, restrictions
which would be in the interest of good
order and public morality would be
enforced. A general public discussion
of the proposed ordinances will be held
in the council chamber tomorrow
evening.
The proposals made are in the in
terest of Better Los Angeles" as we'll
as Greater Los Angeles. The liquor
problem is one that should be handled
with q view to the greatest good of
the greatest number and any salutary
restraints that may safeguard other
lines Of business are welcomed by all
merchants and property owners who
understand the general effect of estab-
fishing licensed premises" in the midst
of business concerns that depend for
large part Of their prosperity on the
steady patronage of housewives and
other practical" shoppers.
1t Is a fact patent to anyone with
powers of observation that licensed
premises cannot occupy a city block
without affecting the leasing or letting
qualities of adjoining property. This
pre- eminently practical view of the
matter and the question Of revenue
leave room for only one logical con-
clusion as to the merit of the ordinances
proposed for the regulation of local
sales of liquor, and that conclusion is
favorable. The ordinances will help to
hold traffic under proper control and
make it practically impossible for the
liquor business to be conducted with
disorderly features. 1t is proposed to
give the police commission arbitrary
power to revoke restaurant permits
without a trial when such course is
found necessary; and to GIVE LOCAL
OPTION TO ANY BLOCK by allowing
the property owners to permit or to
veto at their will the existence of a
saloon or other liquor house.
There can be no doubt as to the
reality of the unpopularizing effect of
the liquor business on a shopping dis
trict. All sorts and conditions of men
share in the aversion to the saloon
sphere on the sidewalk. Realization
of the bad effects of the liquor traffic
on the shopping district is making the
property owners of Spring and Main
streets and the crossing streets af
fected aspire for the advantages of
Broadway. The block system gives
the opportunity to acquire an advan-
tage corresponding to that of Broad
way. From one end of Spring street
to the other the number of women's
stores could be counted on the fingers
of one hand. Between Third and
Fourth streets. which under ordinary
conditions would be a most popular
shopping block, there is only one. 1t
is probable that for purely business
reasons the block system will bring
about a gradual reduction of the liquor
business in the entire shopping district.
The political advantage that will
come to the community from the pro-
posed improvement can neither be over
stated nor overrated, and considera-
tion and appreciation of 1t should form
cogently important elements in the
support of the plan. The |
present frontage system has been at
tended by some most demoralizing con-
1t has brought about the |
enslavement of practically the whole |
liquor business under one concentrated |
control From the commercial stand |
point the monopoly is obnoxious. From !
the political standpoint it is unspeak- |
ably pernicious. An investigation of |
the relation of the liquor traffic TO the !
breweries disclosed the fact political |
independence on the part Of saloon |
keepers was met with bulldozing and |
threats. The saloon keepers for years |
were compelled to contribute large |
sums to a political fund over which |
they had no control, and no matter
what their wishes or financial abilities
the contribution might be it
was made clear to them they must
give or be driven out of business.
Concentration OF political power
founded on the liquor traffic must be
shattered. 1t is strong and dangerous.
1t should not be tolerated in a demo-
cratic form of government. 1t is con-
trary to Americansm, to the very
spirit of our political system. 1t is
one Of the chief causes contributory to
the debasement Of city politics and
prevention of easy recuperation, a fact
which has been instanced in San Fran
cisco, Chicago and New York. 1t has
invariably been a power for evil, totally
lacking in ethics and without any
of political conduct or char
acter.
Among the excellent features Of the
new plan Of the public welfare COM
mittee is more accurate recognition
of what constitutes liquor selling. That
social clubs which SELL liquor should
be required to pay a license fee Of 500
4 month is only right.
The increase Of saloon license fees
rom 500 to $3.50 a month will have a
endency to eliminate irresponsible
clements from the traffic. Great skill
and much painstaking work are dis
'losed in the arrangement of the vari-
lus grades of licenses, one feature of
which is provision for combination
permit applying to hotels that serve
liquors at meals and drinks from bar,
fixing a license fee of $3.50 a month;
another the increase of brewery license
fee Of $50 a month for wineries doing
a business OF more than $4,000 a year
and SIS a month Tor wineries doing
eSs than that amount of business