Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-01-14

The City Council met in regular ses-
sion last night, Mayor Cackey presid-
ing. Councilmen Oliver. Bert, Tram
nell Smith and NeIinger were all
present
Mayor Caskey's Message.
Mayor Caskey submitted the follow
inc message to Council which was
read by City Clerk Letter:
To the Honorable, the Council of the
City Of Martinsburg.
Gentlemen: beg to submit for
your consideration two ordinances,
which / believe will appeal to the vast
majority of our people as a proper
step to be taken at this time. Indeed.
after a careful examination of the con-
dtions, am strongly convinced OF
their desirability and good effect as
to concede no other view for con-
sentative and thinking man.
The number Of citizens arrested for
drunkenness during the past few
months has increased beyond all pre-
cedent. A large number of extra po
licemen at an additional expense to
the city are made necessary to meet
the situation; the prison is no longer
adequate to furnish accommodations
for the large number of DRINKS, and
the expense of boarding these prison.
ers has increased proportionately In
view of these facts and that the pres
ent revenue derived from liquor Ii
censes is not sufficient to meet these
expenses and is out of all proportion
10 that received by other cities APP
preaching cur resources and popula-
ton, recommend these ordinances
The state, whose local inconven-
fences and expenses are comparative
" small receives a yearly license of
$1,000. Other towns and cities in this
state, much smaller than ours, have
very wisely imposed tax equal if not
greater than that imposed by the
state; indeed, do not recall a single
instance in the entire state where the
city tax is as low as that imposed by
our city
The ordinance seeking to place
proper restrictions upon the opera
bic for the public good and should APP
peal at once to the understanding of
the substantial citizen.
feel that no stronger endorsement
is desired from me, or by You, whose
views are doubtless in accord with
mine.
The policy outlined in my statement
to the public last week will be strictly
carried out ! am now preparing a
list of the people who are habitually
arrested for drunkenness and will
serve copy of such list On the pro-
prietors Of all saloons in this city. L
will investigate the arrest of any one
whose name is on this list and will
punish the party guilty of selling to
such a one after having received a
notice. l have instructed the officers
TO arrest all drunken men found on
the street and TO keep the streets free
from drunkenness and disorderly con-
duct at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
w. r. CASKEY- Mayor.
Two ordinances embodying the
mayors views and recommendations
We're introduced and passed their first
reading. One of them provides for in
creasing the city license for retail liq-
our dealers from $3.50 yearly to $1,000
yearly; and the wholesale liquor deal
efs from $3.50 year to $3.50 a year in
order to raise more revenue to meet
the cost of extra police protection.
For Local Option.
The most important item Of bust
ness before the body was the consider
alton of three separate petitions pray
ing Council to pass an ordinance sub
hitting the question of license or no
license for the sale of Intoxicating liq-
lnrs in Martinsburg to the qualified
voters thereof at special election TO
lie held this spring at date to be fix
Cd by Council.
Three pet tons had been in circula-
ton over the city during the past
three DAYS and 1877 signatures were
obtained to them, divided as follows:
Voters, 53S.
Women, $50
Minors, SEQ
The Council IN citing was further
made notable by the presence of sew
cral members of the Berkeley County
Anti License League and thrse Ia
dies OF the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance I'm on, under whose auspices
the petitions referred to were prepar-
ed and circulated
Mr. A. c. Nadenbousch, attorney for
the petitioners, was present in behalf
Of his large clientele and presented
the case in its legal aspect to Council
He said he would try to be perfectly
frank and fair in his statements with
reference to the petitions. He made
it plain that neither the state law nor
she city charter gave the Council any
legal authority to submit matter of
this character to vote of the people
so as to make the result binding upon
al