The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21
Solons Find Menace
In Brewery Saloon
From Tuesdays Daily.

iOOS the extent TO WHICH DTeWln
control saloons, came til
GLOWING report, which was submit
ed to the senate today:
ITO the Senate of the Legislatul
{ the State of Minnesota: The III
your committee, appoin
d under and pursuant to your res
ltion adopted on June Is, 1912, q
Ollows:
Whereas, there are strong in
dications that the brewing COM
panies doing business in the state
of Minnesota are engaged in the
retail liquor trade contrary to
the provisions of law; and
Whereas, charges are ram
pant that certain brewing COM
panies through their authorized
agents are aiding and abetting
i'll the establishing and mainte-
nance of unlicensed drinking
places, usually termed blind
pigs where intoxicating liquors
are sold; and
of the state demand that such
alleged illegal transactions, should
they exist, be stopped, therefore
be it
Resolved, that a committee
of three members of this state
be appointed by the presiding
officer with instructions to in
vestigate as 10 retail saloons OPP
Grated or controlled by brewing
companies within this state, also
as to the kind and form of
contract made between brewing
companies and their retail
agents, if any, and to further in
vestigate as to allegations that
brewing companies are aiding
and abetting the establishment
and maintenance of unlicensed
drinking places, usually termed
blind pigs" said committee to
make Il report of its findings
to this senate at the regular ses-
sion of 1913.
Resolved, further, that such
shall serve without pay and
said committee is hereby en-
powered to send for persons
and papers, administer oaths
and compel the attendance of
witnesses, respectfully report:
Holding of Meetings.
That on the fourth day of Al
lst, 1912, at the court house in tn
ty of Minneapolis, your committe
,nvened for the purpose of maxim
lie investigation mentioned in sal
that from time to tim
down to and includin
he 10Th day of August, 1912, you
Ommittee had numerous session
9th in the city of st. Paul and tn
ty of Minneapolis; that your CON
ittee issued and served subpoena
pom various persons in the sal.
ties, directing such persons to aI
ear before such committee, and t.
We evidence relative to the matte
entioned in said resolutions. Tina
any such persons were officials o
lie various brewing companies dc
lg business in the said city of Mil
eaDolis: that all of said brewin
ificials neglected and refused I
Dey said subpOenas or attend be
re your committee; that for sue,
sobedience the grand jury of Hen
epin county indicted two Of sal,
ficials and the matter came befor
lie district court of said Hennepil
,unty, upon a demurrer interpose,
= the persons so indicted to tn
dictments on the ground that you
0dy acting alone, had no power o
to authorize your commit
e to conduct an investigation dur
g recess; that, upon the hearin;
said court, the court held tina
e senate, acting alone. did no
ave the power or authority to AT
lorize your committee to act dun
lg recess, and sustained the dc
lurrers to said indictments.
Many Witnesses Subpoenaed.
That many witnesses were sui
Dcnaed in said city of MinneapC
S and also in the city of St. Pau
nd that many of said Witnesses S
lbpoenaed appeared before you
and gave evidence rela
We to the matters stated in sal
solution. Among said witnesse
ere police officers and city off
als Of said cities and the evidenc
, taken is herewith returned an
ladc part of this report.
THAT, from the examination mad
Y your committee and the evidenc
lken, which is herewith returne
,gether with exhibits l, 2, 3, 4,
nd A, which are made a part O
lis report, it was found that il
he cities of Minneapolis and 81
aul there were 814 licensed So
IONS, out of which at least 712 wer
ither owned or controlled by brew
lg companies. 1t appearing tina
OF less than AS of the building
Sed for saloon purposes were owl
j by brewing companies and tn
Xtures in many of the remainin
~ saloons were either owned o
Mortgages thereon held by sue
rewing companies and in som
Asses they mad the saloon building
,ased or otherwise retained contrC
yer them; that in the city of Mil
eapolis alone it was shown tina
lree of the brewing companies ac
ally owned 270 of the saloon built
lgs: that in the said cities Their
ere sixteen different brewing con
anies engaged in the wholesal
quor business.
with respect to what extent and i
hat manner the brewing companie
Sercise control of the saloons or reta
quor business, your committee fOun
IF iS cAnnInAn nractica &c