The Detroit times., 1913-03-18
EVIDENCE SHOWS
MANY SALOONS
LAW-BREAKERS
Committee Has Abundance of
Reasons For Cutting
License List
INDICATIONS ARE
FOR Liberal" POLICY
Dingeman Talks of Hardship
of Preventing Rum. Traffick-
ers From Selling Out

1t all depends on the policy adopt
ed by the council committee on
liuuor regulation In its executive SEES
sions as to how many saloons will be
put out Of business May /. In De-
troit. From the evidence given In
saloon cases before the committee in
the last four meetings II Is evident
that the aldermen will have plenty
OF opportunity to apply the law for
the purpose OF reducing the saloon
list II they % wish. Even IL the
aldermen adopt liberal policy, as
they likely will. in dealing with the
saloonkeepers, the saloon list must
suffer a substantial decrease.
Aid. Harry Dingeman, chairman
OF the committee, before the body
started it's work Of investigation.
promised that the undesirable saloon
keepers would go. He refused TO ac-
cept drastic measure for whole
sale reduction of saloons, but said
the committee would work under the
law, which means that IT will do a
great deal more real work than its
predecessors. The expedient OF en-
ploying detectives to look up sus-
picious cases, and summoning the
precinct police captains to pass on
the character Of the applicants has
to date brought to light a number of
violations Of the liquor law that
must mean forfeitures Of licenses.
Evidence OF voluntary Surrenders.
violations Of the Sunday closing law
and control of saloons by breweries
has been placed before the commit
tee. Many saloons have been de-
clared undesirable by the captains
OF the police precincts and officers
have been produced to give evidence
bearing out these statements. There
have been numerous Instances where
the man operating the saloon is not
a citizen, the license card having
been taken out in another name
Chairman Dingeman has said the
committee means TO place the re-
sponsibility behind the bar If this
policy Is carried out number Of
licenses must be surrendered.
II is up to the liquor committee to
decide what will be considered a
voluntary surrender. Several sppli-
cants for renewals have openly stated
TO the aldermen that they are
through with the business and wish
TO sell. The name of the party to
whom the sale is to be made is found
on a second application for the same
license. The Warner-Cramton law 10
specific in its prohibition of such n
holding the owner Of the
license in such case makes a vol
surrender OF his card. APP
perently the committee will "legiti-
mize" some Of these sales as the
aldermen seem TO be satisfied with
proof that where double applications
are made the object Is a Legitimate"
sale Of the license. Chairman Dinge-
man has stated repeatedly that It is
not the wish Of the ffquor committee
TO work a hardship on the saloon
keepers by preventing them from
selling their places Of business.
In the open committee meetings
the aldermen simply hear the testi-
mony OF the license applicants and
he police officers. reserving judgment
until they go into executive session
after the meeting. The results of the
executive session are being kept Sc
cret as the members of the commit
tee do not wish TO be pestered or
hampered in their work by friends
Of the applicants against whom they