The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-03-28
Owens Bill Passed by Vote
of 20 to 10-Afects Only
San Francisco and Sacra-
mento, Former City Alone
Figuring in Debate-Sen-
ator Finn Fails to Amend
CAMINETTI MAKES
FIGHT FOR MEASURE
"If Liquor Interests Are Not
Willing to Submit to This
Reasonable Regulation We
Will Give Them Some
thing More" Threatens
Amador County Solon
BY GEORGE a. VAN SMITH
CALL BUREAU
SACRAMENTO HOTEL.
Sacramento, March %
sacramento. March q


BY vote of % to 10 the senate de-
cided this morning that San Francisco
was unfit to exercise and should be
deprived of its charter right to regu-
late the retail liquor business. sena-
tor Grant of San Francisco voted with
the prevailing majority.
The fight which disclosed the 1egis-
Iative attitude toward San Francisco
Nas precipitated by an attempt on the
part of Senator Finn to amend the
Owens saloon closing bill so as to per-
Srtt chartered municipalities - pre-
scribe closing hours for their saloons
under their charters.
The Owens bill provides that all sa-
looms in the state must be closed at
o'clock and remain closed until 5
o'clock in the morning. Court con-
structions of the legal principle in
volved discloses that the law would not
affect communitlts enforcing an earlier
closing hour. but that tt would affect
all communities enforcing a later clos
ing hour or none
TWO COMMUNITIES AFFECTED
Further investigation disclosed that
the bill if enacted would affect only
two communities in California-San
Francisco and Sacramento. The capi
tai city did not figure in the debate.
The attention Of all the proponents Of
the bill was turned to San Francisco.
Senator Caminetti heatedly inquired
of Senator Finn if the people of San
Francisco could not get whisky enough
before l o'clock to last them until after
o'clock
Senator Caminetti passionately de-
clared that the hell holes that were
dragging young men and women down
to ruin must be closed.
IF the liquor interests are not will
ing to submit to this reasonable regu
lation we will give them something
more" shouted Mr. Caminetti.
Senator P. c. Cohn of Sacramento
county, in opposition to the bill, derided
the proponents of the bill for. coming to
the legislature for relief they had not
manhood enough to secure at home.
Iw6LsoM AGREEMENT
"A year ago.. said Senator Cohn,
FOLSOM was known as the joy town.
We did not come to the Legislature. We
drew up an agreement including our
views upon the regulation of the liquor
traffic We took it to our saloon men.
We told them to sign it or fight They
signed The agreement is now a year
old. 1t has been kept 1t will be kept
If we had a few more men of moral
courage it would not be necessary to
come here with schemes for interfering
in the business of any community"
Senator Kehoe of Eureka said that
t3a state should regulate San Francisco
because the state was paying for the
care of convicts made by keeping sa-
looms open after o'clock in San Fran
cisco
Senator Brown of Los Angeles de-
clared that the moral condition of San
Francisco was personal question with
every tax payer in the state.
Il am mighty glad to have chance
to vote for the regulation of the
whisky traffic" said Senator Brown.
and l hope to have a chance to vote
TO wipe it off the face of the earth"
senator Benson of Santa Clara county
said that the sooner San Francisco
made up its mind that the state should
regulate it the better it would be for
San Francisco
Senator IIans of Alameda county IL
sisted that he was not prepared to
Eelieve that San Francisco was hope
lsss sink Of iniquity or that its people
weFe unfit to govern themselves.
Senator Tyrrell of Oakland declared
that the people were getting tired OF
the legislative enthusiasm to regulate
all things. He suggested that as fair
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