The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-12
WHY THE petition
WAS TABLED
sA~ 4
OBJECTIONS TO sALOON-cLos'
ING PROPOSAL ARE NUMER-
Gus AND VARIED.

Hamilton, April 11.-(Special.)-The
city council met last evening in ad-
journed session and transacted con-
siderable important business. The
meeting was called primarily for the
canvass of the vote cast at the muni-
cipal election held on Monday. Before
this matter was taken UP by the
ell, however, other matters We're
Wrestled with. The real excitement of
the evening developed when City
Clerk Reese had finished reading the
petition for a change in hi time of
operation of local saloons. The petit
ton asked that the saloon ordinance
be changed so as to compel saloons to
be closed at II o'clock p. M, to remain
closed until 6 o'cloek a. m. on week
days, and to be closed at II o'clock on
Saturday evening, to remain closed un-
til 6 o'clock Monday morning. The
petition carried the ordinance, which
had been carefully prepared for the
councils approval and passage. But
the council failed to pass it. On the
contrary the petition and accompany
ing ordinance were laid on the table
with a large bang. The city clerk was
no more tina over the last period when
the petition was attacked by the alder
men. Each councilman took his turn,
with bare ~knuckles, in the ring, and
each delivered a genuine solar plexus,
several taking the floor the second time
time for another crack at the docu-
ment. The whole business was in bad
with the city dads from the time it's
title was read. AND every member of
the council present-Alderman Roberts
was absent-felt alike in regard to the
matter.
The council felt unkindly toward the
petition for various reasons. The first
big objection was that the petition had
been lying around until it was actually
~threadbare, and was hen presented to
the council Immediately after election,
thereby subjecting the city to the costs
of an additional election, as the petit
ton is a petition for a referendum, in
case the council fails to act. Practi-
cally every member of the council
stated that the matter was one to be
voted on by the people, and that they
wanted to see it so acted upon, but that
it should have been presented in time
to be voted upon at the election just
past. The petition was further disliked
for the reason that but 80 per cent of
the signers are taxpayers. 1t was also
pointed out that the required number
of signers for a referendum had not
been secured. The petition was further
attacked for the reason that the sign
ers would limit the business hours Of
the saloons, but that pool rooms and
card rooms were passed up without
mention. Then followed a discussion
of the relative standing of saloons,
card rooms and pool halls. The gen.
eral sentiment of the council is that a
few voters, who do not pay taxes or
who do not in any way contribute to
the funds in the city treasury, should
not be allowed to dictate the operating
hours of a business which to a large
extent provides the city's revenue. 1t
was further pointed out that the pres
ent hours for the saloons were good
ones; that the saloons We're at present
conducted in an orderly manner If
the new council fails to take the petit
ton off the table for favorable action,
it is probable that the matter will be
submitted tosthe voters. An amended
petition, and one with more signatures,
will have to be filed, as City Clerk
Reese had filed the one presented last
evening.
Before the above matter was closed
last evening, members of the council
requested that the newspaper men
present report the attitude of the
council towards the petition in detail.
The council passed an amendment to
the sidewalk ordinance to the third
reading. which changes the width of
the sidewalk on the west side of South