The Detroit times., 1913-02-11
Will Ask Council to Seek Amend
ment to Law Permitting
Slight Pairing of List
BIG STUMBLING BLOCK
LOOMS UP, HOWEVER
improbable that the Amendment
Could be Given Imme-
date Effect


duce a resolution IN tonights council
meeting which he thinks may prove a
solution OF the liquor license prob
lem and OFFER the aldermen chance
to escape criticism. Burton Will ask
the council 10 adopt a resolution EN-
, powering the council committee or
charter and city legislation TO so 10
, Lansing Immediately and petition the
Legislature TO have the Warner-Cram-
ton liquor law amended so as TO give
, the council the power 10 cut down
the number OF liquor licenses with
out hewing down 10 the one-to- 500-ot-
population ratio.
IL is more than likely that the
resolution will meet the approval OF
the aldermen, who are now perform
ing some interesting acrobatics on the
lodge ordinance proposition. The
Legislature is now in session and an
amendment could easily be passed
before the time set for the liquor
committee TO take up the granting OF
the licenses But the hitch would
! come in the attempt To give the
measure immediate effect, even IL the
lawmakers were in favor OF the plan,
which is extremely doubtful.
With few exceptions all the
aldermen have declared themselves
in favor OF reasonable reduction OF
the saloons such as the amendment
would provide for. II would also
allow the council TO steer a middle
course without antagonizing the in
terests on either side, the aldermen
figure.
Those who favor the reduction OF
licenses TO 931 would not oppose the
ameHdment. they explain, because
the chances Of passing the Lodge or.
dinaEce Is console ed hopeless With
out tie Lodge ordinance the council,
accor ling TO Corporation Counsel
LAWSON, will be compelled 10 grant
1.533 licenses, the number now Ia
force. Any attcu ~ OF the Fart OF
the liquor committee to cut down the
number OF saloons without an or
dtnance or an amendment TO the
liquor law would result in a compli-
Gated legal tangle. The saloon in
terests are on record as fayoring the
reasonable reduction Of saloons and
the elimination OF all undesirable
places.
II could not support the Lodge
ordinance said Aid. Burton at
would put a number OF respectable
saloonkeepers out OF business and
work hardship on these men. | do
not think that is the intent OF the
law. AT the same time am In favor
OF the council making a reasonable
reduction OF saloons. Therefore. I
think that the best way 10 get AT
the proposition and do justice to both
sides, is to go 10 Lansing with an
amendment TO the Warner-Crampton
law.
( The Lodge ordinance comes before
the common council for a vote to-
night. Chairman Dingeman. after
voting against the ordinance I'm com
mittee, Monday afternoon. filed a ma.
jority report TO this effect. Tuesday
morning. Aid Anthony Nowc signed
the Dingeman report Aid. Reinhardt.
Kingsley and Heating signed report
recommending the adoption OF the or
dinance.
Aid. Kingsley said, Tuesday, that
he misunderstood the motion when IL
was made In committee. He thought
he was voting simply on a motion TO
report out the ordinance without any
The alderman said
he considered the ordinance too dras-
tic. and he will probably ask permits
sion to sign the majority report
Aid. Reinhardt declared he would
vote for the ordinance. but that he
was not In favor OF enforcing II IL
passed
II think il would be all right for
the council TO adopt the ordinance"
said the alderman. That Will save
us from granting the full number OF
licenses Then | think the LIQUOR
committee can go ahead In spite OF
the ordinance and cut out only az
OCOntinued on Page Nine)