The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-25
MUST
 CLOSE AT TILE
 MIDNIGHT HOUR

leBslylSlUSBB BbOUAsl
 DOUGLAS. April 25.-Douglesites and the stranger within our gates who cannot encompass sufficient "oil | Of toy" between Q. m. and l2 mid night to tide them over the ensuing closed season of six hours. will hence forth be put to tho necessity of carrying bottles. The Douglas city council last night passed, with but one dissenting vote, an ordinance providing for the closing of all sa- looms and pool rooms during tho period above specified.
 Pursuant to an invitation issued by the council last week to all per sons interested to appear last night and express their views on the clos ing ordinance. nearly a dozen sa- loon owners were present Go protest against the passing of the ordinance, | but when Mayor O'Connor had con cluded short, but pointed, talk only | two Of the "all night" advocates had anything to say Mayor O'Connor talked thus and SO:
 "Instead of being here to p-otest against this ordinance, you saloon l keepers should be here with a peti- ton asking this council to pass 1t as a protective measure to your Inter ests. If you fellows are allowed to continue as you have been going on, you win be closed up for all time instead of for only six hours in the twenty-gour. know, and yol all know that there is strong pre- hibltion sentiment prevailing in this town and that you fellows are re- sponsible for 1t. You have violated the law by selling to intoxicated men, and in other ways. and the result is that you have made your business SO unpopular with the masses that the stage has been reached here where one man, if he was SO mind- ed. could get out and make this town SO prohibition.
 This ordinance is being passed to protect you and your business ln- stead of interfering with 1t and su- stead of being here to oppose its pas sage you should be boosting for It. If you saloon men were allowed to make your own laws for one year. that would be the last year for sa- looms. as you would put yourselves all out of business. You don't know what is for your own good"
 Martin Olson. although not in the liquor business. appeared In behalf of the saloon men and asserted that the saloons should be permitted to remain open all night If only as a fire protection; that 1T fire was discovered in the "wee sma" hours and the saloons were closed there would be nobody around to quench such fire in the lncipient stages and the town might burn up. He also pointed out that saloons are never robbed when open but frequently footed Nhen closed.
 Dan Harding. licensee. insisted that when the saloon men took out their licenses. it was for all time and not for but IS hours out of 24; that the federal law forced them to close from 12 o'clock Saturday night until 12 o'clock Sunday night and that for the council to force them to close every night at 12 o'clock would be Q hard ship on saloon keepers as we'll .-s on men of Treadweu who come of shift at midnight or 3:00 or 4:00 a. m and want drink before turning in.' He also stated that if the saloons were closed the restaurants would also close and people arriving on late steamers would have no where to 20; also that dark town was poor advertisement. He said Juneau is open until l o'clock In the morning and that men would so there after midnight for e night cap" if the Douglas bars closed at 12 o'clock. Either that. or they will go outside entirely for the purpose Of spending their money He asked if Q portion of the money paid for license would be refunded if the ordinance was passed.
 The council evidently did not con- sider as convincing the foregoing pleas and the ordinance passed In It's original form, after an amendment to change the hour for closing at 1 o'clock Instead of at 12 o'clock had been defeated. by a vote of four to two.
 Retiring Fire Chief J. R. Langseth submitted a report for the past year. setting forth that there had been but five fire alarms and three fires during the year and that the total loss by fire for the year was no, to exceed S4OO. Two of the three fires were caused by carelessness In the use of stovepipes.
 The fire department reported hay ing elected !. l.. Mcclure to the po- 5ition of chief and he was confirmed by the council.
 Councilman Jensen of the street committee, reported progress in his department and submitted plans for the rebuilding the Third street bridge, the total length of which will be 2SS feet.
 Councilman Lievers os the finance committee. reported ss,4s4SO cash on hand.
 Sidewalks fronting the Methodist church property and property owned by Mrs. Levy. the latter Q resident of Juneau. were condemned and will be replaced by new walks. the cost +o ho to,od ooof,et tbo nronorfv