The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-10-19
Council Wants to Know Who's
Who Prior to Action
SHORT SESSION is HELD
CeyIon Booze Dispenser Takes
Over One of Mankato's
Thirst Emp0riums
From Mondays Daily.


Transferring of liquor licenses by
men engaged in the saloon business
is under the ban in Mankato. The
council wants to know who the saloon
purchasers are before they will coun-
tenance a switch of the license.
Merritt Coughlan appeared before
the city council during the regular
meeting this morning, in regard to
the assessment for crawling on East
Main street. He stated that both he
and F. w. Kruse were in favor of the
Improvement, that they were the
largest property owners in that To-
cality, owning two blocks between
Main street and Marsh street. He
asked for an equitable assessment, and
that all property benefited by the
improvement should be assessed, and
the entire assessment not all alone
on the abutting property owners. He
was assured that the council would
consider the matter.
Today was the date set for the
confirmation of the assessment for
sewer on Grace court, and no objcc-
tors appearing the assessment was
made.
The council transferred the liquor
license of w. M. Boyer to Messrs.
Basset & Hummstock, and the liq-
uor license of Hide & Tillmann to
Henry Dettman, formerly of Ceylon,
who has letter of recommendation
from the mayor and officials of the
town of Ceylon.
The transferring of the liquor Ii
censes caused considerable discus
sion. Councilman G.. w. Eichstaedt
expressed the opinion that saloon
keepers making such changes in their
business should come before the city
council, and that the transfer of the
license should be made by the coun-
Gil before the new owner took pos
session of the business. He stated
that saloons were bought and sold,
and the new owner took possession,
often operating the saloon before the
license was transferred.
Are Violating the Law.
|. City Attorney Phillips stated that
saloon keepers who took charge of
newly purchased business before the
license was transferred to them were
violating the law.
Mr.. Eichstaedt stated that in his
opinion the saloon keeper should ap-
pear before the council in person, and
state that he was going to sell his
business and who the purchaser was
to be at the time the application for
change of license was made. He
moved that no liquor license be
granted hereafter until such parties
appeared before the council and stat
ed their proposed change. The motion
was passed. -.a.
The discussion grew out Of sug-
gestion by Mr.. Eichstaedt that too
much wholesaling of liquor was like
ly to be done in Mankato.
City Clerk read the health report
for the month of August, prepared by
Dr. A. v. Denman, city health COM
missioner. The report showed TWEEN
ty-five births and twelve deaths for
the month of August.
Hustle Bridge Razing.
Councilman Nick Peterson brought
up the matter of the unsightly ap-
pearance of the old Main street
bridge, and suggested that the work
or removal be continued as rapidly as
possible. He also questioned in re-
gard to the disposal of the bridge.
Mayor Champlin stated that he wish
ed the contractor to complete his
contract before anything farther was
done about disposing of the bridge.
The council passed a motion author
izing Mayor Champlin and City At
torney Phillips to confer with Con-
tractor Widell personally, asking that
the old bridge be removed as soon as
possible.
City Engineer Blomquist reported
an interview with Chief Engineer
Rittenhouse of the Omaha railroad,
in which Mr.. Rittenhouse stated that
it was the desire of the railroad COM
pany to either narrow or close the vi
aduct at A street, and make pas
sageway to the stock yards between
the railroad and the river. The coun-
Gil will await formal presentation
of the matter by the company before
taking action. After allowing num-
har of hills oo,,yo;1 .