Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-26
COMMISSIONERS IN
HEATED CLASH OVER
SALOON TRANSFER
REILLY VIOLATION COMES TO
LIGHT WHEN LICENSE CHANGE
WAS UP FOR ACTiON-SPADES
WERE SPADES.

The transfer of the r. j. Mooney
saloon license to Richard A. Walsh
his bartender, precipiated the city
council into turmoil for short per
iod this morning while members of
/ the commission divergcd from all
known parliamentary rules to call a
spade q spade. Commissioner Pal
nec injected the issue into the meet
/ ing by refusing to consent to the per
nit alteration upon the grounds that
/ the transfer was a mere suDterluge
and was not bona hde, for no other
reason than to evade revocation.
announcing to the commissioners
| that he himself had caught Reilly
/ running his place Un Sunday, tebru-
/ airy lS in defiance of the closing regu
lations. the first formal move in a ru-
nnrel infraction. came to light dur
/ ing Mr. palmer's argument against
transferring Reily's permit to Richard
1 A. Walsh, his cmploye.
A Reilly was brought before the may.
or and Mr.. Palmer for his session on
the carpet and admitted his guilt.
Hints of Reilly's violations found their
way into the columns OF the Free Ira.
der.jourral last Monday. but rumors
of arrests were denied by the com
missioner at that time. In fact no ar
rpsta have been made TO this day.
The bomb was fred from a suppos-
edly unloadcd gun in the hands OF
Commissioner Charles Campbell. The
commission during the process of the
meeting and under the caption OF
new business" presented a resolu-
tion recommending the transfer OF
the Reilly license to Mr. Walsh sure
ties were given by Mr. Walsh, as The
odore Grot and Mrs Catherine Walsh
Following the usual forms in such
cases provided the finance chief mov-
ed that the matter be referred to Mr.
Palmer and all commissioners ac-
uuiessed Then the fire works started
Mr. Palmer assumed charge Of the
case the moment it was placed i'll his
hands and presented resolution for
adoption in which he referred to Reil-
ly'a misdemeanor as the second with
in the Sunday bone dry rule. He
asl ed that the license he revoked aad
that Reilly be punished for his disre-
gard for the councils mandates.
Mayor Bradford was inclined to be
lenient with Reilly, particularly as
Reilly had confessed guilt and was
willing to get out of business. He said
, he had promised to permit bona iide
transfer to some responsible party
and as far as he knew, Mr.. Walsh
, was a man sizing up well with those
requirements. Then Commissioner
Campbell was given the floor and
announced he was anxious to support
Commissioner Palmer in all his under
talangs bat he believed Mr. Walsh
should be investigated and if found tc
be satisfactory to the city, he shoulC
be granted license, if not Reilly
should make ether provisions for obey
II ing the orders from the authorities
, Enter Commissioner HclilriCh Ontt
. the scene,
= felfrich | would like further proc
t that Mr. Reilly has violated the laws
know nothing about this case AM
Il have not been consulted in regard
9 to It.
L. palmer Oh, there Is no use tryin
: to give you any proof. That wouldn'
do any good.
Hoffrich talmost jumping out O
his chair Your honor | take eA
, CeptioK, to that statement Of the con
, missioner. have the door now an
want you all TO know that ! am jus
y rs honorable as any member Of thi
tDUHIII lhttilsSt u Hufi bNflI uhib
!, tllnatef is no reason that ! should b
:, treated in this manner !, unfortul
ately, was born in this country. Wht
~ | have got I've had to earn What Ii
=, tie education have | had to acqur
p. by my own efforts As for honor
n. have as much Of that AZ anyone an
@. ! never pulled race either
As Palmer Just grinned and looked
le August when the race track episod
ne was injected into the meeting
n. Mayor believe, Mr. Palmer, "
IT. are not overstepping our rules whe
,r, we permit this transfer. ! think
Id fair in view of what Mr. Reilly to
III US and what told him.
IT. palmer-Your honor, you are dodgil
rs the issue We are just leaving tn
ei' affair as an invitation to other salo'