Evening journal., 1917-02-06
SHOW HOW DRY VOTE
WOULD Affect CITY
Wilmington Brewers and
Hotel Men Quote Statistics
Before House Committee
SEE NO BIG DEMAND
FOR VOTE on LICENSE

y
of brewers. hotel proprietors and
liquor dealers of Wilmington made
II plain that they were not opposing
the rural New Castle county resub-
mission bill. providing a majority Of
members signed a petition for IT, in
accord with the constitutional re-
quirement. They opposed, however.
any legislation designed TO foist a
wet and dry vote upon Whining
ton when there was no demand for /
such legislation from the assembly |
men of Wilmington or from the city |
generally, they argued. The delega- !
ton also opposed a Statewide pro-
hibition bill, the anti-Shipment bill |
for Kent and Sussex county as it was |
framed and the so-called bottle law"
repeater
John ]. Magahern, speaking for the !
wholesalers Of Wilmington. quoted !
figures showing where the Whining
ton breweries spend approximately !
S1,000,000 a year. The principal items
being as follows; Federal tax, $685.
o00 State tax, $4,000 raw material.
S29s.000; wages. 100000; delivery.
$50 900; light and power $4,000;
sundry expenses, $4,000; in
surance, s10,500; advertising, So
300; contr buttons 10 charity,
$500. The license money paid in the
county is about 100000. He said while
twenty-four sgners to a license ap-
plication are all that is necessary,
there are frequently twenty-eight,
showing the encouragement given by
the people.
Mr.. Magahern, quoting figures for
two wholesale houses in Wilmington,
his own and that Of Francis Kelly &
Co, gave the following expenditures
FOR last year: County, poor and school
taxes, S4175; internal revenue. S400.-
000 light and wages, s51 900. He
said this was Just an idea OF the ex-
tent OF the business. There had not
been time to get figures from other
wholesalers, he said.
Ernest s. Tate, manager OF the
Hotel DUPONT. gave interesting stalls
tics about that hotel, and said ad-
verse legislation would be disas-
.rous 10 the Wilmington hotels. He
said the Hotel DUPONT represents an
investment OF 81 100000. Last year
s4.476 persons stopped there over
night; there is a payroll Of s106,624.
spent in Wilmington; while supplies
were bought in Wilmington costing
s24O.796 II the liquor privilege is
taken away all these interests would
De affected.
James Kane said il the business
should be abolished in Wilmington,
Chester would profit thereby.
John c. Hartmann Of the Hartmann
e. Fehrenbach Brewing Co., which
has 100000 invested and has annual
expenses Of 1928. 000 asked that Will
nington be let alone. MAKE the laws
stringent" he said, land enforce
them. we have on objection TO that"
Representative Hutchinson said there
Is the moral side to be considered.
Mr.. Hartmann thought the moral
side would not be improved by abol-
ishing the licensed business.
Representative Cross remarked that
there are ingrates in all business, who
cause abuses.
Mr.. Hutchinson said the bottle law
was detrimental to the youth OF the
country towns.
Mr.. Kane said there are some un-
scrupulous men who try to buy drinks
for persons, who should not have
them, but the men in the business
try TO prevent this. He said the
movies had drawn the young men
from the saloon, as has also the
Pennsylvania railroad, which has es'
abolished it's Y. NJ. c. A.. etc.
Edward Krause asked how the bot
tie business could be stopped IL the
law was repealed.
Mr.. Hutchinson said that was toe
big a question for him. But he would
rather take grub hoe and dig in @
Sussex county farm than engage in
the business, he said.
Edward Knause, Of the Merritt
House, said his hotel housed 1880
people last year. He declared thai
il Wilmington goes dry the people
who want liquor will have to buy
elsewhere and pay double for It. Be
sides they will do their other buying
elsewhere. ltsmeans thousands o.
dollars a year to Wilmington.
J. p. McHugh said he had been ask
ed for a school donation but he coulC
not give freely if the revenue going
that way was cut out.
J. Horty of Francis Kelly ant
Company. said his house, established
in 1854, had never been charged witt
violation OF law. He said II tn
liquor license was cut out there wouli
be dope" to contend with, whicl
might become quite serious.
Herman Isenmenger. of the Bavar
ian Brewing Company, spoke agains
enacting laws that would impos
hardships on the business. In som
"dry" territory conditions are prac
tically as 'wet" as ever, he said. an
the brewery he represents courts a
investigation and will help to enforc
the law
Harry J. Stoeckle, president of IN
Stoeckle Brewing Company. asked Il
fair play. pointing 10 the great amour
OF money invested in the business
Mr.. Kane pointed out where IN
anti-saloon interests are taken up b
strangers. I'VE don't have our hon
church people knocking u.s." he sal
but it seems outsiders are brougl
I'm to run the campaign for Whining
ton people"
In the delegation OF the Anti-Saloo
League who were excluded from N
bearing, at the suggestion OF II
liquor mems delegation. we're the Re
7. C. Prettyman. superintendent an
J. Bibb Mills attorney for the leagu
and the following Dover ministers
The Rcvs. H. G. Budd. Floris Fe
werda. A. Victor Lightbourne, W.