The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-01-18
license BOARD
ANSWERS CRIT|C|SM
OF JUDGE ASHFORD
Through Chairman Cooke Says II
Is Doing Only What Law
Compels 1t To Do
WHAT JURlST ADVOCATES
Ii =. WOULD NOT BE LEGAL
Commissioners Ready To Accept
Any Constructive Ideas
n ,..sas At Any Time

Declaring that the only grounds OF
criticism against them which Judge
. Ashford appears TO have is that they
refused to act Illegally, the Board Of
License Commissioners, through Its
chairman, Richard A. Cooke, replies in
the following letter TO the structures
Of the jurist, as expressed In these
columns yesterday
Mr.. Cooke says that Judge Ashford
took similar complaint some time
ago 70 the Governor, who ascsrtained
the reasons nnderiying the boards at.
titude and endorsed them. The chair.
man Of the board writes; ..' .. g.
Editor notwithstanding Ashford
in an open letter to The Advertiser
has criticised the Board Of License
Commissioners for resembling their
regulation prohibiting sales of intoxi-
eatipQ liquors after seven o clock p. m.
Some months ago, in letter 70 the
Governor, Judge Ashford similarly cri-
ticised this action Of the board, and the
Governor after consultation with the
writer, advised him, that the board had
aood reasons for taking such action.
IL would seem that Judge Ashford's
logical method Of procedure, certainly
the courteous method, would have been
10 have ascertained from the board at
that time what their reasons were and
20 have advised them whether or not he
considered their reasons sound and
their interpretation Of the law correct.
How the Hours Were Changed o..
shortly after war had been declared
by the United States the licensees,
either voluntarily as loyal body Of
American citizens or ON account Of the
! pressure Of public opinion brought
about by public statements of Major
Lincoln and General Strong, petitioned
the board TO pass regulation pro.
hibitinR all sales after seven O'Clock
D. m. during the period of the war. This
request was granted. Later, after the
federal law prohibiting all sales of
LIQUOR to men in uniform was put into
effect. the licensees requested that this
regulation be reseinded, 80
n view Of the fact that the law de.
flnitely fixes the closing hours of
saloons at eleven,thirty O'Clock. p. m.
the board believed that, in not acceding
to this request, IL would be assuming
powers beyond those granted them I'M
der the law passed by the representa-
tives Of the citizens of Hawaii.
Together with this action they pass
ed a regulation prohibiting all sales
Of liquor for consumption of the hcens-
ed premises after i've O'Clock p. m.
I. Illicit sellers obtain all Of their liquor
before i've O'Clock p. m. Judge Ash
ford 8 statement that an open saloon
Is a temptation to enlisted men is ap-
plicable to day time as well as to night.
Striving for !Betterment
Certainly conditions are far from
satisfactory. The members Of the board
have always taken and still take the
stand Of welcoming any constructive
suggestions affecting the liquor situa-
tion. We are also open to criticism,
realizing that we are not infallible and
have undoubtedly made numerous errors
both of commission and omission. But
its does not seem to the writer that
Judge Ashford, occupying so high a
judicial position in this community, in
eriticising the board for not having, in
their opinion, acted illegally will bring
about the desired results. Yours truly,
t.EyY, RICHARD A. COOKE,
Chairman, Board Of License Com
missioners.