The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-09-15

have offered their petition for later hours based on the economic aspect of the matter. He advanced the ar guments cited in the petition: That liquor dealers are among the Eeav- jest taxed; that ship passengers in port after licensed establishments are closed are driven to bootleggers or to Douglas, with Juneau business men missing out on a large share of the business.
 Tourists Not First
 Mrs. Harold Smith countered that the welfare of the people, not the wishes of tourists, should be the first consideration.
 Pastor Calvin c. Hartman of the Church of Christ advanced his ob- servations during two years in Alas ka, of the effect of liquor on the na- tive peoples, giving instances from his experiences as teacher last year at Cricket Creek on the Kuskokwim.
 Attorney M E. Monagle questioned that drinking can be stopped by closing of bars. He stated that po- lice records show the greatest drunkenness in Juneau was under earlier closing hours, by Army order during 1943. The Rev. Robert Treat replied that conditions in 1943 were entirely different, with considerably more men passing through the City Aiming at references to Douglas and ether Alaska cities, he stated that only the good of Juneau is under consideration.
 Juneau Gets Blame
 Mir. Fletcher again spoke for the other point of view, declaring that records show more civilians in Ju- ncau today than ever before and more persons travelling through. To tEa Rev. Treats second point, he replied that Juneau gets the blame for Douglas"
 Mrs. Smith again took the floor,
 
 to suggest that Juneau and Doug las work together toward earlier closing hours.
 Called upon by Mayor Ernest Par sons for his opinion, Chief of Police John Monagle stated himself unde- oided as to the better policy. Ex- plaining that he is unable to point out specific cases, he declared boot logging definitely exists now in Juneau and that is is easily encour- aged.
 He referred to home parties, es- pecially among natives, as present. ing a more difficult police problem than bars-because drinking in such cases is likely to be more excessive.
 Dollar Above Morals
 Harold Smith deplored putting dollar value above the moral value of the town The easier drinking is made, the more people will drink, he contended.
 Adding to his previous remarks, Mir. Fletcher referred to the .inabil- ity of native people to drink. as a medical problem He said that clos ing the regulated bars drives people to drink in places where there is no control.
 Referring to MT. Fletcher's state ments regarding the need for educa- tion as a liquor control solution, the Rev. Treat said he believes it hardly good education to condone bars" by granting them later hours. At bet ter approach, he declared, is a forward thinking program" That is the kind of education that is needed.
 Changed Seuen Times
 Mayor Parsons then interposed in the discussion to read from pre- vious ordinances for liquor regula- tion already on the books. The ordinance has been much mashed over and exrerimented with" he said The ordinance has Eeen changed seven times The first ordinance, put into effect in 1915 and continuing through the prohibition era, provided for Sunday closed period from midnight Saturdays un- til o'clock a. m Mondays.
 Declaring that he knows there is bootlegging under the present set up, the Mayor stated himself un- sure as to what effect later licens- ed hours might have. D. M. Such, of the Capitol Cafe, ayowed he has def initely observed that early closing leads bar patrons to rush their drinking, with result that they drink more than. they otherwise would. If you take anything away from a man, he tries harder to get it, MT. Such concluded. Sunday Closure Petition Mrs. Smith, somewhat startled to learn that Juneau liquor stores and bars are open on Sunday, asked that action on the petition be. delayed another week. By that time she is confident she can present another petition asking Sunday closure, she said Action has already been de- layed since July 31, Mayor Parsons replied. .,.a
 Chester o. Taylor presented that alcoholism is the No. One health problem" of the country. The pendulum is swinging back the