The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-03-11

as to the qualifications of the appli-
can't and the suitability of the prem
ises for carrying on such retail bust
ness. If, upon such investigation,
it appears that the applicant is quail
fled under the law and that the
premises are suitable for carrying
on such retail business under the
laws of the state and the rules and
regulations of the board, the board
will issue the license or licenses.
Cali applications for licenses shall
set forth the names of all persons
financially interested or to be inter
ested in such business, if known, and
the names of all those who after
ward become financially interested
shall be promptly reported to the
board and if they are disqualified
from holding license under the law,
the license of the place in which they
become interested shall be revoked"
"Regulation No. 10. In determin-
ing the suitability of the premises
for carrying on such retail business,
the board will consider all matters
pertaining to said premises and the
business conducted therein; the
board will consider the general rep
utation of said place of business,
the reputation and character of the
employees conducting said business;
whether or not the applicant per-
sonally conducts and supervises said
business OF whether the applicant en-
trusts the management and supervi-
sion to others; the health and sani-
tary conditions of the premises. For
the purpose of determining the quail
fications of the applicant and suita-
bility of the premises in respect to
which the license or licenses are ap-
piled for, the board may hold hear
ings, hear testimony, consider affi-
davits and petitions on behalf of
both applicant and protestants. Due
and timely notice of such hearing
shall be given to interested parties
as provided herein.
"The board will consider the same
matters and conditions on applica-
ton for renewal of license as for
the original application"
1t is the belief of the committee
that the board has failed to follow
the law and its own regulations in
the following respects;
(a) The investigation of the APP
pl1Se1no 10 uOt IIlOIOuSu DIS required
by law.
(b) Applicants with no premises
have been granted licenses and re-
newals thereof, and are holding the
same for speculation purposes. This
IS clear violation of the purposes
and intent of the law.
.(c) Non-citizens and non-resi-
tents have been granted licenses or
nave been and are now permitted
20 operate premises with the license
n the name of straw men.
(d) The number of permitted IL
lenses under the 1947 law is being
exceeded by the board.
The evidence before the commit
zee discloses that actually little or
10 investigation is made either of
he applicant beyond his, own state
nents in his application. In one
lagrant instance, a license was
'ranted to a non-citizen now in the
federal penitentiary for perjury.
When the board discovered this man
vas mot citizen it did not revoke
he license but permitted it to be as
igned to an employee. In another
Instance the city of Great Falls was
SSueu q peer ana liquor Incense Wnlcn
7as several times renewed and then
ssigned. The city, of course, was
ot qualified to run saloon and
ever did operate one. In West
'ellowstone, many of the taverns are
wned and operated by residents of
IDAHO and Utah with the licenses in
ne names of employees. A like sit
alton exists in Hungry Horse and
Iartin City, in Great Falls, Lewis
own and also in other cities in the
tate. A total of % licenses have
cen issued within the five mile area
f Coram, village of two or three
undred people, and more licenses
re in the offing.
Inspectors reports regarding these
atters have been side-tracked and
1t seems clear that the law and
lie regulations should not be flouted
this manner. A thorough investi-
alton of the applicant AND HIS
REMISES should be made before a
cense is issued or renewed, or be-
IRE any transfer of license is per-
tilted. All licenses held for specu-
ton should be revoked within 80
ays. Where it is found that the