Tacoma City Council Sidesteps Liquor Reform
While council members rushed through routine city business to attend a social club event, a highly anticipated liquor ordinance remained stalled in committee.
Business was rushed through the meeting of the council last night in a rapid manner. A number of the councilmen were anxious for the meeting to adjourn in order that they might hear the mayor's speech before the Scandinavian club, and there was no delay in proceedings. The liquor ordinance did not make its appearance last night. Councilman Hammond, chairman of the judiciary committee, was conspicuous by his absence, and conveniently no report was made. The ordinance has been in the hands of the committee for some time, and a report was expected two weeks ago. The feeling among the councilmen is that when the ordinance does make its appearance, a number of amendments will have been added. No one of the councilmen claims the honor of having introduced the ordinance; its purpose is to impose more strict regulations upon the saloon business and limit the number of hands on which one person may become surety.
“Councilman Hammond, chairman of the judiciary committee, was conspicuous by his absence, and conveniently no report was made.”
Local government dynamics haven't changed much in a century—the tendency to bury controversial legislation in committee and prioritize social functions over public policy remains a common civic frustration in Tacoma today.
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