Newport's New Council Takes On Sunday Liquor—and the Saloon Back Door

The new city council convened for the first time on Tuesday night. It made a noise that sounded as though the council was going to do things during the coming year.

More business was transacted and in a shorter space of time than for many a meeting. Several important matters were disposed of, and all of the members expressed themselves as being favorable to a little stronger regulations concerning the conducting of the saloons doing business in Newport. The mayor made his appointments of officers and committees for the ensuing year, and expressed himself as greatly pleased with the personnel of the new council, and hoped that they would work harmoniously and for the best welfare of the city.

All of the members of the council were present shortly after the meeting was called to order. The clerk was also present. The minutes were read and approved.

The mayor then made the following appointments, which were approved by the council without a dissenting vote: Clerk, C. L. Schotte; attorney, A. S. Sherlock; health officer, Dr. J. T. Phillips; day marshal, Frank O. Mills; night marshal, Carl Kirkpatrick; police judge, James McDonald. All of the appointees held the positions during the past year.

The following committees were then appointed: Judiciary—Bennett, Caldwell, Hynes. Finance—Lutz, Millard, Caldwell. Streets—Caldwell, Hynes, Lutz. Health—Millard, Bennett, Lutz.

A majority of the property owners petitioned that Scott Avenue, from Sixth to First Streets, be improved, the grade established and an assessment district formed for said improvement. The petition was received and referred to the committee on streets.

The ordinance providing for the vacating of an alley in block 22, Talmadge's second addition, was read and passed to its second reading.

The matter of granting a saloon license to John P. Carter, said saloon to be located in the bakery building on Union Street, was brought up by the report of the committee on judiciary. A long silence prevailed after the reception of the report. Finally Bennett, in order to get the matter before the house, moved that the report be received and a license granted. A vote was taken and the motion was lost, Bennett and Hynes voting for, and Caldwell, Lutz and Millard against the proposition.

Previous to the vote M. M. Salomons spoke in favor of the granting of the license, and Wm. Krause spoke against and in behalf of the property owners residing in the vicinity of the proposed saloon.

The report of the clerk was called for and that official promised to present it at the next meeting.

Complaint was made that the owners of the livery barn and blacksmith shop near the corner of First Street and Washington Avenue had blocked the gutter and backed up the water in the street, interfering with the use of the street by pedestrians. Complaint was also made against the same parties for obstructing the streets by leaving wagons and other vehicles in the street. Joe Berneck was also reported as being guilty of a like offense. The marshal was ordered to notify the parties to obey the law and remove the obstructions forthwith.

Councilman Bennett stated that the marshal had reported to him that the only way that some of the saloons could be stopped from selling liquor on Sunday was for the council to pass an ordinance ordering the screen curtains and frosting on the windows removed, so that the police could have an unobstructed view of the bars on Sunday. This brought up a general discussion that was participated in by all the members and the mayor.

The city attorney was finally ordered to draw up an ordinance covering these points. It was also decided that doors leading from the saloons to other rooms in the same building or to rooms in an adjoining building would not be allowed. All doors to saloons must hereafter lead out into the street or alley.

Some of the members wished to include barber shops in the ordinance, as one of the shops is alleged to have been used as a blind by one of the saloons. The city attorney stated that a separate ordinance must be drawn up to cover the barber shops.

Among the bills allowed was one presented by the Pend Oreille Press for the sum of $42.50 for printing 50 copies of the rules of the council.

The council then adjourned on the usual motion by Bennett.