Spying On Saloons

An iucideut that has caused more han the usual amount of talk in Ann Arbor is that of the arrest last Friday evening of tbe two university "toots, " instructora George Ö. Higley and Perry F. Trowbridgs, and Herman E. Browu, by Night VVatcbmau Campion and Offieer O'Mara while they were peeking iuto the windows at the rear of the Hub saloon on E. Washiugton St. The gentlemen in qnestion are well mnwn and prominent ohurch members and are also members of the anti-salooü eague, which bas been reoently organizad. Fetty thefts have been quite comiion of late and when the cops saw the saspioions actions oL the three gentlenen tbey immediately pouncea down upon them. The parties arrested claimed that while out ou the streets after 1 1 o'olock j. m. on the night in question for the jurpose of observing the cuuditiuu of soreens at the saloon windows, they 'onnd two places where the law had not been couiplied with, those of Gus Waidelicb, on Detroit st. , aud Fred Beimold on W. Washington st. An exraot from tbe Times' interview with one of the gentlemen will explain their jeouliar actions while inspecting the ïub. It is as follüws: "While at the Hub the gentlemen decided to enter the alley and see how rhings looked in the rear of the saloon. A horse, poorly protected, was found there. While üiscussing the advisabilty of reporting tbis fact to the offtcers, Policeman O'Mara appeared on tbe scène and inquired the gentlemen's business. Tbey replied that they were ooking around and discusssing the advisability of having that horse looked after. This reply did not satisfy Offieer O'Mara and he invited tne gentlemen to follow him. "Ou reacbing the sidewalk in front of :he Hub, Officer Collins was mat and the gentlemen explained tbeir business :ully. Mr. Collins said : ''Gentlemen, if that is your business we ara glad to see you and will be glad to render you all the service we can ' A pleasant conversation followed and the gentlemen were tolcl that, if they could show a single case of law violatiou in any respect whatever, the offleers would enter complaint in the morning. Immediately the officers were invited to visit two places, namely, Fred Reimold's saloon. No. 7 W. Washington st. , and George Waidelich's saloon on Detroit st. near the depot. The gentlemen express tbeuaselves as higbly pleased with the oourtesy and asaistauce of the offioers, and say tbat they did iiot find as mnch open law violation as tbey bad expected, from the minors that had reachtid them." On Katurday morning the officers entered ui.mplaints against JMessis. Waidelich aud Reimold aud the cases came up for hearing before Justice Pond Tuesday wheu both the defendants waived examination and the cases were sent up to the cirouit oourfc. It is getting pretty near the spring eleotion and it is a question in the minds of many whether this is the annual spasmodic outbieak of a certain portion of our citizens which usnally lasts for about six or seven weeks aud then hibernates for tbe balance of the year, during which time all sorts of charges as to the non enforcement of the liquor and moraity laws are made, or whether it is the oommencement of a systematic attaok npon the saloons by the a'ti-saloon league. Under the statote ie is obligatory on saloonkeepers tu close their places of business at 9 o'clock p. rn., bnt a provison is attached to the law which gives cities and villages power to exteud the time to 10 o'clock. It is generally understood that altbough all tbe saloons in Ann Arbor are allowed to remain open until 0 o'olock, there is no ordinance which gives them that privilege and that consequently their beiug allowed to rernain open until that hour is jllegal. One thiog, however, is certain, and that is the question should be settled one way or the otber at once. Either an ordiuance should be passed to comply with the requirements of the statu te in allowing the saloons to remain open until 10 p. m., or the state law shonld be enforced and the saloons closed at 9 o'clock. It is not in the interests of good government to have such a con dition of affairs existiug and it should be remedied.