Courtright v. Common Council

¶1This is an application for a mandamus to compel respondent to approve relator’s bond as a retail dealer in liquors.

¶2Eelatqr is carrying on a hotel in the village of Newaygo known as “ The Courtright,” having a frontage of 175 feet on the main street, and which is wholly occupied by relator. It is insisted by respondent that relator has for some years operated, and now proposes to operate, two separate bars in said hotel, — one on the first floor, and one in the basement, — both of which have independent entrances from the *292street, and also from the alley in the rear of the hotel, and both of which are accessible from the hotel office. The bond described the place at which the business is to be carried on as “at the Oourtright,” and respondent insists that the description is not sufficiently specific to prevent the maintenance of both bars under one license.

¶3The form of the bond required by the law of 1887 is set forth in the act, and contains the following recital:

“ Whereas, the above-named principal projaoses to carry on the business of - (and describing the place of business), at -, in the county of-.”

¶4The place of business of relator is the hotel known as “ The Courtright,” and that description includes any room within the curtilage. The statute1 recognizes the fact that other lines of business are often carried on upon the same premises within which the liquor business is or is to be carried on, and makes a distinction in its restrictions between the room in which liquors are kept for sale and the place within which the business is carried on. Section 14 makes it unlawful to permit any student or minor to play at cards, or any game of chance, in any part of any building in which liquors are sold, while section 15 makes it unlawful to allow any minor to visit or remain in any room where liquors are sold, unless accompanied by his father or other legal guardian. Section 17 provides that all saloons, restaurants, bars, in taverns or elseioliere, and all other places where liquors are sold, except drugstores, shall be closed on certain days, and during certain hours.

¶5In Goff v. Fowler, 3 Pick. 300, defendant was licensed as an inn-keeper, and it was insisted that such license did not extend to a building detached from the house proper, but it was held that the detached store was a dependency.

¶6*293In Com. v. McCormick, 150 Mass. 270 (22 N. E. Rep. 911), it was held that a license to sell jn a “ one and a half story building” imported an authority to sell anywhere in such building.

¶7In City of St. Louis v. Gerardi, 90 Mo. 640 (3 S. W. Rep. 408), the Planters’ House occupied oné-half of a square and had three street fronts, and a bar at each of the front entrances. The bars were screened ofi by partitions, and had direct communication, by means of doorways, with the office rotunda and restaurant. The ordinance provided that application for licenses should be made in writing, and should state specifically where the dramshop was to be kept, and that—

“All licenses issued under this ordinance shall be kept posted up in some conspicuous place behind the bar, and as near the center thereof as possible.”

¶8Held, that the place at which the dramshop was to be kept was the Planters’ House; that the bar is simply the means of carrying on the business, and, where it is kept at the designated place, the mere fact of the licenses erecting more than one bar at such place, so connected would not render him guilty of a violation of the ordinance. See, also, Salt Co. v. Wilkinson, 8 Blatchf. 30; Hochstadler v. State, 73 Ala. 24; Com. v. Stratton, 150 Mass. 188 (22 N. E. Rep. 893); Com. v. Jones, 142 Id. 573 (8 N. E. Rep. 603); Com. v. Barnes, 140 Id. 447 (5 N. E. Rep. 252); State v. Moody, 95 N. C. 656.

¶9Section 8 of the act provides that upon filing the bond the principal shall not be allowed to sell “in any other building or place than that specified in said bond without giving notice, and executing another bond.” This language would seem to exclude the idea that the principal cannot sell elsewhere in the same building, and that if he should change the location of his bar to another room in the same building he would be obliged to give a new bond. *294This section is discussed in People v. Brown, 85 Mich. 119, 121, and the language used is, “one place of business.” The bond requires a description, not of the room or rooms, but of the place of business.

¶10In the present case the entire premises are occupied by one proprietor.' They have a well-known designation. They are connected by doorways, as are the rooms in which the bars are located. The whole is one place, with one proprietor. The statute imposes the tax, not upon the amount of the business, nor upon each bar, but upon the business of selling liquor at the place of business designated.

¶11The mandamus must issue as prayed.