Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-16
THURSDAY, AUGUST is, 1882.
COMMUNICATED. |

Mr.. Sao,cden-I was much gratifed at the
circulation of a memorial TO the Common Coun-
Gil, soliciting the passage Of law to restrain the
retailing Of ardent spirits by grocers, shop keep
ers and others, for q limited time. | hope the
Common Council will not hesitate to comply with
the wishes of the memoriallsts. As have heard
some doubts expressed as to the jurisdiction Of
the Council on the subject OF the memorial, l
turned nv attention to the examination OF the
question; and fud, by the 9th section OF tue
act Of Congress, passed IN 1894, 10 amehu the
charter of the town, 1t is declared that the Com
mon Council shall have power to pass all mTs
theu shall conceive "requisite" tor the pre-
seryatiop of the health of the inhabitants OF the
town" No intelligent and dlsinterested person
can doubt but that the preservation OF the
health Of the inhabitants Of the town." at this
time, not only demands the passage OF such
law. with penalties that will ensure obedience to
It, but that 1t should be rgidy executed, 1t dis
obeyed
| have heard the enquiry made, can such a
law include licensed tavern keeperss Tn this
subject there seems to be general misapprehen-
sion of the legal raghts OF tavern Keepers. Ii
all tavern keepers were such as some we have IN
our town, there would De no need OF a corpora
ton law at this time; but the misfortune has been
that the Grand Jury have recommended, aud the
Court has granted, licenses to too many whose
sole object is to keep tifphng or grog SHOP,
aud thus defeating the real object OF the statute,
the title of which IS an act for regulating ordi-
naries AMI restraint OF tirptins houses" The
fs, section of this act declares, that every per-
son intending to keep an ordinary or house OF
public entertainment shall present his petition to
the Court, and the Court shall consider the con-
sequence ef the plan p opposed, and the ability OF
the petitioner IN prori,te and keep good aud saf'
Gtien, houses lodging aud entertainment Tor ira
reuers. their servants and horses. The act fur-
Their declares, tina, the Court shall NOT. under
pretence of keeping an, poor person from being
chargpable to the parish, license any person to
sell liquors, to the prejudice Of the neishborng
inhabitants"
This provision of the law is sufficient TO shew,
that. whenever a licensed tavern keeper converts
hi, house into place for persons to 90 and drink
or tipple. they are departing from the very Oh
ject of thu grant Of the license. which was TO
provide place for the accommodation OF fra0el-
lers, their servants and horses. And IT their IL
censa tn protect them from police regulations,
intended to restrain tipping houses, 1t would be
in The face of the title and the papable object of
the statute.
The condition of the bond, which is prescrib-
ed bv law and required to be given. provides
that the person obtaining the license shall con.
SANITY provide, and keep in his said ordinary,
good. Wholesome and cleanly lodging and diet
for travellers, aud stable and provender for
horses.
The 18th section of the act regulating taverns,
provides, that no keeper Of tavern shall reco-
Yer more than five dollars for liquors sold for one
wear to anv person residing within twenty miles
of the tavern; and all contracts securing the
payment of more .han five dollars are declared
TO be void. This also shews the object Of the
law. in authorizing tavern license, was not tc
encourage, but to prevent, tipping, eren in ia
vern.
am satisfied that it is competent for the Com
mon Council to pass anv law TO prevent tipping
in public taverns. and that such law would
not infringe the legal rights Of tavern keepers
A CITIZEN.