Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-11-07
TADVERTIsEMENF.1


Editors Of the Star : The movements of tho
City Councils in relation to the license law
have created more excitement than any other
act that has over emanatsd from thai BODY.
| Feelings of disgust, 50 deep rooted, have taken
hold of the public mind, that the voters will,
| at the June election, regardless of party pre-.
delictions, hurl from the Councils every person
now having seat in that body who voted in
| favor of the measures lately brought before
| them touching the liquor traffic.
Well may the citizens complain of tho acts
OF their representatives., when they have spent
| week after week legislating upon matters in
which they have far transcribed the powers
vested in them by the city charter. After all
| the time consumed upon the license question.
| what has been accomplished? Simply an in.
crease upon the grocer's license of three hun.
dred per cent-a business legally conducted,
by mon against whom public opinion has never
been directed.
ASK members what powers are vested in the
corporation relative to the license system, and
you will find very many of them unable or
unwilling to answer the question They will
probably tell you that Mr.. May reported a
bill declaring that the city authorities DOS
sessed tho power to prohibit the sale of liqu ors
| IN this city; which was not the case. The re-
port Of Mr.. May was a mere maneuver to
evade direct legislation upon that subject
The acts passed by the Councils upon tho sub.
ject are so mystiied that no two members of
them will agree to tho same Interpretation Of
them. Consequently, the whole of their legis-
lativs acts in this connection had to be referred
to the Mayor, to have placed upon them such
construction as he conceived to be correct
and in accordance with the city charter; which
construction the members are unwilling to
sanction, each one constituting the law to suit
his own views
Whathas been done by the Councils under the
Mayors construction of the laws just enacted
They have passed an ordinance prohibiting
tipping houses, in refusing them license
By that act the Corporation has accomplished
nothing but loss of revenue. Persons who
have heretofore been conducting such q bust
ness, will apply for license for ordinaries,
which cannet be refused by the Corporation.
If refused, they will conduct their business
under that head, without being liable to fine
and improvement Taverns and ordinaries
| are to be licensed under the old system barring
the privilege to sell liquors; so that taverns
are to be taxed for the privilege of feeding
and lodging strangers. Upon that principle
all boarding house keepers must come under
the same category. The proprietors of taverns
right to do, to dispose Of their liquor as here
tofore, which will create litigation, termina-
ting in the Corporations having to foot the
bill Of cost; they being complied, by the
charter, to grant license to taverns. As has
been stated; tho grooers, whose licenses arc
about s1pirtng, are the only sufferers, by the
| bungling legislation of the Council. Whether
the Councils will Cypress one class Of our fell
| low citizens whose business is the least objec.
tionable, so far as liquor is concerned, to the
exclusion of others, will be seen by their flu.
ture legislation.
In order that the citizens may know what
the powers conferred upon Corporation by the
Government in the city charter are, annex
every section from the charter touching that
subject, which is very short and explicit, and
| in full force. JUSTICE.
"To provide for licensing, taxing, and regu-
lating auctions, retailers, ordinaries and tav-
erns, hackney carriages wagons, carts and
drays, pawn brokers, vendors of lottery tickets,
money changers, and hawkers and pedlers !"
"Ts provide for licensing, taxing, regula-
ting or restraining theatricals or public shows
or amusements."
"To restrain or prohibit tipping houses,
lotteries, and all kinds of gambling"
1t*