Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-04
THE NEW CODE DISCUSSED.

sub committee OF the Senate District com
mttee presided over by Senator Harris. yester.
day heard Rev. Drs. Mason ana Leach. as a
committee OF ministers upon the different pro-
visions of the civil code of laws pending before
the committee which ministers feel an interest
In.
PROPOSED REFORM.
Dr. Mason addressed the COMMITTEES, and
urged that the provision requiring the officer
who issues the marriage license to report the
marriage TO the health department instead OF
n one minister al aa1 who performs the cere-
nlent for the minister TO get the details The
committee virtually agreed TO this.
visions prohibiting solicitation for purposes OF
prostitution be retained SO as TO apply 60 both
sexes Also that In the provision requiring
that business shall be closed on Sundays the
clause ''other necessary business" be stricken
out. As IL stands the section provides that only
apothecaries undertakers and other necessary
| day. The ministers thought advantage OF this
clause would be taken to keep open ali sorts OF
business. The provision that no person VINO
has arrived at the age OF discretion shall curse
swear or get drunk was next called attention
TO- the ministers desiring that the words cor get
drunk" be retained. as this is new legislation.
to arrest any person disturbing the congrega-
uon was urged as important, and the committee
intimated that they were in favor OF retaining
It,. Next, the subcommittee were asked 90 re-
tain the provision ordering police to arrest
night walkers, lewd persons, ami persons ire
quenIlng bawdy houses; also 10 suppress dis
ing saloons, etc Next, the committee were
urged to retain the provisions In the clause pro-
hlblting the crying OF newspapers for sale after
l0a. III. on sundays, as that would not Interfere
with religious services. The next question
brought up was one to which the ministers
attached considerable Importance. IL related
10 the provision, to the effect that rules and
regulations made by the commissioners and
other legal boards and officers, who are
authorized TO make rules SHALL when made In
accordance with authority conferred by law,
have the same force and effect OF law Dr.
Mason said the ministers feared that this Sec
tlon might give more power to boards than was
intended; that under It the board OF health
might make rules and regulations providing for
the medical examination and inspection OF per-
sens suspected OF prostitution. DR.. Mason said
he reared this power; he believed the board
would make such regulation. and that, he
said. would expose our wives and daughters
TO danger" He was not afraid OF the board OF
the clause, but he was afraid OF the board OF
health. Senator Harris thought the bare sug-
gestion or such law or rule would be mon
strouS.
are In force.
Senator Harris.-what, to subject suspected
persons to examination?
DR.. Mason said there was fear OF desire in
certain official quarters 10 have such q law
here, and therefore citizens would prefer 20
have the clause under consideration so definite
that no broad construction could be put upon
it.
Senator Harris said he believed the clause
intended only to permit the making OF rules TO
carry out laws. but he was in favor OF its being
explicit. Besides" he added "we have no
board Of health now
THE QUESTION OF GRANTING LIQUOR LICENSES
and Of considering those sections CT the code
relating thereto was next taken up Mr.
Frank Hume, Mr.. Schade, Mr.. L. q. Hine aud
Charles Thompson were present to represent
the liquor dealers, while Rev. Drs. Mason and
Leach represented the ministers. Commissioner
Dent was also present.
the committee In the license law as prescribed
here we have not word TO say. 1t Is better than
we have now. but IL there are to be any
changes we would like to present petition in
favor OF local option law different from that
here provided, which gives option to the prop
erty owners in square. We would like 10
law requiring the city to be districted and Civ
ing to the citizens OF each district tie right to
vote whether they viii have saloons 10 that
district. We believe that there are sections OF
the city where the people do not want saloons.
Ii this law is to remain We particularly request
that the provision authorizing the Chief OF
police to close saloons operating without a
license be retained"
Chairman Harris said that as simple reve-
nue. measure it would be necessary TO retain
that section; that IL provision were not made to
close saloons without license. and punish the
owners the District could not collect licenses;
for II saloons could be run without license. none
The ministers said the law is not euforcei.
and they want authority to close unlicensed
saloons invested solely In the major OF police
so that he can be held responsible for It's en-
forcement.
|. DR.. Mason brought up the provision to the
elect that when no complaint on the part OF
property holders is made against the proprietor
OF saloon, such proprietor shall not be re
quired to file his application every year. The
committe seemed to think the provision striu-
gent enough
Senator Harris said he proposed to study the
law with care, with the view OF imposing only
Just and fair tax on all the trades.
DIR. Mason particularly objected to the poison
sold as liquor; such liquor is generally sold liz
low groggeries. and these would be suppressed
by the higher license.
Senator Harris asked Commissioner Dent
which would bring most revenue. the 800
license or the $3.50 license?
Judge DeEt:-It is very difficult to tell; but
think a tax OF 500 would produce more reVe-
nue. than one OF $3.50.
Senator Ha1riS.-It has got to be considered
from both views. We must, OF course. take
care OF the morals Of the country, but We must
take care OF the revenue, too.
Dr. Leach thought the $3.50 tax would bring
the larger revenue.
Judge Dent said the $3.50 tax was inserted In
the code by member OF the House committee,
On the theory that it would diminish the num-
Der OF saloons and better the quality OF the
liquor sold.
Senator Harris doubted II all the crime could
be charged to the saloons. "Can you" ne said,
stop intoXicdtion By legislation? Suppose We
SnOulQ close all the S2lOJn5 would not intOSi-
cation continuee'
The fact that In the code manufacturers and
diStillerS OF liquor were taxed only $50 per year
while the retail sellers are taxed $3.50. was dis
cuSsed at some length Judge Dent saying 1t
must have been an oversight.
Senator Harris thought as wholesale dealers
are taxed $500 per year, manufacturers should
pay as much, and he would so recommend.
Mr.. Schade called attention TO the fact that
In the CODE local or Washington brewerIeS are
taxed more than those from other cities and
states. He wanted the tax on local DrewerieS
reduced. The present tax on brewerieS Is $50 a
year. and he thought that enough. At the con-
clusiOn OF the argument the discussion became
somewhat animated. Mr.. Schade said the min
listers were not, as they pretended, striking at
the bad liquor establishments, but at all OF
them, good and bad alike.
Mr.. Leach said they considered them all bad.
Judge Dent brought up the question or the
Postmaster General protesting against saloons
opposite the Post Office department..
Senator harris sad he had as much right to
object to saloon near state building 10 Ten
neSSee as the Postmaster General had to one
opposite government building 10 Washing
ton; that the Postmaster General did not own
the POST Office department building, ana was
Lot even the government agent In control of it.
DR.. Mason said that Mr.. Williams, when at
torney general, decided that the head OF a de
partment, like the z. NJ. General could object to
saloons opposite.
NH. h.