National Republican., 1883-09-27
DISTRICT LIQUOR LICENSES.
What the Commissioners and the License
Inspector Say Upon the Subject.

Inspector say bpOD tne sHuJoS"
In reference to the item in yesterdays RE
PUBLICAN in regard to district liquor licenses,
Commissioner West said that the statement
by the internal revenue department was very
unjust to the district authorities, as it made
statements not borne out by facts. He added
that in reference to the 200 men at their
disposal, which he supposed referred to tho
police, these officers only investigated the
authenticity of the signatures TO tho appllca-
tions for license and whether they were actu-
ally residents or property holders in the
square for which the license was asked Ihe
internal revenue officers simply sit IN their
offices and issue licenses to whoever makes
application and pays the required Zee. Inc
following letter from Maj. Jones, inspector of
licenses, fully explains the matter and puts 1t
in an entirely different light:
OFFICE OF THE LICENSE BOARD, d. C., WASHINGTON
Sept 26, 1sS3.--HOn. j. II. WEST, commissioner
D. C.-Su! | beg leave most respectfully to call
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN, of this morning calculated to
do great injustice to the agents and officers Of this
district charged with the direction aud superv-
sion OF the local license system. ltls Tvs follows:
DISTRICT LIQUOR LICENSES "a comparison ofthe
number Of liquor licenses collected by the inter
nal revenue officers within the District of Colum-
bia does not reflect great deal of credit upon the
local officers of the district. With nearly 200 men
at their disposal they have issued over 200 liquor
licenses less than the deputy collector OF internal
revenue, who Las only two men to cover exactly
the same field From the figures tits evident that
it would be well for the district authorities to
overhaul the methods employed by them to
gather in this portion of the revenues of the dis
trict."
In order to understand this subject properly II
bee jmes necessary to remember the fundamental
differences existing between the government in-
tgrnAl revenue system and the local license sys-
TEN of the district inusmnch us they rest upon
entirely different principles. For while by the
formera wholesale license entities the holder 10
sell any quantity OF spirituous or malt liquors
in excess of five gallons, under the latter
n wholesale license limits sale 10 one
pint aud upward, and that not to be drank on
gard to retail licenses. Under the government
license, which costs $50, the party holding II can
sell any quantity of liquor from five gallons TO Il
thimbefu; while under the district retail, costing
SlGO, he is limited ~ less than one pint and can
not sell in excess of that. Tho two systems do not
run parallel as to time-.the former beginning in
May and the latter i'll November, each running
one year from these respective dates This renders
tween the two at any timo in this locality;
but with the reliable data which / now have be-
fore me think can do this in n manner which
will be entirely satisfactory to you. The whole
number of government wholesale liquor licenses
in existence within the limits of this district at
this date is 81 of retail 05, besides 62 malt retail
licenses, making lbs in ALL The number OF
wholesale district licenses issued TO dale Is 40l
retail, 81 total lo62; leaving on excess OF mum
bor in favor OF the government OF l36.
This difference is more than accounted for by
the fact that while under the district system apoth
ecaries, paying a "a license as such, are thereby
specially privileged to sell alcoholic liquor in guam
titles of a half pint or under, which may be drank
on the premises or elsewhere, the government, un
der its Internal revenue laws takes 10 cognizanct
of any such discrimination, and an apothecary
selling but thimbleiul of such liquor is held rig
idly to the requirement of the law imposing 81
tax for selling under five gallons. Now the num-
Der of these Gpothecaries to- day thus licensed by
the district is 131-wlhin five of the difference be-
tween the district and the government in this par
ticular line.
But there is another class and to these refe
with some feelings OF delicacy, who have not NJ
yet been brought within the tolls of the distrlc
law regulating liquor licenses, but who do not es
cape the searching laws which the govern
nent has adopted in this regard. l refe
to the houses of assignntion and prost
tuition in the district about forty in mum
ber), every one of which is compelled
under which they can sell by the bottle or other
wise TO the extent of five gallons. This completed,
Ublitcrates the difference developed in the mum
Der OF such licenses issued by the government anc
that which have been issued under the distrlc
system, leaving the advantage decidedly in ou
favor when considered from the standpoint so un
fairly presented by the article in THE REPuBLIcAs
TO which have called your attention.
have the honor 10 be- with great respect, you
obedent servant, CHAs. >. JONES,
Inspector of Licenses D. c., and Member of tht
Liquor License Board.