The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-01-23
WON'T BE TALKED TO DEATH.
what the District Committees
Have Determined In Relation 20
The Now INK Hi.

what the District Committees
Have Determined in Relation 20
the New Tax Bill.
The District committees OF the House and
Senate, after considering tho proposed License
bill for a couple OF days and hearing some ar.
guments pro and con, have discovered that
they will DO besieged by alternate delegations
OF temperance people and liquor dealers,
monopolists and anti.monopolists, poor NOR.
chants and bloated capitalists, and, warned
by the endless discussion fin the newspapers,
they have decided TO spare themselves trouble
and labor by having all arguments submitted
In writing. and declining TO hear verbally
from any delegations or individuals In sup
port OF or In opposition TO the bill.
The District Commissioners have been called
upon TO submit their views in support OF the
bill In writing, and duplicate copies OF three
briefs Will be submitted TO tho two commit.
tees. The fret Is general review OF tho now
bill, tho demand for such measure, the op.
position TO and injustice OF the personal tax
and the good results OF q reorganization OF the
revenue system.
rho second brief will treat more particu.
larry on tho application OF the new bill to the
organizations, railway companies, banks, etc.,
and tho third brief defends the bill In lie rola-
lions TO and treatment OF the liquor traffic, and
10 designed to answer the arguments which
have been urged against the bill, both by the
temperance people on the ono hand and the
liquor men on the other.
The three briefs will all tend TO vlndicate
the bill from the charge that 1t is a rich mans
measure and to show that II decreases the
taxes and licenses on Industries In which poor
people are engaged In greater proportion
II is understood that the District committees
have both come TO the conclusion that It is n
wise movement to relieve the citizens of Wash.
The Brief ON the Liquor License
Question.
The brief on the liquor license question re-
views she bearing OF the new bill on tho sale
OF liquor by retail, and says that section
twelve OF the new Dill greatly improves tho
means OF prosecuting and preventing sale
without license. At present two sales have 10
be proved, and when appeals are taken IL Is
necessary to be able to prove two actual
sales, perhaps year after tho charge Is pro-
ferred.
This has made 1t In many cases impossible
to successfully prosecute, while the now bill
simpliles the matter by providing:
sand tho possession OF malt, distilled, for
mented, or any intoxicating liquors, with tho
means ard appliances for carrying on the
where sold, shall constitute the premises
bar-room within the meaning of this act"
The possession OF liquor on the promises, or
proof OF single sale, VIII be sufficient to con-
Wet, and will be easily obtained. 1t is pro.
posed 10 make tho requirement. that no saloon
be located within 400 yards or O school a POSI-.
the Commissioners. Other provisions con-
corning Sunday selling, &C., greatly facilitate
prosecution, and virtually prevent illegal
sales.
The present system OF requiring annual
signatures 10 applications for licenses subject
the dealers TO blackmaillng by persons whose
signatures are required, and who offer to give
them for money. Section ~ changes tho
present law from an imperative annual option
| OF the locality to an option as to granting a
license, which can be exercised at Will every
| year by a legal majority II they so desire.
In other words IL is claimed that the local
| option now submitted by law every year can
~ any year and aa
their right TO object is groundless.
The annual local option this year has been
| granted In Dol cases, and refused to twenty
| seven by property holders and residents.
"This is about the proportion OF refusals for
| several years back, and goes to show that
| neighborhoods change but little, or that new
| establishments are not objected TO in many
| cases. Tho examinations as to the genuineness
OF the assent OF the requisite property. holders
and residents employs nearly the whole time
| each year, is expensive and vexatious, and
| does not except to very limited extent, affect
the business. Taxing last year as an example,
/ IL required the examination OF 57S cases, with
| probably 5000 signers, TO discover that, In 81
cases, go persons would not sign. 1t would
seem to be more JUST, certainly less vexatlous
| and expensive, to require the smaller number
| 10 express their dissent, as provided by the
bill.
s'The Commissioners hayeaddressed them
| selves TO q practicable control OF tho liquor
perience with the conduct OF the business has
| led them TO recommend the provisions re-
/ latlnB 10 IL cOntulneu III bcnato Bill NO. lObU
Yet, II other provisions can be suggested tina,
| would more efrectually guard against the vice
| OF intemperance, so far US II finds opportunit,
| here, they would most cheerfully adopt thor
whero they can be practically applied.
"The Commissioners cannot close this refer
ence TO the subject without expressing thel
regret that Its agitation should have led, II
some quarters, to an aspersion upon thu
sobriety OF the people OF the District OF Colum
bia. 1t affords them great pleasure to say tina
the police records In that respect compar,
quite favorably with any other city in thu
| United Stateab