National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-08
The Draft Of the Bill Prepared by the
Commissioners for Congressional Action,
Abolition Of the Oppressive and odious
Personal Tax System,
The Revised Text OF the BiIl just ms IL
Comes Before the Committees.

upon the personal tax laws. 1t substitutes
plain license System for the present per sonal
tax, and, in so far, commends itself to the ia
vorable consideration of the community. THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN In tho past week
has printed the views of many represen tative
merchants, lawyers, bankers. and others. and
while license law might not In all its details
please everybody, the general purport of the
bill is heartily approved. The following is
the text of the bill as finally revised by the
commissioners:
BE 10 enacted BY He senate and house Of representa-
tttes the United States Of America in congress assem-
business, or occupation hereinafter mentioned, in
the District of Columbia, until he shall have OBJ
tanned license therefor, as hereinafter provided
SEC Q. That every person engaged or about to
engage in any trade, business, or occupation, for
which a license tax Is imposed by the provisions
of this act shall, ut the time of procuring the
same. make application to the asse'sOr OF the Dis.
triot OF Columbia anil shall give under oath or
affirmation, such Information us may be required
of him. The assessor shall then issue 10 the Ap.
plcant certificate stating tho particular kind of
license for which application Is made, and the
amount of money required to be paid therefor
Said certificate shall be delivered to the collector
who shall, upon the receipt of the sum of
S stating Se Es Of mo Sy p" and
the kind of license required, aud II shall be the
duty of the assessor upon return OF the certificate
to him, and upou compliance by the applicant
with all the requirements of this net to issue said
license. Every liCence shall state the name of The
person to whom granted, aud the number of the
house or street, when the same has nn established
location, and If 1t be not upon street, where 1t
is desired to carry on such trade, business or oc
cupatOn, and the kind of business for which 1t /,
required and shall DO signed by the assessor, and
impressed with the seal of his Office. Licenses
may be transferred tn persons TO continue the
same business in The same place. or to remove the
place of business under the same regulations as
the original license. All transfers shall be cerii-
fed by the assessor.
SEC. g. That in every case where more than one
OF the pursuits or occupations hereinafter de-
scribed, shall be pursued or carried on in the
the license shall be paid for each, according to
the rates severally prescribed.
SEC. 4. That 1t shall be the duty Of every person
who is required by the provisions of this act to
have license. to keep tne same at all times dis
played In a conspicuous position in his place of
SQhe h.; asd IL ne has mS PaSs OF r6r 70
and 1t is hereby made the duty of The mGjorOf po-
lice to see that no person required by this act to
have license shall be engaged In business with.
out the proper license; and he is hereby author
lied to close up any place of business which may
be found upen and doing business without u
ever in the Judgment OF the commissioners of the
district the public peace requires 1t, and they SO
SEC g. That all licenses for commercial agents,
pedders, and produce dealers shall date from the
first day of April of each year. All licenses for
dealers In general merchandise telegraph. tele-
pnone and electric light companies; gas COM
panies, steam and horse railroad companies, carts
wagons, drays, hacks, and other vehicles, soap
and chemical factories, wholesale dealers In gu
nno, aud coal tar factories, and
Job printers shall date from tue first dayof duly OF
'eacn year, and all other annual licenses shrli
late from the first day Of November ofeach year;
and the license of every person liable TO an annual
license tax alter the first of April, July and No.
mouth in which the liability began, and payment
shall be made for proportionate amount.
SEC. 8. That auCtoneers shall pay one hundred
dollars annually, and quarterly tax on eros,
amount of sales Of one-fourth of one per centunl,
except sales made by order or decree OF any
court.
SEC. 7. That telegraph, telephone, and electric
Light companies shall each pay annually license
for each pole used by 1t in ne cities OF Wash ington
and Georgetown, and every other corporation or
persons using poles for similar purposes in the
80 US ID; and all such poles shall be painted and
numbered In such manner Ms may br prescribed
by the missioners of the District of Columbia;
and hereafter no additional telegraph, telephone,
electric light poles shall be erected within the
limits of he cities OF Washington and Georgetown
upon the public streets or avenues tneriOl.
ljSEC & That wholesale dealers in dl itled malt
or fermtn ed liquors, wines or cOrdals, shall pay
one hundred dollars annually: PrGUided, That
this license shall not authorize any person to sell
such liquors or cOruius Ill less quaint, J
than one pint, nor to be drunk upon the premises
where sold. hut upothecaries sinl be allowed To
SELL upon prescription of a practicing physician,
such liquors, Tor medical purposes only, iu guam.
titles not to exceed one-half pint ut one time to
the same purchaser, without taking out license
SIC. .. That every person engaged in the bu l..
ness of manufacturing brcwed or malt Liquors for
sale snail pay Two hundred and fifty dollars al.
nually; and under their liceuse MS brewers snail
be allowed 10 sell malt liquors In amy quantity
at their brewery premises without other license.
SEC. To- That every person engaged In the bust
ness OF distillng manufacturing for sale spirit
uous or intoxicating liquors shall pay two nun.
SEC. II. That recdiers shall pay fifty dollars an
nually in addition to the license as wholesa, @
dealer.
SEC ~. That the proprietors OF beer saloons,
barlooms, sample rovnis aud tipping huu,os
snail pay one hundred and iiiy dollars annually
Every place, except as herein otherwise provided,
where distilled, malt or ernented liquors, wines,
or cordinls are sold, to be drunk on the premises
or In quantities less than one pint, snail he re-
gar, ed as Deer saloon, barroOu, sample ROOM OF
tipplng house. And the possession of malt, dis
III ell, fermen'od, or any Intoxicating liquors,
with the means and appliances Tor carrying on
the business OF dispuslg OF the same. to he drGni
where $ Id, shall constitute the premises u bctr
saloon, bnrruoin. sample rooIn Or tipping house,
within the meaning OF this act; ana IL snail be
the duty of the proprietor OF every such place to
deposit with the collector the amount OF his
lcense fee, with his application for license, and
permission Of II, majority II the per,ons owning
real estate, apl OF u majority OF the residents
Keeping mouse on tue SIDE Of the square where II
Is desired to locate such business, and ofthc side OF
the square fronting opposite the same; and such
license shall not be Issued until approved by the
commissioners, And no such liquors shall be sold
except in compliance with the provisions OF this
net, nor to IN moss, nor, intoxicated persons nor
on SUNDAY, ana any Dar Or other place where
day during the day anu night, uad all such places
shall be ke!t closed between Twelve o'clock mid
night and four uclock In the morning: Pr0rited
hoiUtper That where during the year no complaint
has boon made 0gansth license issued under thi,
nct by majority OF tue properly holders and resi-
dents such proprietor shall not be required 70 tilt
every year With his Application for license such
written permission Of persons owning real estate
and RESIDENT but ii such complaint has been made
the proprietor of such beer saloon, bArroOm
sample room, Or tippling house shall be required
to obtain anew the written consent of owners OF
real estate and residents lis Is herein required OF
MIN.
SEC 49, That the proprietSrs of billh rd bagu.
telle, pool or Jenny Lind la0leS, shutllN boards
and any other tables or bOarls sept Tor public
hire or gain, SHAH pay tea dollars annually for
each liable or board; aud such table or board kept
in connection with any other business shall bu
construed as kept for hire or gain.
SEC H. That pruprietOrs OF bowling alleys shall
pay annually ten dollars for each alley.
SIC, To- That propretorS OF pistol or shooting
galleries shall pay annually ten dollars, and
licenses under his ami section II shall only be
granted NJ the discretion of the Commissioners.
SEC TO- That proprietorS of grounds used ful
horse racing shall be requr ID 10 pay twenty-five
dollars Per day when SO used.
SIC, IL. That the proprictors of circuses shall
pay three hunured dollar for each week, OF
one hundred dollars per day. Every building
teut, space, or area where feals OF hOIsemanS zip
pertaining 10 or being part thereof, are oShi
Dtted, shall be regarded MS a circus, Exhibitions
of wild animals Shall pay tWenty-iiy dollars per
week, or part thereof; P,OpltCd, That the pro-
pretors Of icuses paying license MS such shall
not be required TO OBTAIN license for exhibiting
wild animals.
SEC, is. That proprieors Of theatcrs shall pay
annually one hundIed ana fifty dollars: iTOUiled
That license may be granted for theatrical por-
fOrmanues one week on the payment Of twenty
al ii Itr. In a,ia r.