Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-14

Its Provisions Criticised at a Temper.
anCe Mass Meeting.

ance Mass Meeting.
The clause In reference to liuuor licenses in the
new bill proposed by the Commissioners was dis
cussed yesterday afternoon at large public
meeting held under the auspices OF the Women'S
Christian Temperance Union. Mrs. Clara L. Roach,
who presided. read the 18th section OF the bill, and
In 4 brief comment said what they as Christian
people especially objected to was the provision
which did not require the liquor dealers to renew
their petition OF property owners at the end OF the
year.
Mrs Roach then gave way to Major Hall, who
criticised In detail the provisions OF this section.
He said ne favored the removal OF all restrictions
upon the traffic and he felt assured that, under such
conditions within five years there would be prohi-
bitiou I'm the District be criticised the feature Of
the piil referred to by Mrs Roach and said that 1t
sion allowing The transfer OF licenses would permit
man "a open place in South Washington, where
hc could get most easily license, and then move
20 part Of the city where the property owners
nght under their noses.
\ man BY the payment of $3.50 for brewers
license without ans further license could open a
place any where in the city and manufacture gal
lO1 of liquor 10 comply with the law and then con-
duct a regular retail business He also criticised
section ticteen. which included pool tables In the
so license for bill ards and other games. This was
g,eat wrong. for pool was simply gambling
game on billiard table. and ninety-nve per cent
OF t1n patronage was from boys
fttS hT. Rankin the next speaker said that the
Com nis@on"Ts failed TO see many violations OF the
law Ivy liquor dealers. and so did the police. He
said II believed that all the saloons on the streets
facing the High school had been licensed again.
VIEWS OF BUSINESS MAN.
Mr.. Il. H. Warner said that he thought the moral
sentiment OF the community was opposed to this
bill. and he did not believe that 1t was going to
pass He thought that such sentiment was
growing in this country. and the men in our
national halls OF legislation would find that the
people would not vote Tor men who spent Sc 800 for
liquors in buryinC their deceased associates. The
people further want men 10 frame indictments
against public criminals who do not themselves vio-
late The Laws. They want Attorney Generals who
viii not pay detectives for drinks while they are in
their employ. and they want Judges who lean
towards morality and good order. The people can
have all rhe,o il the InTi.rhr sentiment of the com
muntty L. enlisted.
Remarks were made also by Rev. DIR. Faunee,
Mrs La Fetn, Mrs. Belva Lockwood. Representa-
tive +. A. Johnson, OF New York, and others
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
The following committee was appointed to call
upon the Commissioners. and protest against the
Objectionable features of the bill Rev. DR.. Faunce,
chairman; Rev. DR.. Rankin. Rev DR.. Hnntley. A. s.
Pratt. Major T.. A. Hail. o. F. PrrsDrey, A. NJ.
Brandt Mrs. BuErlS, ana Mrs lie Fetra.
More Comments of Citizens on the Bill.
Nh. LOUIS sCHADE,
ofthe Washington Sentinel, said: 1.-THE bill proposes
an abolition OF the personal tax producing s5OOOO
annually, and which is chiefly paid by the wealthy,
and, In order to make up that amount. Increases
the license tax OF OFF business people 1t thus on
enpts the rich man retired from business and puts
the burden ON the young. active. and struggling
business man. who ctn less afford TO pay high taxes
than the former. S',ine way should be found to
make the rich capt. Ills: pay his share, too The
liquor licenses should BE- equal. Beth wholesale
AM retail should pay no more than Si0D The bill
gives too much power 10 judge SMELLS court. TO
permit him To punish any violation OF the bill by
a fine or upwards To 200. and. il that Is not paid
immediately. send the volatOr from i've to ninety
daFS 10 the workhouse. Is more Russian than
American Washington is the capital of the whole
country The government owns more than one
bali OF al the property. That fact alone conlpe!s
IL To pay its share of expenses il anv extraOrii-
nary improvements are needed TO embellish the
capital. and to make every American citizen point
with pride ut IL. for, as the capital belongs to all OF
them, let Congress follow European governments
with their capitals. and pay for those improve
lnentS Instead Of Squeezing the money out OF our
} District peope.fo whom. considering the $1,000
c0ioTtd and the thousands of government EN-
pOyeeS, hardly One-third have TO carry the burden
OF taxation In my opinion. Congress should pay
- Instead OF 80 per cent of the expenses and all
our Efforts should be directed 10 that end.
THE SMALL GROCERS.
Mr.. j. Wilt. grocer. III and Boundary streets
northeast writes to THE STAR that he Is heartily In
favor OF aOolishng the personal tax. providing the
license tax To take the place OF such tax is
iInpartlllv divided but as it stands IL is not so di-
large business 10 favor the bill house tina,
carries SlO.U stock with personal tax OF II 50 on
the new bill the same stock will require license OF
but $40. The deficiency is Made up by imposing
heavy taxes ON the poor grocers who sell bottled
beer, which has become part OF the grocery stock III
this city. | nder the new bill Il grocer who sells
beer with the pitifu capital Of $50 is taxed $40
sum equal to the tax dry goods or other store
OF $4,000 capital. Respecting the provision In the
section relating 10 wholesale liquor license that nc
liquor must be drunk on the premises Mr. Wilt asks
First. What is tine lawful meaning OF the word
premises" second. Has any person control OF
goods they have sold and delivered 70 the pur-
chaser: hird What is The duty nj the dealer after
selling pint 81 liquor and the purchaser pdrtakes
Thereon contrary To the dealers orders the prem
iSeS? FOURTH VIII grocer be granted the power
OF a policeman? Fifth. Does not this bill in,ose as
much tax grocer who sells bottled beer with 800
capital as 1t does Oh dry good, AID others with go UO
capital? sixth. II liquor i the cause OF such dis
elimination then is this bill INTENDED to promote
temperance? las for temperance Mr.. Wilt says,
there is nothing III the bill that viii lead in that d.
rectiJn but II certainly viii tend 10 drive out small
dealers anu give their trade 10 the larger ones.
This step toward monopoly must be admitted; and
a further admission mist la ln.tie-thdI the poorer
Class have the heaviest buren OF the LICENSE tax u
pay"
Mr.. J. P. wILLETT,
of the firm Of Wilett Is Ruoh matters and furriers,
denounced the personal tax in the bitterest terms
saying that Il ought 10 have been rclegated to the
rear with Is ffinters who have been called home
by their constituencies. The license bill he
Thought. was gust arid equitable as could have
been prepared unLer the circumstances.
HR. IT, A.. WHITAKER.
stat!Onrr said that ii" favored he abolition OF per
sonai tax. ana liked The bill prepared by Mr. West
He considered the license system more Just and
less cJinUIr,O:.le
Nh N.RrIS
dry goods said that he thought the new bill al,
c>cell.Gt u.e. IL "p,n-ri the personal tax
because /; was unjust and unequal. ut 1alIi
harle>;. he SAIL 'uDOti rtc merchants " Inst
before the assessment q merchant sends 10 %ry:
York AMI gets twenty thousand dollars worth OF
E'ois IL has got 10 make rrtur OF them and pay
TX On them. even D.IOrt. they are hiS-beiOre he
has paid Tor Them
THOMAS E.. CLARKE,
lumber dealer, says he favOrs the license bill and
has always been opposed 10 a personal tax. The
latter i obnoxious and inJuisitorial. and not In
keeping with republican form OF government.
Mr.. W. :. jerks.
stove dealer. says that. while lac has not read the
BIN, he l. satisfied With anything to do away with
the PERSONAL TAX.
Mr. II. o. TowLEs
furniture dealer. said that he thoroughly
approved OF the license bill prepared by
said was more just, and would bring In more
revenue than The PERSONAL tax. The personal tax
always WAS and always would b.. obnoxious, and
could not br fairly collected. 1T operates he
I'D. ''bter Ia Soie places than il does here: but
II l. and cannot be Justly enforced in any Dlace
Tate s'tru matters. the people do not object to the
personal tax because IL amounts to bur little: be
cstu~4'. for Instance. hundred thousand dollars
worth "a stock VIII be ASSESSED at twenty thousand
or less"
DEATH OF .lR. JAMES GRAY.-Nr James GRAY OF
30 North street. died yesterday morning at 1890
q ciufk, AZ! SiNty-tWO years. He served during