National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-03
TIE LIQUOR DEALERS.
Meeting OF the Association Yesterday
what Mr.. Frank Hume Thinks ON the
Subject.

Meeting OF the Association Yesterday
what MIR. Frank Hume Thinks on the
Subject.
A meeting was held yesterday noon at Cos
mopulitan hall Of all the wholesale and re-
tail liquor dealers of Washington. Mr.. N. II.
Shea occupied tho chair, and Mr.. Frank
Hume acted as secretary. Tho following
resolutions were adopted
Reso rcd, That the iquordcalers of Washington,
d. G., appoint committee rom THIS meeting TO
inform the honorable commissioners of the dis
lrct that they disapprove OF the proposition to in.
crease the retail license from 500 TO SgO, rs "
would be oppressive on large majority now
Fesvircd That we will favor bill fixing the
retail License It exists at present, as an increase
would be oppressive and would not result III IN
creusing the amount of revenue derived by such
license, and would he discrimination against
dealers of small capital. We also approve OF tile
Believing that section q OF the senate elll 2i3l
cmbOdies our views, we most respectfully urge
the Incorporation OF same in the bill now being
perfected by your honorable body.
The following committee was appointed :
A. Douglas, James j.. Barbour, III. Browning,
NJ. Hallnan, j. j. White, and n. II. Shea.
These gentlemen will have an interview with
the commissioners at o'clock to-day.
Last Monday Messrs. james l.. Barbour, II.
Browning, i. G. Ergood, Geo. Holmes. Chris
Muchlcisen, Peter Fegan, and others, had a
three hours discussion with the commission
ers on tho subject of the liquor license
question. full expression of opinion vas
asked for by the commissioners and was
granted by the gentlemen except Mr.. Schade,
who, on being asked to state his position,
replied that he was not then prepared
to do So" aud declined to state
what he did want. Messrs Barbour, Ergood, ,
Hume. White, Browning, Cleary, and Fogan
stated the position of the wholesale dealers in
the matter aud their relation toward the re-
tail men, and advocated an equitable adjust
mcnt of the license upon the trade, so that all
parties would be able to bear their taxation
without oppression. The point made and
agitatcd was the scaling of the license to suit
the sale of liquors by the retail men. Mr.
Hcurich, at some length explained the status
of the beer brewing business and thought
that beer should be taxed much less than
liquor. The commissioners held to the con-
viction that it was impossible and impracti-
cable to establish grades of license according
to the sales.
No conclusion was arrived at. repre-
sentative of The REPUBLICAN interviewed
Mr.. Frank Hume yesterday afternoon OH the
subject under discussion. Mr.. Hume said :
"The dealers are anxious to have an adjust
ment of the matter as soon as possible. The
attitude of the commissioners in regard to
nzed by me and others as impracticablc. If
adopted it will give them considerable work,
and the dealers themselves will be unable to
give satisfactory returns, as but few of them
keep book accounts aud correct statements of
sales. 1t is, however, hadship to many in
the liquor business to be taxed 5000,
since the present amount, 800, is found
to be burdensome. The wholesale men have
willingly agreed to an advanced taxation of
100 per cent. Collectively they will stand it,
but the profits, nevertheless, will be small.
The wholesale men have personal tax i'm.
posed on them, which is not placed on the
retail men, so the latter have by far the
advantage over us. We are anxious, never
thcless, to protect the retail trade, and think
that an increase would be unjust. The reso-
lutions passed in to-day's meeting" continued
Mr.. Hume, will show the full expression of
the persons engaged in the business. We
propose to protect those doing such business,
and at the same time to have that business
conducted in such a manner as will best con-
serve public interest. Section % of the Senate
bill means just this, that man can get his
license by paying the required fee
and obtaining tho consent both of majority
of residents aud owners, end when his license
is granted to continue regularly year by year
on payment Of his tax, thus doing away with
the obtaining of signatures every year. Now
there is further added that on complaint Of
majority of residents and owners against
any saloonkeeper who shall neglect to keep
an orderly house, that his license be provoked
Immediately We feel that this section, il
inserted in the bill, will be found to place tho
business on footing heretofore not r9gched,
and it will be a protection both to tradesmen
and citizens