Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-21
RULES ABOUT LICENSES.
The Changes Made In the Regulations
by the Commissioners.

The Changes Made In the Regulations
by the Commissioners.
TIE DrFFrIENcE BETWEEN THE OLD AND TIE
NEw-THE AMENDMENTS AND TIE ADDITIONS
EXPLAINED BY coNNIssIoSEK DOUGLASS
SALOONS IN THE COUNTY.
Several days ago T#F STAR printed the new
regulations governing the issuance of liquor
licenses.
commissioner Douglass in conversation with
a STAR reporter today upon the subject saids
I'VE made the amendments 20 the liquor regu-
lations IN the interest Of public order and So
briefly. The old regulations had many excel
lent provisions and the new ones are really but
some necessary additions required by the pro-
gress Of events"
PAYING FOR sIoNAruRFs
The first material change Is the addition of
the following in the first paragraph, stating
what the applicant must set forth in his petit
ton:
That neither the applicant. nor any person
for him, has given or promised to any OF the
signers OF the written permission required by
the third paragraph hereof any reward or COM
pensation of any kind or value for such sigma
ture, and that the applicant is now and intends
10 be for the next year an actual resident OF
the District OF Columbia.
In speaking of the above Commissioner
Douglass said:
This provision was deemed important
In view OF the fact that we we're frequently
told IN answer TO an inquiry how
so-and-so got his signature that they
were bought The law provides that q
license cannot be had except upon the assent
OF majority of the neighbOrs; of course that
assent must be the free expression
of an honest opinion. A bought opinion
Of jury would be. Again. we were informed
OF some cases where applications for license
were made and Immediately upon their being
granted the applicant left the city and
LETT the business in the hands Of a
bar tender. You can readily See"
he continued, ''tbRt while the neighbors and
the Commissioners might be Wiling TO trust
John Smith to retail liquor, they might
have serious objections TO Jim john
sons dong it, Smith might be q
good man and Trustworthy, while
johnson might be entirely unfit for such
trust This part of the provision" said Mr..
Douglass, means that the man who applies
Tor the license must remain 10 face the music
that has customers maze during the year"
NO WOMAN NEED APPLY.
The next change in the old regulations is the
following: mo license shall be granted to a
woman; TO any person who had not a retail
license the preceding year, until the number
on any space between any two streets shall be
reduced TO one, excepting on business streets
or avenues"
In referring to this Mr. Douglass said: This
regulation is intended TO put reason
able limit upon the number Of retail
liquor places in squares largely occupied
by private houses and at the same time give
the retailers already in the business
the preference, other things being equal, over
new applicant, This seemed 20 us TO be fair
TO everybody concerned. IL cannot be doubted
by anybody that license 10 retail liquor is not
the thing for a woman 10 have. She has not
the physical force TO contend with drunken
rowdies as the retail liquor dealer is frequently
called upon to DO, in conflicts that too often,
In TINS city and elsewhere, result in violent
deaths or terrible woundings The person who
holds license to sell Intoxicating drinks
70 his fellows has one of the most
delicate and important trusts imaginable.
In his hands are the issues often of life and
death in this world. of poverty and want, and
the comfort and maintenance or the reverse OF
hundreds of faithful wives. mothers and tender.
children. The hand that holds the bottle
should be strong and steady, with the nerve
and will TO withhold il at the right time. No,
women are not fitted for such an ordeal, aud
should not be exposed TO such trials"
SALOONS IN RESIDENCE QUARTERS.
The next addition to the regulations is the
following: License will not be granted
where it shall appear to the Commits
sioners that the place applied for is in
a neighborhood occupied largely by private
residences and the entrance TO which is within
fifty feet OF the entrance to private residence,
the owner or lessee of which shall file with the
Commissioners protest against such hcense
Reference being made to this, Commissioner
| Douglass said: This permission is also 20
protect the private citizen from the too close
proximity of a bar room. such places fre-
| quently lower the value of adjoining property
| as well as render life uncomfortable. To pre-
vent this Is the duty OF every good citizen,
official or private"
| OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
The next provision is entirely new, as follows
Licenses to sell intoxicating liquors by retail
in that portion of the District Of Columbia OUT
side OF the cities of Washington and
| Georgetown will not be granted to
any person whose place of business
is within one thousand feet of another place
licensed for the same business. excepting in
cases where four-fifths of the heads of families
residing In said portion Of said District within
one mile of the premises for which such Ii
cense is asked shah petition"
That provision is intended to meet such
cases now exist on the 9TH street road" said
Mr.. Douglass, where by universal testimony
| there are too many bar rooms for either public
accommodation or individual enjoyment. In adj
dition to the complaints about the 9TH street road
We have been asked by the country people to
limit as much as we can the temptation to far
mers' boys and men spending rainy DAYS and
evening hours at such places We did not feel
that we could ignore this reasonable and So
| rious request"
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUIRED.
The last amendment to the regulations is the
following;
mo one of the above regulations will be
waived ON behalf Of any applicant for license
excepting by unanimous consent Of the board
of Commissioner"
In speaking Of the benefits derived from this
amendment Commissioner Douglass said: That
clause is intended TO insure a careful consider
alton of any exceptions that may be urged to
any of the regulations. As all the Commis-
sioners signed the regulations all should concur
in their suspension"
Continuing, Mr.. Douglass said: ''In regard
to the provision which says that four-ffths,'
DC, instead of a majority shall be required in
the county, it is not a violation necessarily
of the law about a majority being
necessary, for the law provides that the
license shall not be issued until approved
by the commissioners The courts have said
that this discretion covered any reasonable
regulation issued in advance that was
not simply arbitrary-that is made
without cause or reason, and simply oppres-
sive." In conclusion Mr. Douglass said. eve