Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-30

I NAcoEof
| CHANGES IN EXISTING REoULATIoSs-HIeH L.
TONS OF Law, ETC.
II wasn't long after Commissioner Douglass
came into Office before he saw the need of more
| stringent legislation governing the sale Of
/ liquors here, and he frequently called the at
/ tention of the board to the subject About two
weeks ago he drafted bill to be presented to
Congress, which. he thought, if passed would
remedy existing evils and give the Commits
sioners more discretionary power in the prem
| ises. The bill was duplicated and copy SUBJ
| mitted to each of the other Commissioners for
| their suggestions. The measure after amend
ment and revision Is entitled, "A bill regulat-
ing the sale of distilled and fermented liquors
in the District OF Columbia" and reads az
follows:
TEXT OF THE BILL.
Be it enacted, &C., That from and after the
LIST day Of November, 1890, no person shall en-
gage a dealer In the District of Columbia in
distilled, malt or fermented liquors, wines or
cordials without first having obtained a license
signed by the assessor of the District of Column
bia, for which license he shall pay annually the
sum Of $500; provided that such license shall
not be granted until it Is satisfactorily shown
that the place where ii is intended TO carry on
said business is properly arranged for selling
said liquors as merchandise, nor authorize any
person to sell such liquors, wines or cordias in
less quantity than one pint, nor to be drunk
upon the premises where sold, and shall be
known as a wholesale liquor license, but shall
not be issued until approved by the Commits
sioners Of said District.
Section 2. That proprietors of bar rooms who
shall obtain licenses in the said District shall
pay $500 annually for such license, and deposit
with the collector of taxes said amount with
his application for license. Every place
where distilled, malt or fermented liquors,
wines or cordials are cold to be drunk on the
premises or in quantities less than one pint
shall be regarded as bar room and the possess
sion OF malt, distilled, fermented or any intoxi-
eating liquors with the means and appliances
for carrying on the business of disposing of the
same to be drunk where sold shall be prima
facle evidence OF a bar room within the mean
ing OF this act and the license therefor shall
be known as retail liquor license.
And 10 the cities of Washington and
Georgetown it shall be the duty of
the proprietor of every such place to pre-
sent TO the Commissioners the written permits
sion OF two-thlrds Of the persons owning real
estate and two-thirds of the residents keeping
house on the side of the square where it is de-
sired to locate such business and on the side of
the square fronting opposite to the same, and
II q corner house such signers will be required
in all cases on both streets. The fact of such
ownership of real estate shall be certified by
the assessor of the District Of Columbia and
the fact of the required residence and the gen.
uineness Of the signatures Of both property
owners aud residents shall be ascertained and
certified by the lieutenant of the
police precinct which embraces such
proposed location. Such license shall
sioners. And no such liquors shall be sold
except in compliance with the provisions Of
this act; nor sold, given. nor in any way dis
posed of, to any minor, intoxicated person,
habitual drunkard or inmate of the Soldiers
Home; or on Sunday, or between IL o'clock
midnight and o'clock in the morning; and
every bar or other place where liquors are
usually sold shall be kept closed on Sunday
during the entire day and night; and all such
places shall be kept closed each and every day
between IL o'clock midnight and O'Clock in
the morning.
Section 8. That any person who shall violate
any of the provisions of this act shall be liable
to fine of not less than $500 nor more than
5000; and upon conviction OF a second Of
tense shall be liable to a fine of not less than
$500 nor more than 81 900, and to imprison-
mept at hard labor in the Washington Asylum
until the fine Is paid, not exceeding one year
nor less than six months.
Prosecution under this act shall be on
information filed IN the Police Court by
the attorney OF the District of Columbia or
by one of bis assistants, which information, if
defective In form or substance, may be amended
at any time before fine sentence shall be
passed, upon such terms as shall be prescribed
by the presiding judge.
Section l. That licenses for any of the above
purposes shall not be granted to the following
classes OF persons or places:
10 any person to conduct said business within
400 feet of q public school house owned or oc-
cupied BY the District of Columbia, measured
between the nearest entrance to each by the
shortest course OF travel between such place
and such school house.
To any person convicted or pending appeal
In court OF violating during the preceding Ii
cense year any Of the provisions OF this act, or
ceding license years of having sold liquor
without license,
Section s. That all applicants for license !
and persons holding licenses shall allow any !
member OF the police force or duly authorized |
agents or officers of the Commissioners full |
opportunity 10 examine at any time the prem
ises for which license is asked or has been |
granted. refusal to do SO shall be deemed a |
suthcient cause to reject the application and |
authorize the Commissioners to annul the |
license II already granted, and every hcensee |
snail frame the license under this act and |
place the same in his or her chief place of !
business SO that it shall be conspicuous and !
easily read, and neglect of this requirement
will be sufficient cause to annul said license
Section g. That license shall not be granted |
to any person employed In any capacity under |
the District government, or to any other per-
son who, by reason of any other employment !
or business, will be absent from the licensed |
place during business hours
Section z. That license to sell said |
liquors by retail in that portion of the District
OF Columbia outside of the cities OF Washing
ton and Georgetown shall not be granted 10 any |
person whose place of business is within one |
thousand feet OF another place licensed for
the same business.
Section s. That no person shall under any |
license granted under this act employ, or per
init to be employed, or allow any female other |
than his wife or daughter TO sell, give furnish |
or distribute any intoxicating drinks or any adj |
mixtures thereof, ale, wine, or beer to apy per-
son or persons, nor shall permit the play
ing of pool, billiards, or other games in the room
where such liquors are sold.
Section g. That the exhibition in apy window
show case, or otherwise, in any place or prem
Uses Of any kind Of said liquors in bottles. or /
other vessels, or the advertisement by signs or |
letters OF said liquors on the outside or inside |
OF any store or shop shall. upon proof thereof, |
be taken to be. and constitute, the selling OF |
the said kinds Of liquors under and for the |
purposes Of this act and liability to its pen |
alties, when the proprietor and manager of |
said place or premises is not duly licensed, and |
upon instructions from the Commissioners of |
the District OF Columbia, one or more police |
officers may and shall examine any premises |
where there Is any reason to believe that
liquors are being sold in violation of law or |
regulations, and report the facts to the Com |
missioners for their consideration and action.
Section 10. That from and after the LIST day |,
OF November, 1880, there shall not be granted |
exceeding four hundred licenses in the District |