Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29
THE WAYS AND MEANS.
Assessor Trimble's Report ON District Re-
sources.

Assessor Trimble's Report ON District Re.
| sources.
HE URGES CHANGES IN THE LIQUOR LICENSE
LAws-Nor IN FAVOR OF AN ARBITRARY LIMIT
THE TAXATION OF BANKS AND INSURANCE CON.
PANIEs-PRorRCTIoN OF HONE INSTITUTIONS.
Assessor Trimble today submitted to the
Commissioners his annual report covering the
operations of the assessors Office for the fiscal
year ending June so, 1890. Many Of the as
SCISSORS suggestions have already been printed
in TIE STAR.
During the year there were 69s bar room IL
censes and ASS wholesale licenses issued. Speak
ing of the liquor traffic he says:
"Public interest in reference to the liquor
traffic increases with each year and the merits
and details of any proposition looking to its
control are subjected to severe scrutiny. 1t is
neither the province nor desire of this Office
to suggest a policy in dealing with
this all-important question. Nevertheless,
recognizing its existence, without pre-
| judice or attempting its discussion
/ from a moral standpoint, the fact remains that
the traffic is recognized by law, and vested right
no less than glaring wrongs require wise dis
erection in its enforcement Both public senti-
ment and policy require restriction OF the
traffic within certain bounds and under such
| regulations will conserve the interests Of the
community.
| THE QUESTION OF LIMITING THE NUMBER.
| Limiting the issue Of retail licenses to a GER
tain number is Objectionable from the fact that
it subjects the authorities granting licenses to
! the charge of unjust discrimination. It is re-
spectfully suggested that the desired result can
be better accomplished by the passage
OF law imposing a license tax Of $500
for bar rooms, embodying such rules and i'm
posing such penalties for their violation as will
prevent illegal traffic. Authority giving the
woke license might be confirmed by Congress.
| The laws of the late corporations Of Washing
ton, Georgetown and the levy court create
confusion and embarrassment in regulat-
ing this traffic. Proper legislation would
remedy this. The increase in the number of
clubs would seem to indicate that a portion Of
our citizens Mt least are paying greater atten-
ton to literary pursuits. Complaint is made
by interested parties Of unfair competition.
Without desiring to interfere with private rights
it is difficult to see WHY an Incorporated body
should possess the right to dispense liquors to
its members (hOwever large) for profit while
the individual is denied the same privilege ex-
cept under legal restriction. The traffic in
| liquor by wholesale under the present law
classifies all dealers by the amount Of capital
invested in the business. This is not satisfac-
tory.
| A GRADED LICENSE.
at is believed that graded license gov
erned by the number of gallons authorized by
one sale would produce better results. These
dealers are really divided into three classes:
the barrel and gallon, those who sell
bottled goods as merchandise and in
| bulk not less than a pint, and the
bottlers for home consumption. The bulk of
traffic by grocers is in wines. liquors and beer
| by the bottle. The consumption of the latter
! IL indicated tn har nf
breweries from Buffalo, Rochester, N. Y; Phil
adelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, st.
Louis, Alexandria and Ogdensburg, n. Y.
| "ApOthecaries have the right to sell under
only and in quantities not exceeding One-half
| pint. 1t is believed that most dealers are con-
| scientiOus in observance of the law, neverthe-
less there is no debut that it is violated by
some. and it is a question whether the law gov
| erning these sales is not subject to improve
ment. Many dealers secure wholesale license
for the privilege of selling by the bottle
| VIOLATIONS Law.
| "There is little trouble from violation Of the
liquor laws by reputable dealers, but the rec
| Ords of our courts show that many who are
| denied q license continue the illegal traffic
notwithstanding. The prosecution Of these
cases necessitates the production of num-
rels the attendance of the license
clerk at the trials and by that fact ham,
pers the work of the Office. Should new law
be enacted it is hoped that sworn affidavit of
a statement Of facts may be accepted as evil
| dence.
| GENERAL LICENSES.
During the year there were eighty-fve hotels
licensed and this number is further augmented
| by vast number of boarding houses, apart
ment houses and flats, and he suggests that leg
islation be enacted requiring all boarding house
keepers who solicit public patronage to reg
lister by the payment of a nominal fee,
th Ss e an the nsnts the snpnsy
could approximately be determined. He
says the status of apartment houses and fats as
distinguished from hotels should be more
clearly defined, and that lodging houses should
be registered and placed under police super
vision. During the year 2G2 licenses for eat
ing houses were issued. He suggests reform
in the license tax for this class of places. There
were 500 licensed vehicles during the year and
| 81 licensed stables.
| THE TAX on BANKERS.
'Among the many needs Of reforms in the
license laws" the assessor says, ''the tax upon
bankers deserves attention. The national
banks pay no license tax. the private institu-
many: Most OF the business done by the latter
is really that of brokers, and they should pay
| the same tax rs real estate agents.
-Four hundred and three licenses were issued
to street hucksters. The assessor recommends
that the amount of tax on hucksters should be
reduced to Sl5. Wagons and push carts for
| the conveyance of baggage should be licensed
and numbered. Means of identity would
thus be secured where property is en-.
trusted to their charge. The assessor expresses
/ the opinion that to tax produce dealers in the
market. while dealers in other merchandise arc
| exempt il wrong. The license tax Of $50 on
pedtiiers. he urges, should either be reduced
or abolished, as 1T Is excessive.
THE PAwNBRoKERs.
1T will be Observed he says, ''that our ne,
decrease of revenues during the year was
c1.79i.7G. This amount would have been more
| than offset by collections under the old law
! from rawnbrOkers. Our deficit this year il
Il. 800. owing to the passage of the new law. II
| decreases the revenues, throws the borrowing
class who patronize them upon the mercy OF
secondhand dealers and has no compromising
advantages. A radical change in this respect Is
desirable"
1 INSURANCE COMPANIES.
| Under the head Of insurance he SAYS: "That
the number of companies doing business here
is increasing is evident from the receipts Yet
the amount from this source with proper legis-
lation might be doubled. The question
OF separate bureau has been agi-
tated, but its need is not as apparent
as sound and comprehensive insurance
laws. Legislation on this question has
heretofore been lamentably defective. Com
panies desiring to do business here secure a
charter III an adjoining state. locate their prin-
cipal Office in this city and then claim and Sc
cure exemption from the payment OF anything
| except nominal tax on the ground