Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20
THE AMENDED LICENSE BILL.
A Number Of Changes Agreed Upon by the
District Commissioners.

SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE LIQUOR MEMS
COMMITTEE ADOPTED AND OTHERS REJECTED
THE Two-THIRDs RULE nor AGREED ro-THE
BILL NOW READY TO GO TO CHAIRMAN CIRCUIT.
The Commissioners spent q large portion Of
yesterday discussing the amendments to the
liquor license bill proposed by the committee
representing the liquor dealers of the city
who recently had q hearing before the Com
missioners. as printed at the time in The STAR.
The first thing the Commissioners took up
today was the clause making it unlawful to sell
liquor within one mile of the Soldiers Home
grounds.
GEN. WILCOX HEARp FROM.
During the discussion telephone message
was received from Gen. Wilcox, the governor
OF the Soldiers Home, who said he would agree
to an amendment reducing the limit to one
haif mile OF the grounds on all sides except
the south. He thought that no liquor saloons
should be allowed between the grounds and the
boundary of the city. 1t is understood that the
commissioners will recommend an amendment
In accordance with Gen. Wilcox suggestion.
AMENDMENTS TO THE DOUGLASS BILL.
The amendments to the Douglass bill, as pro-
posed by the liquor dealers were then taken
up. The Commissioners stood by the bill with
Commissioner Robert said in connection with
that clause of the section requiring the sigma
lures OF two-thirds of the residents and prop
erty owners to each application, that he would
be in favor of it, provided the Commissioners
allowed the signatures to stand as good for i've
years.
COMPROMISE.
Mr.. Douglass objected to this and q compro-
mise was effected amending the bill SO that it
would read as it does now, that is. making the
signatures Of majority of the residents and
property owners living on both sides of the
street where the saloon was located necessary
before a license shall issue.
THE MIDNIGHT CLOSING CLAUSE
as presented by Mr.. Oh. Heurich, which is in
effect to allow certain places to keep open after
midnight upon permit from one Commits
sioner, received black eve all around and no
amendment to the clause of the bill requiring
saloons to close at midnight will be recon-
mendcd.
The committees amendment to reduction
OF the license fees proposed was unanimously
rejected.
TIE PENALTY FOR SELLING WITHOUT LICENSE.
Section four was amended SO as to read:
section f. That any person having a bar
room or engaging in the business specified in
this act without first having obtained a license
under its provisions shall be liable
to fine of not less than 5000 and
in default of payment, to impris-
onment for a term of not less than three
months nor more than six months. and upon
conviction of a seconds offense shall also be
liable, in addition to a like fine. to impriSon-
mcnt for not less than six months nor more
than one year.
FOR OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Section and the amendments proposed by
the liquor men caused great deal of discus
sion. Commissioners Ross and Robert finally
agreeing upon the following as n substitute:
Section 3. That any person having obtained
license under the provisions OF this act. who
shall violate any of its provisions, shall he LA
bic for any such violation to a fine of not less
than 500 nor more than $500. and the license
may be revoked in the discretion of the Com
missioners; and upon conviction of a second
Offense the offender shall be liable to a line of
not less than $500 nor more than 1900, and to
Imprisonment until the fine is paid not exceed
ing one year nor less than six months, and the
license shall be revoked.
THE POLICEMAN AND THE LAW.
Section probably occupied the atten-
ton of the Commissioners more than any,
thing else, and the section was picked to pieces
line by line. This Is the section which. to
state it briefly, disqualifes a policeman
from holding Office under the Dis
trict government for five years if he
shall willfully neglect or refuse to perform any
duty required by the laws regulating the sale
of liquor. Commissioner Douglass stood up
for this section. but Col. Robert and Commits
sioner Ross were in favor of striking il out
altogether and they will probably recommend
such action.
IMPRISONMENT IN THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
The following was added to section 6: 1.-The
Imprisonment provided for in this act shall be
at hard labor in the Washington Asylum and the
provisions of sections 1912 and 1896 of the Re
vised Statutes of the United States shall not
apply to any convictions or sentences under this
act"
A repeating clause making all acts or parts of
acts inconsistent with the above act was also
inserted.
1t is possible that several minor changes will
also be made.
The bill as amended by the commissioners
will be presented to Chairman Grout Monday,
THE INSTRUCT AppEApIsI aTIANS