Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-15
LIQUOR LICENSE PROBLEMS.
The irrepressible Conflict Between the
Commissioners and the Applicants.

Inc Commissioners are going ahead nov die
posing OF the applications for liquor licenses
N"eheNet they have q moment 20 spare. Their
'inie' however, is mostly taken up by attorneys
anu spphcants, who call az all hours OF the day
ana argue their cases and try to convince the
commissioners that it would be the proper
'llhS 10 grant their applications. Some OF
thelr appeals are pathetic. 10 Is not unusual
10 see woman accompanied by several chil-
dren waiting TO have an interview with the
Commissioners relative TO her rejected liquor
license. Col Robert has given the matter much
attention and spares no time 70 make a thor
oCgh investigation of each case as IL in pre-
seuted to him for action. For instance where
an application has been rejected and is sent to
him for his action he makes personal exam
ination OF the place unbrknown to the appll-
cant. dropping in ~ all hours of the day and
night 10 see how the place is conducted and the
class OF people who frequent IL The colonel
Is usually accompanied on these rounds OF
specuon by one of the detectives Of the police
force.
APPLICATIONS NOT ACTED Upon.
Nearly one-half OF the license year has gone
by now and there still remains a large number
OF applications that have not been finally acted
upon. so that even though an application 10
finally rejected and the place closed the appli-
cant VIII only have short time 90 wait before
ne can put IN another application for the ne Nt
license year, with the chances all in his favor
but even tins does not prevent liquor attorney .
ana applicants from fading a NaV Ito whip the
devil around the stump" 40 20 speak and stave
on maj action on their cases rs loug possible.
or instance. plan was devised whereby an
/ applicant. after having his license rejected for
IN, last time, applied for a new license and
J submitted new papers, making it virtually =
new application. When the Commissioners
followed their original rule of taking up liquor
licenses for action according 20 the police pre-
clncts IN which the saloons are located a new
! application. filed immo diatey after the pre-
cInct IN which II Is located has been acted upon,
| has the benefit OF the intervening time until
| the Commissioners get around 20 that precinct
! aSaln. which, under the present slow rate Of
| DONG business, takes some time.
An oRDER or THE COMMISSIONERS.
Commissioner Douglass was the irst 10 dis
cover this scheme. and to defeat IL prepared
the following order, which received the Ap-
proval of the board:
That when an application for a liquor Ii
| ceilse has been rejected upon rchearing no fur
| Their application or deposit FOR such license for
SAID person at said place will be received dur
! ing the current fiscal wear"
| This, the Commissioners think will remedy
this state of affairs and at the ssme time pre-
vent an applicant whose license has been
| finally rejected from buying out another man
| aud working upon his license. But what are
| the Commissioners 10 do after finally re-
lectlng an application for n liquor license ?
lhls Is the all-absorhiug question among liquor
men AT present. lnCY have. n IL claimed no
/ law 10 summarilv close a place. vet they can
order the police to prosecute a saloon keeper, n
! needs be. fifty times DAY for unlawful selling.
4 and ihis they propose to do. il has been stated
| that the liquor men would defy the law and
| every time they are arrested and convicted ap-
! peal their case Bad as the present Law govern
ing the sale of ntONIcants is, the Commissioners
THINK they can stop man from selling liquor
| without license