Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-01
THE DISTRICT LICENSES.
Assessor Trimble Suggests Some New Legis-
1xtion.

HIS REPORT FOR THE LICENSE YHAR-HE THINKS
THERE SHOULD BE SOME NEW INSURANCE
LAws--THE RECEIPTS FROM LIQUOR LIcENsEs-
HOTELS AND BOARDING. HOUSES.
The assessor Of the District Mr.. Trimbie,
has submitted to the District Commissioners
supplemental report on licenses covering the
operations Of the license year just closed. The
report says that the receipts from licenses
show an increase notwithstanding the fact that
the District early in the license year was en-
joined from collecting revenue from the sale OF
LIQUORS within considerable area Of territory.
The subject Of q proper regulation OF this
traffic always has and ever must command the
earnest attention OF all good citizets During
the wear $50 bar room and 43i Wholesale licenses
we're issued, showing decrease of forty-three
bar room and thirty-one wholesale licenses.
The passage Of the law referred to-the Sol
diers' Home one-mile limit lRw-legislated out
Of business forty-two retail and thIrty-three
wholesale dealers. OF this number the pro-
prietors of fifteen bar rooms we're in possession
of their licenses when the law was passed
These have now expired and as a matter of
course cannot be renewed Parties affected by
this law demurred to the construction OF the
authorities rs to tho area Of territory covered,
claiming the law should be construed to mean
one mile from the Soldiers Home property by
the nearest travelled highway. This question
referred to the attorney for the District OF
Columbia, who promptly decided that the law
as passed meant that no license should be issued
for any place located within one mile OF any
portion of the Soldiers Home property in a
straight line. This view adopted. The
lines OF prohibition enter the city limits i'm
mediately south of Florida avenue on LIST street
west, thence southwest to New Jersey avenue
and Q street, thence northwest striking 9TH
street and Rhode Island avenue and 14th and V
streets northwest and out into the county.
Briefly, beginning on the north this side OF
Brightwood it is bounded on the east by 10th
street east extended south by It'll street and
Rhode Island avenue, west by 18th street west
extended.
The total number of licenses issued during
the year Just ended was $685. besides 427 Ger
tifcates to the collector for miscellaneous re-
ceipts The amount collected was Sl5S, 200 81.
This amount is credited to the various sources
hereto appended, viz:
were as follows: Apothecaries, 500. 80; auction
GERS, u, 424.82; brokers, 81 600; talks and
bankers, S442-42; bar rooms, SIS, SO; brew
ers, Sl25; bill posters, $50; billiard and other
tables. &C., 81, 1886. A; cattle brokers, S4s3S5
commission merchants, S2,355.S7; dealers in
ice, <l64; dealers in liquors (wholesale), Sl0,
SIS OIL; dealers in junk, S2.553.51; dealers in
old barrels, $50; entertainments, circuses.
balls, &c, 1920; hacks, cabs and vehicles.
g. $50 al hotels, SO, 4S. 49, intelligence offices,
1879; livery stables, S3,529.60; manufacturers
of Illuminating gas 81, 072; peddlers, II, 270 ~
pawnbrokers, S6O0; produce dealers at large.
sS J7l.77; produce dealers in markets, "A SPOOL
restaurants, s6,s17.22; real estate agents, $40,
34l. SO; tneaters. $7OOI Total. sl58. 2O0.57. Tine
increase over the preceding year was ". 1859.
"a comparison Of the increase and decrease
Of revenue derived from various sources, "
the report continues, Twill serve to illustrate
facts which have from time to time been re-
ferred to in reports from this office, calling at
tention to the necessity Of new legislation to
equalize and perfect a license system, which,
as before stated, believe, properly and Judi
ciously administered. il capable Of producing
a revenue of $500, 900 without imposing addi-
tional burdens of taxation upon those who now
pay. The collection Of personal taxes is con-
fined TO comparatively few, while the majority
escape altogether, because the license laws do
not include them. From time to time the Dis
trict 10 the sufferer financially by decisions Of
the courts in the construction Of the license
laws A careful revision should remedy this.
The revenue from the markets is steadily de-
creasing, owing partially to this and partly to
the fact that the dealer outside pays nothing
while those inside are taxed. The same con-
dition of inequality extends throughout the
entire list Of trades and professions taxed in
this District
BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
1.-THE receipts from these institutions are
steadily decreasing, although the prosperity of
our city is indicated by their constan tly in
creasing number and the elegance and besuty
Of their financial homes Congress on the LIST
day Of October, 1890, passed a law prescribing
a tax on loan and trust companies in lieu Of
personal taxes, and this Office, in due course of
business made demand upon them fo- the pay
ment of a tax as bankers under the require
ments of the license laws. This had heretofore
been paid in addition to the personal tax, for
which the present law was substituted. The
companies demurred and claimed that Congress
intended by the passage Of the act to include
both personal and license taxes, although il
was not so expressed. This view upon being
referred TO the attorney for the District was
sustained by him and approved.
''In connection with the revision of urlicense
laws beg to say that for over twelve wears the
license tax on the cars of the various street
railway lines, with three exceptions. have not
been paid The cases were, / believe. prose-
cuteo IN the fonce ana Crimlhai Courts with
n;s.r;". ,oaJo no annsaIs Tha o,a;.;, WIG
reouirements Of existing law in reference To
horses as the motive power are rapidly being
nullified by the modern systems Of cables and
electricity. In view OF TINS TACT new legisla- |
ton should either meet the new state OF affairs
or abolish the old.
Ann yrxx pr,,vp. AMI srcoxn
AANp DLAhs'
''On the 80 DAY OF March, 1881, an act OF Con- |