Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-15
MR.. BUNTON's LICENSE BILL.
1t IL Intended to Cure the Defect in Exist
Ing Law.

Senator Hunton reported from the COM
mi,tee on the District of Columbia yester-
day. as stated in The STAR, bill regulating the
sale Of distilled and fermented liquors in the
District. The bill provides that from and after
its passage it shall not be lawful for any person
or persons in the District Of Columbia to en-
gage in the trades. business and professions
specified il the act of the late legislative assem-
bly, of the District of Columbia entitled IAN
act imposing a license on trades, business or
professions practiced CT carried on in the Dis
trict of Columbus" approved August 20, 1871,
and the amendment thereto approved June 20,
1872 except such parts thereof as have been re-
pealed, without first having obtained license
therefor in accordance with the provisions of
said act OF assembly and said amend ment, and
any person engaging in any Of said trades or in
business and professions specified in said
act and the said amendment thereto within
the District of Columbia. without first having
obtained a license therefor in accordance with
the said act and amendment thereto, or who
shall engage in any business in any part of said
District where by existing law a license ia pro-
hibited shall. on conviction thereof in the
Police COur. of the District Of Columbia be
fined not less than $40 nor more than 800,
and like fine or penalty for each subsequent
offense. and in default Of payment Of such fine
he or she shall be imprisoned in the common Jail
OF said District of Columbia not to exceed twelve
months. Provided. That whenever the ap-
prevail of the Commissioners is required to any
application for license under existing law or
under regulation adopted by said Commission
ers according to law, no person shall be deemed
20 have such license until he or she shall have
obtained such approval.
IMMEDIATE LEGISLATION NECESSARY
In their report the committee say immediate
legislation is necessary to save the revenues
derived from licenses. 1.-The Supreme Court
has decided in the Nau case that the law now in
force is revenue act and the object of it is to
collect revenues, assess taxes and collec. the
same. That the penal part OF the law is the
failure 70 pay the taxes assessed. Under this
decision any person desiring license to sell dis
titled and fermented liquors in the District has
nothing more to do than to pay the sum as
sessed and then he has the right to SELL The
bill is intended to remedy this state of affairs
aud to provide penalties for carrying on any Of
the trades, business professions practiced or
carried on in this District without license 1t
provides that when the approval Of the District
Commissioners is required no one shall be
deemed 10 have a license until this approval is
first obtained. 1t is believed this will effectu-
ally protect the revenues and give to the Com
missioners some discretion in granting liquor
licenses"
Senator Hunton desired immediate considers
ton OF the bill, but at the suggestion Of Senator
Hawley il was allowed to go over SO that the
bill AMI report may be examined in print.