Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-31
A LIQUOR P A MIC
The Attorneys Opinion Creates Conster-
nation Among Local Dealers
Carried Dat 1t Would Close All bat
Twenty-Five Saloons-The Tenn
perance People Rejoice.

There is CONSERVATION in the ranks Of the
liquor men.
The opinion OF the attorney for the District
rendered today, to the effect that no person
mad the right to sell liquor after today un-
less ne had license under the new law,
new Hike wild fire through the forces Of the
liquor men.
Never In the history Of the District gov
eminent has such panicky feeling existed
among the liquor men. That they are
scared cannot be questioned, and the express
sions OF their faces tell more than words
the strain they are undergoing.
AS soon as the Commissioners had con-
sidered the opinion, they saw its dangers
and the conditions 1t was liable to bring
about. Immediately a messenger was sent
to summon Attorney Thomas to the District
building. He came at once, and for several
hours discussed the matter with the Com
missioners
What could be done to prevent the work.
Ing of the law?
Attorney Thomas was convinced that the
law was mandatory, and gave the Com
mlssioners no discretion.
Inc commissioners talked earnestly among
themselves Tor some time, but did not come
10 any hnal conclusion regarding the mat
ter
1t was decided. however, that it would
be In order to learn from the attorney
whether there was any way whereby they
could hold the matter in allowance for q
rev days, until at least they had considered
the worthy cases.
AS 1t stands today, If the law is carried
out to the letter. not more than twenty
nve liquor saloons will be open tomorrow
Inese We're fortunate enough to obtain Ii
censeS under the new law some time ago,
and they are smiling complacently at the
predicament Of their brother liquor men.
Those who had not already filed their ap-
plications under the new law heard the
news OF the attorneys opinion. and hurried
on record as having filed their applications
The Temperance Side.
The representatives Of the temperance
people are joyous.
They openly avow that tomorrow a cru
SADIE will be made against every man in the
city who is selling liquor and cannot pro-
ouce a license under the new law to show
that he has a right to SELL
This statement is anything but balm to
tne liquor men. and all day long a steady
stream OF them have called upon the Com
missioners to find out what they are going
to DO in the matter.
presents itself.
AZ AZ noon today the assessors books showed
that 4l5 applications for retail LIQUOR IL
censes had been received, the receipts from
which amounted to $4,000 Last year the
entire number Of retail licenses issued was
put SSS and the amount received from the
same In the way Of fees amounted to $50 =
SU.T. The books also showed at noon
that 14o applications for wholesale liquor
licenses had been received, the fees from
which amounted to 100 Last year 462
wholesale liquor licenses were granted and
the total fees from this class Of licenses
amounted to but S15,579.91. The assessor be-
heves that the greatest falling of by virtue
OF the workings OF the new law will be in
the wholesale applications, and that but
few OF those who sell by retail will fail to
make application under the new law.
All day long the license clerks were kent
busy receiving applications. License Clerk
Williams looked out from behind a pile Of
applications long enough to say to a re-
porter of The Star that the applications
were coming In at rate that exceeded his
expectations.
1t will be at least a month before the
Commissioners can get down to the issuance
OF licenses. As soon az all Of the appl,ca-
tons have been briefed they will be sepa-
rated and sent to the lieutenants of the
precincts in which the saloon is loca ted.
He will make his report upon the appiica-
ton and It will be returned to the excise
board for investigation and final considera-
ton.