Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-04-17
rHE LtouoR LICENSE Law
Its Abuse OF Power-The Law Not Proper.
ly Enforced.

- . -" AG Law -NoA
ly Enforced.
Editor Of the Erening Capital:
! see by an advertisement in your paper
that the City Council viii meet the 24th
OF this month 10 receive applications for
license to sell liquors in this city.
Now, 1t lie well known fact 10 every
right-minded person, that there are TOO
many saloons licensed.
II would be q good thing indeed IL there
were not one In the city. but If we are
compelled 10 have them for the sake Of
those who are made 10 suffer thereby let
US have as few as possible, and IL seems
TO me that IL the law empowering the
city authorities TO grant the license WAS
properly carried out Il is sufficient of It.
self To shut mp large number of those
now licensed
For instance. is IL TecessGrg for the Gc-
cOHlBs0ddtton Of the public that FIVE or six
of these dens should be located almost
within stones throw of each other
and does this city with . population OF
only about 5000 inhabitants require about
thirty saloons for the accommodation Of
the drinking public
If 40, Heaven pity u.s. Below is a COPY
OF part of the law bearing Oh this
subject and desire 10 call the attention
of the public especially 10 Section 1874,
II. and l do hope that a proper effort
will be made by those who have the well
fare of this community at heart, TO break
up st least some of these places. where
for the sake OF money, whiskey, beer aud
other intoxicants are served out and by
which means the happiness of homes are
destroyed and young men utterly ruined.
and many fond parents grey hairs
brought down in sorrow to the grave
Read the law carefully and let those who
sign petitions bear their share OF the re
sponsibility:
SECTION 1874 C.-No license to sell in
toxicating liquors shall be granted in An
nspolis. except by the Mayor, Counsellor
and Aldermen at q meeting of said cor
poraiion and only To citizens OF the Uni
ted States Of temperate habits and good
moral character
In filing q petition for license with the
Mayor. Counsellor and Aldermen Sec
tion 1S4, + reads thus "Said petition
shall contain first the name and resi-
dence OF the applicant and how long he
has resided there.
Second. The particular D ace for which
license Is desired. designating the same
by street and number il practicable and
| IL not by such other apt description as
definitely locates 1t.
Third. The place Of birth OF such APP
plicant aud IL naturalized citizen, when
and where naturslized.
| Fourth. The name aud owner of the
! premises upon which he business is 10
be carried on.
Fifth, A statement that the applicant
10 citizen of the United State, and that
il is necessary for the accommod alton
of the public that the place should be Ii
censed"
Section 1874 G SAYS. There shall be an
nexed TO this petition u certificate signed
by at least ten reputable qualified voters
residing or doing business in the ward
in which the petitioner asks to- do bust
ness, stating the residence or place of
business OF each person certifying and
setting forth that they have been &C
quainted with the petitioner or petition
ers for (specfying the length of such &C
quaintance) that Meg hare had good req.
son TO belie0s that all the statements con.
tanned ia the petition are u u6 and that theg
therefore prdV that The prayer If said peti
ton be granted and tie license issued a
prayed for"
Section 1874 Fl reads 1.-The said May.
or Counsellor and Aldermen shall pub
licly hear petitions FROM residents of the
ward or persons in the vicinity of the
place for which license 10 prayed, in adj
dition TO that of the petitioner, in favor
of, and demonstrate against the granting
of the license: and In all cases shall re-
fuse the same whenever in the opinion
of the said Mayor, Counsellor and Al
dermen such license is not necessary
for the accommodation of the public or
the petitioner or petitioners is or are not
it persons to have such license granted
10 them"
This, II seems TO me gives the power
to the City Council to refuse to grant Ii.
cense TO improper persons aud not to
| grant any more than is required for the
accommodation of the public.
JOS. s NJ. BASIL.