Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-08
NEED ANOTHER LICENSE.
The Commissioners Can Prevent Sale Of
Liquor at Ivy City.
Two Mile Limits TO BE Decided - Op-
position TO Winter Racing
Surveys 10 he Made.

Although, under the opinion sent today
TO the District Commissioners by Mr.. s. T.
Thomas. the attorney for the District, the
Commissioners cannot refuse the manage
ment of the proposed Ivy City winter race
meeting a license to conduct the meeting.
1t is stated by those familiar with the law
and regulations governing the matter. that
there is a license which the Commissioners
can refuse the projectors of the meeting.
This license is one which will be very ma
terial to the pecuniary success OF the meet
ing. and which, if refused by the Commits
sioners, cannot be reviewed, IT is stated.
by any court of law or equity, for the pur-
pose of compelling the Commissioners TO
grant the license. This license is none 9TH
er than a license authorizing the sale OF
liquor on the grounds of the course
The opportunity to imbibe liquors, IL is
hardly necessary to state. is one OF the
great attractions Of a winter race track,
even in this climate. which the projectors
of the Ivy City meeting contend is SO mild
and balmy, so different from that of New
Jersey, the birthplace of winter racing of
the character expected during the pro-
posed Ivy City meeting. The revenue de-
rived by the management of such meetings
is, as may well be imagined from the char
acter of the attendance at them very con-
siderable, and a refusal to grant the man.
ayers liquor license would, of course,
cause them serious loss. 1t Is confidently
asserted that under the liquor law of March
s, 1888, the granting of a license for the
sale is a matter wholly within the discre-
! ton of the District Commissioners, and
that refusal to grant such a license is a
nnal disposition of the matter. beyond ap-
peal But IL is further contended that even
should the Commissioners desire to grant
| the Ivy City management a liquor license
the act of March 3. 1893. would prevent
dnino 70 he
Ivy City track is within one mile of the
limits Of the Soldiers Home and there
fore. no license could be granted. 1t is not
/ by any means certain, however, that the
track is within the oIe-mile limit but there
| seems to be absolutely no doubt Of the right
| of the Commissioners to refuse the license
versant with the character of winter race
meetings, and few doubt that IL will be re-
fused.
The Mile Limit.
There Is. however, another mile limit
which is certain to give the Ivy City man.
agement no little trouble. and which may
absolutely prevent the meeting being held
Under the recent law legalizing gambling
on horse races within the District there is
provision which makes IL unlawful to con-
duct such gambling within one mile Of the
city limits Speaking to a Star reporter to-
day of the matter, District Attorney Biz
-
opinion that the law meant one mile in an
| air line from the CITY limits. and not as con-
tended by the Ivy City people, a mile by the
Travelled roads. He intended TO have a sur
vey made at once, in order TO definitely de-
termine the matter. and If, as he had every
reason to belive, the greater part OF the
course was actually within one mile Of the
city limits, he would prosecute to the ut
most extent Of the law not only the man.
| ayers of the proposed meeting, but also
everyone else who in any way attempted TO
carry on or promote gambling within the
limits.
Opposes Winter Races.
The District attorney said that like many
others he admired and enjoyed seasonable
and fairly conducted racing. but was utterly
opposed to what was known as winter rae
ing, whether conducted here or elsewhere.
and, with the exception of those few per-
sons here who, for obvious reasons, favored
the degrading business. he was confident
that his efforts to prevent the Ivy City
meeting would meet the full approval of the
people of the whole District He had not
interfered in the matter of the so-caIled
race meeting held at Ivy City last winter.
but IL IL should appear from the survey that
betting was at that time conducted within
one mile OF the city the persons concerned
in il violated the law. II such persons come
here, the District attorney, while declining
| to say just what he would do in the mat
ter. left it to be inferred that they would
be prosecuted.