Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-03
A LIQUOR LICENSE MEASURE.
The Conference Committee to Consider tn,
Hunton Amendment.

Hunton Amendment.
The crowded calendar Of the House and the
press of important business of n general nature
before that body gives little hope to the friends
of the District that the proposed liquor bills
for the District will be given an opportunity
for consideration.
1t was this knowledge and an appreciation of
the present inadequate condition of the liquor
laws of he District that led Senator Nc
MILAN to offer as an amendment to
the District appropriation bill the Hun
ton license bill This bill is prob
ably al that the citizens of this city can hope for
in the way of liquor legislation at this session
of Congress. Whether or not even this much
can be obtained now rests with the conference
committee which will act on the District bill
Mr.. Dockery. who had charge of the District
appropriation bill in the House, said today that
he had not examined the Hunton liquor amend
ment and not therefore pre-
pared TO express an opinion upon II.
He would ask the House TO non-concur in the
Senate amendments and request a conference.
If the Eunton amendment Is agreed to by The
conferees. he said. it VIII be beyond the reach
of point of order in the House. for the con-
ference repor; must be either accepted or re-
jected rs whole.
The NECESSITY o. the amendment is best e.
pressed in tie words Of Senator Hunton 81 n
he explained i. 80 the Senate yesterday Gfer-
noon. He ss;d: The committee on the District
of Columbia reported through me the bill
| for passage in the Senate. and il passed.
1 1t went over to the other House and has no;
been reached there ana probably viii 10,
be this session. So unless il is embod..G Il
the appropriation bin the condition Of a.
fairs in this District will be lamcnt-
| able. The matter of license fees in
the District hes brought into the treasury of
q q m II 40
recollect the All punt but it is quite large.
Unless something be done in this jirectio
the District of Columbia will lose ta;s
revenue, and persons will have the right
upon rendering the amount Of the license to
sell liquor and establish livery stables where
they pleased. That is the necessity for the
| amendment.
The amendment which is now attached to the
District bill and which will probably be the only
liquor legislation which the District will obtain
at this session is measure drafted by the at
torney for the District, the object of which Is
| to make the present law effective. The bill is
as follows:
That from and after the passage OF this act
it shall not be lawful for any person or per-
sons in the District of Columbia to engage
in the trades, business and professions
specified In the act of the late
legislative assembly Of the District OF Co
lurlbia entitled An act imposing license on
trades, business and professions practiced OF
carried in the District of Column
bia,' approved August %, 1871,
and the amendment thereto approved
June 20, 1872. except such parts thereof as
have been repealed, without first having OBJ
tanned a license therefor in accordance with the
provisions of said act OF assembly and said
amendment, and any person engaging in any
OF said trades or in the business and professions
specified lii SD act and the said amendment
thereto within the District OF Columbia. with
out first having obtained license therefor
In accordance with the provisions Of said act
and the said amendment thereto, who
shall engage in any business in any
part of the said District where by exist
ing law license is prohibited. shall,
on conviction thereof in the Police Court
of the Distric. of Columbia. be fined not
less than $40 nor more ttan 500. and a like
fine CT 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
not to exceed twelve months. Provided, That
whenever the approval Of the Commissioners is
required 10 any application for a license under
existing law under regulation adopted by
said Commissioners according to law. no person
shall be deemed to have such license until he or
! she shall have obtained such approval"