Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-22
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Some Questions in Regard to Liquor
Licenses Answered.
THE ATTORNEYS OPINION.
Four Interrogatories Propounded by the
Assessor Categorically Replied To-Letter
rs to the Ringing of the Gongs on the
Cable Cars-Other Matters of Interest.

submitted to the Commissioners the following
question: Shall money collected from liquor
dealers, both Wholesale and retail. who are al
ready in Possession OF licenses for
the year ending October 81, 1898, be
refunded? Shall their licenses for the year ex-
piring October 81, 1893, which they were
required to surrender be returned to the
owners? Will the licenses expiring be recog-
nized Dy the excise board as valid for transfer
of location? If SO, will a transfer fee be re-
quired, as provided in section OF the act OF
March 8, 1898? These questions were submit
ted to Attorney Thomas, and he reports thereon
today follows:
'Referring to a communication from the as
SCISSOR of the District to your board under GATE |
Of the 18th instant, calling attention to the de-
cision Of the Court of Appeals in the case OF
the District of Columbia against Busch and
submitting for question, viz: Shall the
money collected from liquor dealers
doth Wholesale and retaiD who are al
ready in possession OF licenses Tor the
| wear ending October 81, 1888. be refunded? 2 |
Shall their licenses for the year expiring March
81 1893 which they were required to surrender, |
be returned to the owners? g. Will the licenses
soexpiring be recognized by the excise board
as valid for transfer OF ownership or location3
T. If So will a transfer fee be required as pro-
vided in section OF the act of March
| g. 1898? which was referred to the attorney OF
the District tor his opinion. In answer to the
| first question submitted by the assessor my
| opipion is the money collected from liquor
dealers since March 8. 1898. both wholesale and
retail. who on March 8. 1898, held
licenses ending the Slst OF
| October next, should be refunded to them.
| In answer to the assessors second question.
| nv opinion is that those liquor dealers who have
| licenses under the old system and who are re-
ouired to surrende- them are entitled to have
them returned. In reply to the assessor 9
third question, my opinion Is that oid
licenses expiring October 81 should be
both for transfer of ownership and ioca-
ton In answer to the assessors fourth ques-
ton my opinion is that the transfer re-
auired by section Of the act of March 8. 1888,
does not apply to a license issued under the
old system, but only to license issued by the
excise board
BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits were issued today as follows:
James E. johnson. one frame dwelling. Anger
avenue, county; $500. Alice E. Gardi-
ner, one frame dwelling. jefferson street,
Anacostia; $4,000. Henry Nailor, j..
frame 1s.. d hs, #..bns,on Heights.
g. OO0 Samuel Handy one brick dwelling. sol
9Th street southeast; "a. 2c0. Fuss and Harper,
two brick dwellings, corner Adams and Jeher-
son streets, Anacos.ia; $4,000.
| RAILWAY aoNGs
Apropos of the complaint of Mrs. Elizabeth
Penn against the ringing OF the gongs Of the
grip cars at the corner of l4th and H streets
northwest the Commissioners today received
the following letter from the president of the
r Washington and Georgetown railroad on the
{ subject:
n sYour communication in regard to letter oil
( Mrs. Elizabeth Penn. complaining OF the ring
i, ing of the gongs by the gripmen OF this COM
, pany at the junction and crossing OF the Metro
"A politar railway tracks at I4th and II streets
!, northwest is duly to hand. also remarks OF
Q Lieut. T. B. Amss and Chief of Police Maj
d Moore. In reply would say that this company
IS is now obcring the rules and regulations. laid
a down by the Commissioners. in regard to ring
e ing of gongs at all crossings OF intersectns
,. roads. II the Commissioners deem 1t wis'
e to modify the rules, ms now BENZ
carried out by this company. and orde
1t that no gongs shall be rung at these crossings
n the company will obey the rules as so modified
u but unless the Commissioners will take the re
/ sponsbility of ordering this company to dis
'r continue the ringing of the alarm gong at tn
lie crossings of all intersecting roads .he compan
* will continue to use the alarm. as now directe'
he BY the police regulations. l would state fur
"a Their that the placing of fagman at the cross
Id ing at l4th and streets would not in the leas
ne change the present mode OF ringing the alarr
he gong as IT is the rule to sound the alarm gon
Sc at all crossings. even where there are fagmer
b. 81 would further suggest that, unless tn
It. Commissioners have decided to make rul
doing away with the alarm bells on street car
in the city Of Washington. it 10 not just nor
it safe to make a special ruling for any on
an crossing: and l would also remark that II is an
-, possible for Mrs. Penn, her friends or any ON
u else inside Of house to know when ii is expt
'r dent for the gripman to ring his gong to avoi
ur collisions and accidents; therefore. In my opir
is ion it is wise to leave this matter to the dscr,
,;s ton of the gripmen. who expected to avoi'
- if possible. BY the ringing of their gongs sue
gu casualties might arise by not ringing them.
=, COMPLAINT AGAINST WAGON STAND.
M. The residents OF C street southeast betwee
er 9Th and eth streets have entered q complain
Fly with the Commissioners against the wage
stand located on the Eastern Market ground
os The drivers and others associated with then
-. they say. indulge in loud. profane and il
s "a decent conversation. usually supplemented |
s.o buckets of beer and occasional fisticui
~. They request that the nuisance be abated.
ed AGAINST BAR ROOM LICENSES.
err A number of ''peaceable taxpayers and RET
i've dents" on street from I'd street to 4
ger street southwest have combined in petition
The the Commissioners PRAYING that the followil
80 bar rooms be refused a license: The one at {
=" northwest corner of I'd and +, the one at I
northeast corner of Sd and f. the at {
northwest corner OF Sd and F. the one at $50
and the one at the southeast corner Of Al Al
f streets. All in the southwest.
m THE ASSESSMENT Is VALID.
EN- Attorney Thomas holds, in an opinion re
lon dered to the Commissioners today, that the
sessment against the abutting property for ID
nee ing the water main on Whitney aven
in is valid. This opinion called fol-
m by protest from the property own
.;ad along Whitney avenue, who claimed that VIII
are ney avenue not public highway and Il
,ar- the water main in question was not petition
,tte for by majority of the property owners ale
in that avenue. Attorney Thomas holds that il
l,s iramateriai in view of section 204
70, ! tn. Revised Statutes. which empowers to
,e.r ! water mains wherever in their Judgment i
HE necessary for the public safety and comic
the ! whether Whitney avenue east of 7th street
, in tended to Soldiers Home gate il or is no
and public highway, or whether the main was
nee in front of square or line of squares.
eing WANT MORE POLICE PROTECTION.
orSe large petition, bearing the signatures
any a number of the residents and property owl
in the subdivisions of Long Mead
and sherwood. in the northeast section
the city, received by the Commission
t;or today, requesting additional protection
the matter of more police The petition sets fc
'ofo that the Sabbath is day of drunkenness
rom immortality revolving to one possessing
and least sense of refinement that the tenants
the property owners feel that if there is
9th ntsnf shnx- ahNrr hn