Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-08
HOTELS AND CLUBS.
Are They Required to Get Signatures to
Their License Applications?


Their License Applications?
Are hotels and bona fide clubs required under
the provisions of the new liquor law to obtain
the signatures of residents and property owners
in the same manner as is exacted of regular sa-
loon keepers?
This question was recently raised before the
excise board by the representative of one of
the leading clubs of the city. who took the
position that the new law did not require such
thing.
1t would seem from a strict construction of
the law that every place where intoxicating
liquor is sold must be licensed, and before
such license issues the applicant thereof is
required to comply with the rules and regula-
tlons governing their sale.
The first clause Of the new law SAYS:
That no person shall sell. offer for sale or
keep for sale or traffic in. barter or exchange
for goods in the District of Columbia any in
toxicating liquor. except as hereinafter pro-
vided." Then in section the new law reads
THAT in the cities of Washington and George
town 1t shall be the duty of the applicant for a
bar room license to present to the excise board
with his application, the written permission of
majority of the persons owning real estate
and a majority Of the residents keeping house
on the side of the square where it Is desired to
locate such business and on the confronting
side OF the square fronting opposite the same "
At the meeting above referred to the atten-
ton OF the excise board was called to the pro
vision in section relating to clubs, which
reads:
and provided further, the said excise board
may In Its discretion Issue license to any duly
Incorporated club on the petition of the officers
OF the club, and that the said excise board may,
in its discretion. grant a permit to such club to
sell Intoxicating liquors to members and guests
between such hours as the board Aforesaid may
designate in said permit"
1t was contended on the part Of the clubs
that this provision set at rest the idea that the
club would have to procure the signers, and
the Commissioners were authorized to grant
the license without that formality.
The Commissioners were divided in opinion
on this matter. Commissioner Ross held that
| the provision contained in section was merely
intended to give the excise board the power to
allow clubs the privilege of selling after hours,
while Commissioner Parker was of different
opinion.
In the case Of hotels much the same condi-
ton of affairs exists. In the fifth section there
is this clause:
Every place where intoxicating liquors are
| sold to be drunk on the premises shall for the
purpose OF this act be regarded and considered
a bar room. and the possession of intoxicating
liquors and the selling or disposing of the same
! 20 be drunk on the premises shall constitute
and make the place bar room"
In the latter part of this same section in the
clause relating 10 hotels this occurs:
That any established hotel or tavern having
| twenty chambers for Lodging guests shall al
ways have the right to obtain for itself license
Tor bar room on compiling with the provis-
ions of this act . ="
One OF the members of the excise board, dis
GUESSING this clause with a reporter of The STAR
today. said that he of opinion that bar
rooms as well as clubs would have to get the
signsrs. In both cases Intoxicating liquors
were sold. and according to the fifth section
every such place Is bar room and is required
to get the majority OF the residents and prop
erty owners to subscribe to its petition.
At the request of the representatives of the
club present the matter referred to Attor-
ney Thomas Tor his views and recommends ton.