Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-22
NEW LIQUOR LICENSES
Regulations Adopted bv the Excise
Board
Anti-snloon League Is Active in CIR
cuIatinE PetitiOns--NO More
Oral Hearings.

The liquor men are beginning to get ner-
vous as the new license year approaches. 1t
Will commence on the first day of Novem-
Der. The liquor men have been by no
means inactive, and the number Of retail
applications for licenses already filed Is
larger by a good many than for the same
time last year. The records show a total of
166 applications on file for retail liquor
licenses, and ten applications for whole
sale licenses
The Anti-Saloon League has not been
asleep during the past few months, and it
has drawn up plan Of battle that is re-
sponsible for the uneasiness felt by the
liquor men.
One of the provisions of the new LIQUOR
law which was passed March 3, 1894, is to
the effect that an applicant once having
obtained the signatures of majority of
the residents and property owners in the
locality where he desires to conduct busi-
ness (Which consent is Il condition prece-
dent to the granting of a lcense), need not
again OBTAIN such consent for a renewal
or the license, unless the ma iority of the
real estate owners and residents petition
the excise board, stating that said bar room
Is not necessary and objectionable
Circulating Petitions.
Inc Anu-Saloon League, with this pro-
vision back of 1t, has printed and circulated
to each resident and property holder In
every square where a saloon is located a
blank to be filed up, setting forth that the
bar room is Objectionable and unnecessary.
Many of these blanks have been filled in
accordance with the printed instructions
and filed with the excise board. When ii Is
observed that majority of protests in any
one case has been received the application
Is lald aside and the applicant notified that
IL Will be necessary for him to make out a
new application and once more obtain the
necessary consent of the adjoining residents
and property holders. 1t is believed that In
this manner the league will defeat a num-
Der Of licenses.
New Regulation.
The excise board, which, 1t will be re-
called. is composed of the board of perna-
an informal meeting today it was decided
to adopt the rules and regulations formu-
lated and passed by the Commissioners
when they constituted the excise board.
An important new rule adopted by the
board is that under no circums tanCe9 will
oral arguments De tolerated. If, after a
case has once been rejected, new evidence,
which is not purely cumulative, be present
ed with arguments i'll writing, the case viii
be reOpened. y careful consideration viii
be given to the arguments and then final
action will be taken. If the case be reject
ed second time, that will close it forever.
and the application Will be marked 'hnaP'
and sent to the files. This much the board
declare they will live up TO it.
For several months the assistant clerk h
the excise board has been making the
rounds of the saloons for the purpose of
acquaiI.ting himself with their facilities for
carryiI on the business, and also TO Oh
serve if they obeyed the law. Recently he
made report to the board, giving the
names of a score or more saloon Keepers
who failed to properly expose their places
after hours and on SUI days. There will b.
black marks against the applicant when he
applies for his new license.
Saloon keepers who have violated the law
during the year will be summarily rejected,
and PAGES in residence neighborhooi will
get turn ed down.
After application has been filed the
board will take one week for consideration
before announcing It's action. But one day
each week, and that Friday. from = o'clock.
Will be devoted to the consideration of APP
plicatlcES for liquor licenses Heretofore
the excise board has been in the habit Of
meeting twice weekly, but the press Of i'm
po-tant matters in corr ection with the new
assessor ent has made il impracticable that
more than one day be devoted to the liquor
busir e!s.
To BE Fair.
In conversation with two of the members
of the board today they said: 1T is not
our intention to prosecute any one in this
matter Of granting liquor licenses If an
applicant has properly complied with the
law, and has nothing against him, there
will be no trouble. But this board will not
tolerate low dives and saloon keepers who
violate the law. No mercy should be shown
That class. We have arranged every thing
on business principles, and will give d re
Spectful consideration to each case. There
Will positively be no oral arguments allowed
III an applicant desires to appeal from the
nrst action he must reduce his arguments
to writing, and they will be considered
After two reflections the case will be con-
sidered as finally closed, and will not be re-
opened again. The board has other matters
or lar more Importance to the citizens than