Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01
What Officials Think of It After
Several Months of Trial.
JUDGE KIMBALL MAKES COMMENTS.
He Thinks Much Good Has Been
Accomplished by 1t.
VIEWS.

Inc enactment by Congress Of what Is
known as the high license law wrought
many changes in the liquor traffic during
the year just ended. Not only did Congress
make the license tax heavier. but provision
was made for the punishment of its violat-
ors, which has, beyond question, made it
much harder for violators Of the law to
carry on their business than it was under
the old law. The penalties are increased
In proportion to the increase in the license
tax and upon second conviction a sentence
OF imprisonment is provided. Then. too.
the regulations governing the conduct of
the business are more stringent, and the
saloon has to be left on Sunday so that the
interior may be seen from the outside.
Liquor selling in drug stores, which was
done to large extent on Sundays, is pre-
vented by the new law, and the penalty is
so severe that the druggists do not care to
take the chances, and consequently those
who do not lay in their supply on Saturday
are likely to go dry on the Sabbath. The
enforcement of this law largely increased
the revenue of the District and at the same
time reduced the number of drinkif. places.
Judging from information CLEANED from the
police and officials there are many of the
so-called "speak-eases'' in operation, and
many proprietors of them have already
been detected and punished.
Judge kimbalPs Opinion.
Speaking of the manner in which the
new law has operated, Judge Kimban told
Star reporter that so far as he had OBJ
served it was working frst-rate.
Zone of the best things the law has
DONE" said the judge, 'is the cutting off of
so many of what were known under the
old law as wholesale places and places
where beer was sold by the bottle and per-
mitted to be drunk upon the premises In
these places, according to the proof in
many of them, the beer was sold at 8 cents
a bottle and the purchasers were permitted
to drink the beer from the bottle, but were
not furnished glasses.
Yes" he added, the effect of the law SO
far as am able to- judge from cases brought
to court is certainly good. The law, in ad-
dition to imposing a heavier license tax and
penalty, enables the police to have better
control over the liquor business. The law
not only provides for the punishment of the
proprietor of a place for violating its pro-
visions. but his assistants are also held liza
BILE for aiding and abetting. This provision,
L think. is a good one. as it will prevent
many violations. While the proprietor of a
place may be willing TO violate the law at
times, the fear Of punishment on the part
or the bartender may deter him and result
i'm keeping the place closed.
Then the judge added, the provision
of the law providing against the sale of
liquor to minors has had salutary effect
While i am, OF course, unable to state about
the number of such violations, the cases are
fewer, and that is favorable, to say the least.
During the past few days several boys who
were found on the street under the influence
of liquor were arrested and brought to
court, but l was unable to learn from them
where they had obtained their liquor
From the Prosecutors Point of View.
THE act Of March 3. 1893. regulating the
sale of liquor in this District. on the first
reading, would appear to be the most in
comprehensive and. in some respects. con-
Trajectory enactment that could pass Con-
gress," said Mr.. James L. Pugh, tr., the Of
ficer of the District, who prosecutes liquor
cases in the Police Court, but when IL is
carefully read and studied. 1t is comprehen-
sive, definite. and, in my opinion, a most
salutary law. lt differs IN many re-
spects from the OLD law, and is more search
ing and far-reaching and drastic III its pro-
visions.
1t is really the first enactment which con-
fers upon the Commissioners the necessary
power to control the liquor traffic in this
District.
They are invested with very large powers,
and when the board acts their action is
nnal, and when a license is granted the in
cidental regula tons which follow are very
much enlarged, and the penalties for a vio
lation are of a character that will make
any liquor seller who desires to remain in
the business hesitate a long time before he
will permit a violation of any of it's pro-
visions, as the law says in no uncertain
way that after a second conviction no IL
cense shall thereafter be granted to such
person. And another very wise provision
is made which WILL in a measure, prevent
children under the age of sixteen from en-
tering any bar room other than a hotel,
and not then in the bar room proper, with
out the consent of a parent guardian,
and L don't suppose a parent or guardian
VIII In many cases give such consent. The
law throws around the child these neces-
sary safeguards for their protection, and
they cannot, as in the case of sale to
minor, divest themselves of this protection
THE act further attaches to the license
certain things which the saloon keeper can
not do Mr.. Pugh continued
1. He cannot sell. give or in any way
dispose of liquor to a minor.
. To an intoxicated person.
s. To an habituai drunkard.
4 To a person who is in the habit of be-
coming intoxicated, provided such person S
wife, mother or his daughter shall in writ
ing request that the saloon keeper shall not
sell to such person.
Q. He cannot sell to any one between GER
tain hours and on Sunday. This latter pro-
hibition does not apply to a hotel or tavern
provided the sale is made to a bona fide
| registered guest In their rooms or al their
meals.
q. Bar rooms and other places where
| liGUy rs are sold are required to keep closed
on Sundays and between certain hours.
So 1t is seen that the act goes into every
detail of the business of a liquor dealer
and IL they will comply with its provisions
cannot see that any one can have any
Again. a new departure IL made in the
law in compelling all Incorporated clubs to
procure a license. and subjecting them to
the incidental regulations which attach to
and follow the license. The new law makes
no distinction between such places and an
ordinary bar room, so far as the reguh tons
are concerned. They can. however pro-
cure permit to sell between certain hours
which must be designated in the permit
| itself.
Now the new act makes a very material
and important change in the law In re-
| spect to the necessary evidence of an un-
unlicensed bar. Under the old law IL was
necessary to show a business. but the new
law provides that every bar room shall be
licensed. and then prescribes what shall
constitute and make the place bar room
Every place where liquor, &c. is sold to be
drunk on the premises is a bar room under
the act and In addition, the act makes the
possession of liquor. with the means and ap-
planes for conducting a business, prima
facie evidence of a bar room, and where
ever this evidence is found a sale is not
required in order to convict of the offense
of unlicensed bar
Making saloon Keepers Careful.
"What is there in the law that Will make
saloonkeepers more carefuIT' aueried the
reporter.
There are two penalties under the act
| which, in my opinion. Will have more to do
with making them careful than anything
else, he replied. These fines have no
effect; a man who does a big business can
AFFORD 10 take the chances and n Innks