Evening star., 1895-08-14
THE EXCISE BOAR
AOommittee From the Federation of Retail
Liquor Dealers Heard.
1T Protests Against Placards, but Is
informed That They Are Only for
New Places and Transfers.

This was the day set asidesby the excise
board to consider liquor matters. After
| hearing arguments in several transfer cases
a committee from the Federation of Retail
Liquor Dealers was announced. The COM
mittee desired. in accordance with the
wishes of the federation. expressed at its
last meeting. August Z. to present several
| matters The committee consisted of
Messrs. William MCGUIRE. Hugh Colagrove
| Thomas Waters and NJ. P. Sullivan. In the
absence of President Jordan. Messrs. sulli-
van and Colegrove presented the case of
| the liquor men.
| When the committee lined Up before the
excise board Chairman johnson said:
| We'll, gentlemen, the board is ready to
listen to you. What Is it you desire to
| say?"
Against the Proposed Placnrds.
! Mr.. Sullivan replied that the committee
| would prefer to wait before prese 1ting its
case until President E. L. Jordan of the
federation arrived. The excise board did
| rot volunteer to wait, and Mr.. Sullivan,
taking the initiative. said:
I'VE are here this morning about the
| placards. which set forth. as you are aware
| that the person cained thereon Is applying
| for liquor license, and which. according
3,
| front of each saloon now in existence and
| any new ones that may indicate iesire
| to proceed in the business. We contend
| that this placarding the business places of
laW-abidfng citizens Is a humiliation. 1t is
| the policy adopted by the board of health
| in designating houses containing conta-
gious and infectious diseases. Every citizen
LnoWs of the location Of saloon. and is
| the same will be licensed the following
| year without the formality of making a
new application. unless. of course. ma
| jority of the residents enter a protest
against the place. Then again the news
papers give notice."
Are you speaking for the established
places?" queried Chairman johnson.
Yes, understand your order regarding
the placing Of placards embraces all
places"
Entirely In the Wrong.
"Then yor are wrong. and it takes the
case you have before us out of our hands, I"
continued the chairman of the excise board.
"All of this would have developed In No
vember." suggested Col. Bates 1.-The order
| is only for transfers and new applicants" !"
Exactly. But I was informed that all
places were contemplated in the order. and
SO reported to the federation. At any rate,
| 1t does no HARM" said Mr.. Sullivan, ito get
the facts in the case"
Chairman Johnson said: TT was never
contemplated to placard old established
ested in them knows they are licensed, but
when a man in the liquor business desires
to transfer his place to another man, the
public should be informed, for while John
Brow may be acceptable. John Smith may
be entirely Objectionable. 1t is of frequent
occurrence that parties come In here and
say they did not know that place was to
be transferred. They had received no no.
tice. There can be no objection, as far as
1 can see to placarding a respectable place
about to change hands 1t gives the party
s~$@ xlr4r nv,E1t thn
citizens a chance to protest. If necessary"
Mr.. ColeErovc to the Front.
This brought Mr.. Colegrove to the front,
| enter a protest after the law has been COM
| piled with. Saloons are just as much of a
necessity as grocery stores"
Then you don't consider this a free
country" suggested Col. Bates.
"Yes, do" was the reply. ''and 1t is just
| because Of that am here today making
plea for a business that is as necessary as
| any other business. You have just issued
an order seriously affecting 1t, and We
come here to have 1t modified"
THAT order is not for respectable places"
again stated Chairman johnson, but to
give notice to those persons interested that
such and such a man has applied for q
liquor license"
"Then are we to understand that the or
der is only intended for new places. and
those desiring transfer?"+
That is my understanding Of it." said
Col. Bates, and Chairman johnson nodded
in approval. "Of course, there may be
some of the old places that will be required
to post this placard, but 1t will not be gen.
eral."
Order Cannot BE Revoked.
Mr.. Sullivan suggested that the placards
be entirely done away with and the order
providing for them revoked. The board re-
piled that this was impossible. The mat
ter had been carefully considered before
any action was taken.
The committee also called attention to
the matter of burning gas in the saloons.
Saturday night the gas was kept lighted
and remained burning all day Sunday and
Sunday right. The law prohibited the
owner of the place from entering the bar
room on Sunday, and the cost of the burn
ing gas was q considerable item of ex-
pense.
1t was stated that Inspector Woodward
had notified the saloon keepers that they
would be required to keep the gas burning,
but when appealed to Mr.. Woodward de-
MED the statement. He had advised some
men for their own protection to keep the
lights burning, but distinctly told them
there was no law or regulation on the sub
ject
The committee had no further business
and then withdrew.
The Case N0Ilc Prosecuted.
Mr.. F. P. Madigan appeared in the Po-
zee Court today in the case of F. NJ. Her.
mann, the beer bother. charged with aid
ing and abetting in a violation Of the
liquor law. This case has attracted con-
test case. Mr.. Pugh was satisfied that
l.