Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-24
Substitute Bll Regarding Licenses
for Pool Rooms.
10 PREVENg USE BY MINORS
Letters FROM re Commissioners
on the Subject.
OTHER LOCAL NEWS

The Commissioners this afternoon re-
turned to Congress substitute for Sen
ate bill 1882 to license billiard and pool
tables in the District Of Columbia In a
letter accompanying the bill the Commits
sioners say: -
"a present law on the subject imposes a
penalty only for doing the business referred
to In said draft without paying license
tex The courts hold that 1t is essentially
revenue law; that tender Of said tax
is a constructive payment, and that any
person who pays the tax or who tenders
payment thereof may carry on the business
without license. The authorities are thus
without the Statutory power necessary to
prevent the conduct of such business by
improper persons or at unsuitable places.
The Withholding Of license therefore de-
prives the District Of the license fee, but
does not preclude the pursuit of such oe-
cupation for omission to pay 1t. The bill
transmitted herewith is designed to impose
penalty on persons doing said business
without having q license, and to give the
authorities power to exclude unworthy ap-
plicants by refusing to issue license 10
them. The bill herein recommended pro-
poses to increase the license fee from $40
per snnum for each table to $12 per annum
for each table.
Section Of the bill is rendered neces-
sary by decision of one of the judges of
the Police Court of the District of Column
bia that the police regulations made by
the Commissioners prohibiting minors from
entering or playing in pool rooms is in
operative for the reason that In making 1t
the Commissioners exceeded the scope OF
the power conferred on them by the joint
resolution of February 6. 1892, authorizing
them to make an enforce police regula-
tons.
"One of the greatest evils in the District
h IN ic hn
ly persons and minors in pool rooms This
bill was prepared by the Commissioners
with the advice Of the attorney and the as
SCISSOR of tha District after a conference
with and upon recommendation OF the
judges of the District Of Columbia Police
Court
Resident Student.
The Commissioners have appointed Mr..
Harry A. Dunn resident medical student at
the Washington Asylum Hospital.
Improvement of p Street.
Replying to letter from W. J. Hughes,
which was transmitted to the Commission
ers by Representative Harmer, concerning
the Improvement Of P street northeast, be-
tween North Capitol street and Florida
avenue, the Commissioners say that, while
they are aware that this street Is one which
should be improved, they cannot recon-
mend 1t above those already on the schedule
for improvement. Should Congress see fit
to make a special appropriation for this pur-
pose, the item should be placed in the pend
ing District bill, under the head Of improve
nents and repairs, to cost $1,000.
Northenst Washington.
The commiss toner's this morning gave a
hearing to Chairpap A. G. Agate. chair
man of the committee on public parks and
spaces with reference to the needs of North
cast Washington.
Collecting Garbage.
In reply to a,jetter from the chief Of the
bureau of engraving and printing concern
ing the non-celleetien OF garbage at that
department., the commissioners say they
understood the complaint to be due to the
fact that the garbage from the bureau has
been collected by unlicensed countrymen
in the past. They promise, however, to look
into the matter.