Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-26
Bill Submitted to Amend Local
Liquor Regulations.
REDUCES SUNDAY SALES TO MINIMUM
Decision of Excise Board Final Ex-
cept on Law Points.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

The bill submitted by the District Com
missioners TO Congress yesterday to regu-
late the sale OF Intoxicating liquors in
the District, as stated in The Star. is here
with given in full. The measure was pre-
pared by the Commissioners after frequent
consultations with Prosecuting Attorney
Push. and. if enacted, will supply many
omissions and remedy the defects ii is be
lieved. found to exist in the present law.
1t provides a tax on breweries and agents
OF such enterprises and will it is alleged,
reduce to a minimum the Sunday sale of
liquor. II makes the decisions of the ex-
else board final in the matter of apDlica-
tons for licenses, except in respect to
questions Of law. On questions of law APP
peals are allowed both applicants and con-
testants to the District Supreme Court
the decisions of said court to be conclusive.
The existing law is amended in the bill sub
United by the Commissioners in many
other respects, with the result that, if
enacted. it is believed the law will be one
OF the most exacting and clearly defined
TO be found on the statute books of any
other state or territory.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill is as follows:
BE II enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
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
intoxicating liquors, except as hereinafter
provided. but this act shall not apply to
sales made by any person under and by
virtue Of an order or decree of any court
requiring him or them to sell personal
property. Wherever the term fntoxicat-
ing liquors is used in this act it shall be
- IL.
cOrdiais. rum. ale. porter. beer. hard or
fermentsd cider. and all other fermentcd
and distilled liquors.
Section . That there shall be, and there
is hereby. constituted an excise board for
the District Of Columbia which shall con-
sist of the board OF assistant assessors OF
the District of Columbia. and the duty Of
which shall be to take up and consider all
applications for lice nse to sell intoxicating
liquors and TO take action such applica-
tons, and the action SO taken shall BE- final
anu conclusive. except in respect to ques-
tons Of law. when appealed to the Supreme
Court Of the District Of Columbia, as here
matter provided. Questions of law may be
appealed To the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict OF Columbia either by the applicant
or by any contestant OF record. provided
justice OF said court shall after examina-
ti0n 81 the record, consider that the ex-
else board erred on a question of law in
granting refusing a license. and allow
an appeal and the issue of said license
shall therrupon he suspended until the
matter is finally determined by said court
hearing, and the decision of said court
shall be conclusive on said board and the
license snail issue stand rejected as the
action Of said board shall allow or reject
said IicCI Sc Provided That such appeal
shall De perfected vii hin twenty days next
after the day or watch the justice shall
allow said appeal. and that the applicant.
II he OF she had license for the proceed
ing year. Tay continue business pending
the appeal. and only on the issuance of
sTJeb lff.. n - A anSliCduf shall he she
sell intoxicating liquors. and said board
shall make such rules ana regulations for
carrying into effect this act they may
deem requisite and proper And said board
shall make annual report to the Com
Inissioners Of the District of Columbia. set
ting forth the number of applications for
license. both favorably and unfavorably
acted on. the number of persons convicted
for violations Of this act. and the amount
Of fines collected and uncollected.
The Clerical Force.
''Sec. >. That the said board shall appoint
a clerk. who shall keep a full record of all
Applications for Ucnnse. of all recommended
tion for and INCONSISTENCIES against the
granting OF licenses and of its action there
on. The salary to be paid such clerk shall
be fixed by said board And said board
shall also appoint an assistant clerk at a
salary not TO exceed 81 .2c0 per annum. who
shall be eX-Officio the inspector of said
board. and il shall be his duty to make the
inspections required by this act, under the
orders OF the board. and make full report
OF such inspection to the board at such
time as IL may order. and the inspector so
appointed shall wear a badge indicating
that he is such Inspector Of the excise
board The salary OF said clerk and as
sistant clerk. with the expenses necessarily
incident 10 the business of the board shall
be paid out of the fund arising from the
license fees paid under this act.
Applicants Shall Petition.
Sec 4. That every person applying for
license to sell intoxicating liquors In said
District shall file with The said board petit
tion for such license. and such petition
shall be considered and acted on by the
board in the order in which such petition Is