The times., 1898-12-15
LICENSE LAW. REFORM.
The Attorney for the District MaI<e
auurestffyns


The Attorney for the District Makes
Suggestions.
In accordance with an opinion rendered
by S. T. Thomas, the attorney for the
District, late yesterday afternoon,
churches renting their additoriums are
not subject to taxation.
The fact that numerous local churches
are renting their audience rooms to the
detriment of persons who invest money
in halls to be rented for similar purposes
was brought to the attention of Commis-
sioner Wight several weeks ago. The
question naturally arose as to whether
such churches would be entitled to the
exemption from taxes which is provided
by law Attorney Thomas, to whom the
matter was referred, thinks their right
of exemption is not affected by such
rentals.
At the same time, Commissioner Wight
called attention to the law of theater
licenses and asked the attorney to look
into the matter,swith n view of determine
ing whether it might not be amended so
as to include other entertainments of a
somewhat similar character which are
given from time to time and for which
a weekly amount is paid aggregating
very much more than the amount re-
quired for theaters. This suggestion was
made by the Commissioners with a view
of equalizing payments In the matter of
ouch entertainments.
In his opinion rendered yesterday, the
attorney suggests that the present license
law is a back number, and that il should
be revised to meet the conditions which
have arisen with the rapid growth of
the city in late years.
The opinion of Mr.. Thomas is as fol-
lows:
by section of an act of Congress of
March 5, 1877. churches are exempted from
general taxation The fact that churches
rent Their. audience rooms for entertain
ments does not affect their right of ex-
emption. In order to prevent churches
from renting their audience rooms, it
will be necessary. to amend existing law
in regard TO church exemption.
Regarding the matter of theater
licenses, l think our license law. an act
of the late legislative assembly, approved
August p. 1871. should be reformed. When
this law was enacted twenty-seven years
ago, the city was not so large as IL is
now, and the conditions were different.
For instance, take the matter of licenses
for places of amusement-a theater is re-
quired by the forty-first clause of section
q of the law to pay Si60 annually pro-
vided that licenses may be granted for
one week on the payment of 500. There
are now many cases where entertain
ments and exhibitions given in halls or
rooms not fitted up as theaters. with
stages and removable scenery, where the
proprietors are required to pay s. per
day or SO per week. under the odd ordl-
nance of the city. passed in 1854
Formerly the proprietors of such enter
! tainments could. II they desired. get n
theater license for siOs under the act Of
| the assembly. but they are now deprived
of that privilege by virtue of an act of
Congress, which prohibits the issuance
of theater license unless the applicant
can show that he has a building arranged
! for theatrical performances. containing a
stage with movable scenery, and produces
the certificate of the inspector of build
ngs that the building Is supplied. with
fire escapes. stand pipes ladders gongs
etc. The result is that II the exhibition
OF entertainment is continued for "A year
the proprietor pays $50. or more than five
times the amount OF. license required for
n theater.
operates unequaliy and in many cases
with unjust discrimination. Many occu-
pations are engaged in without license
simply because they are not. by descrip-
tion, required TO be licensed, and In many
cases license fee is required which Is
altogether out of proportion 10 the licen-
sees business.
For example, a resident peddler whose
stock may not exceed in value the sum
of s.. is required under the existing law
to pay license fee of $50 annually. and
nonresident peddler 800 annually,
whereas a bank, with a capital of sl0o-
Oco may conduct its business on a license
costing only $50. In many cases the law
requires a license fee for an exhibition
where an entrance or admttance fee is
charged. this provision is eyaded by not
charging an admission fee, but by col
lecting a fee if the individual chooses to
be entertained after coming into the hall.
An example of this is 10 be found in the
slot machines for the rendition of music.
and the exhibition of pictures. Many
other examples might be given, but it is
believed the above are sufficient to call
attention to the necessity for new
license law in this District