The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-31

kinds of exhibitions have recently com
rnunicated with the Commissioners e&-
pressing their views on the matter some
who have permanently established enter
tainments in variDus halls located In the
heart of the city, have complained lnat
they are forced to pay several hundreu 40,
lars for continuous exhibition, whiie
theatres are only obliged by law 10 pay
500 a year.
In view of the defective nature of the
laws regarding this subject the Commits
sioners referred the matter to the attorney.
This action resulted in the preparation OF
the two drafts submitted by him yesterday
afternoon. One of these is a draft of q
bill TO be introduced in Congress. 1t is In
tended to regulate the matter OF licenses
as follows
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives OF the United states OF
America in Congress assembled, Ihat the
proprietor. lessee. or manager OF any the
atre having a stage and movable scenery
for the purpose OF acting, playing, or per-
forming any play, farce, interlude, opera
or other theatrical or dramatic perform
ance or any scene. section or portions OF
any play farce or drama OF any descrip-
ton, for gain. shall pay license tax OF
800 annually; Provided, That licenses may
be granted for theatrical performances for
than one week on the payment of so, and
Provided, further. That propretors of eX-
hibitions and entertainments of any other
description, conducted for gain, shall pay
a license tax OF 500 annually. or for less
period as follows: Three dollars per day
SO for the first week and s. for each sub
sequent week; and provided further. That
for entertainments, concerts and perform
ances of any kind given in church build
.1..N
church or charitable purposes no license
shall be required.
Sec 9 That it shall be the duty of any
proprietor, lessee or manager of any the
atre. theatrical performance, exhibition or
entertainment of any description in the
District of Columbia. conducted for gain
to obtain Il license therefor as herein pro-
vided for Any person violating the pro-
visions of this act shall. ON conviction
thereof in the Police Court OF said Dis
trct, in addition to the license imposed
pay fine or penalty of not less than s.
nor more than $50 for each offence. to be
recovered in the name of the District.
See. ). That all laws and parts of laws
inconsistent with this act be and the same
are hereby repealed
Attorney Thomas also submitted a draft
of a substitute for section Y of Chapter
Xxx OF the proposed code of District laws.
He thinks that legislation can be had
sooner however. by direct application to
Congress than by waiting for the enact
ment of the code The draft of the sub
sttute for section - in the code follows:
The proprietor. lessee, or manager OF
any theatre having a stage and movable
scenery used for the purpose of acting,
performing, or playing any play, farce, in
terlude, opera or other theatrical or dra-
matte performance, or any scene, section
or portion of any play, farce, or drama of
any description. for gain. shall pay a Ii
cense tax of 800 annually; provided. that
licenses may be granted for theatrical per-
fOrmances for one week on the payment of
$50. or for less than one week on the pay
ment of $40 and provided further that
proprietors of exhibitions or entertain
ments of any description conducted for
gain shall pay license tax of 500 an
nually, or for less period as follows:
Three dollars per day. $40 for the first
week and S. for each subsequent week;
and provided further, that for entertain
ments, concerts, or performances of any
kind given in church buildings where the
proceeds are intended for church or char
table purposes no license shall be re-
CURED
Among the complaints which the Com
missioners have received from proprietOrs
of exhibitions and theatres regarding the
defective nature Of the license laws is n
letter from Messrs. James =. Voorhees, and
Frank B. Metzerott. This complaint pre-
SCENTS in a very clear way the position of
the proprietors who will be affected by the
new legislation. II follows:
I'VE, the undersigned proprietors and
managers of the wargraph now showing in
Washington, most respectfully represent
that we have for ten weeks past been pay
ing a license OF SO per week for an exhi-
bltion of moving views. We have thus