The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-15
THE BAR or THE COMMONS.
II Is Wen Equipped. and II Pays No
License.
From the London Mail

License.
From the London Mail
total stranger walked in from the
street yesterday, and bought glass of
whisky a the drinking-bar in the lobby
Of the House of Commons He was a
Daily Mail reporter, and had never been
in Westminster Palace before.
He went in to see whether the bar which
the Kitchen committee of the House Of
Commons is running was open to the pub
lie for business. He found that It was
he learned that the bar (which has no
htense) was doing a roaring business in
the sale of Wines liquors and cigars. and
was indeed anxious to extend its "conuec-
ton"
"A glass of Scotch. please" said the
Daily Mail reporter, stepping up to the
bar.
Yes, sir" answered the barman. who
promptly handed out the whisky and
took siXpence for it,
rs this bar for members only?"
oh no was The answer; we serve
anybody who comes along"
DO you serve drinks 10 total strangers
who come In from the street,"
We'll you may be sure we do. Let 'em
all Gomez"
And apparently they had all been COM
ing crowd stood round tha bar drink
ing lew OF whom were members of Parla-
ment or people employed in the house.
Inc bar, IL was further learned. has its
regular customers from the outside.
These knowing ones" like it because
theN found that they could buy spirits
there when all the other bars in London
were closed
When the licensed houses shut up at
the hours prescribed by law 1t was dis
covered by a few that the unlicensed
drinking bar in the House of Commons
remained open. Therefore, no man need
go thirsty
rms welcome news spread rapidly among
the topers. Al last they had found a
place where the rigid requirements of the
licensing act were nun and void. and Il
was in the very building where that Jaw
was made, and was conducted by its
trainers.
Apparently, Ii was all right enough to
compel every East End publican to shut up
shop at certain hours, 60 compel him to
pay heavy license, and to hand him into
custody If he resisted
But when it came to the House of Com,
mons, OH no! The house. il was found
considered itself at liberty to run a public
drinking bar TO suit itself, not paying
penny for the privilege and ignoring the
very statute NnlCn II mad created
The House of Commons. said these to-
pers, apparently considered itself above
the law, and was indeed making a good
profit by selling drinks to the general pub
lie. 1t could drive its licensed competI,
tors to the wall, having no rent or license
10 pay, and doing a thriving business af-
ter the legal hours.
II may be added that the whisky thus
publicly sold by the House of Commons IL
OF good quality. The members can buy
their whisky cheaper than at any IL
censed bar by patronizing their own es.
adjustment; that is, they can get whisky
of a better quality for the price charged
by the publicans. The House of Com
mons Through its regular committee) has
found that the bar paying no license. ana
occupying a public building rent free
makes profit sufficient TO enable il TO buv
very superior whskies
Now, the question arises: What right
has the House of Commons to run pub
lie bar In this manner? II would seem
that they have no right whatever.
The unlicensed public bar in the House
of Commons lobby is irregular That Is
the view of the lord chief justice. That
is the opinion of many members of the
House Of Commons
Only few weeks ago the case came IN
before the lord chief justice on appeal II
was known as the case of williamson vs..
Norris, in which a waiter at the House Of
Commons bar had been arrested, in order
that a test case could be tried.
1t was claimed that the sale of intoxica-
ting liquor TO the public over the bar at
the foot OF the committee room staircase
OF the House of Commons was an offense
against section of the licensing act of
1872.
The lord chief justice, in giving judg-
msnt, said the statute began with a gen
eral sweeping prohibition in regard TO the
sale of intoxicating liquors. and that in the
exemptions mentioned the House of Com
mons was not mentioned
He added that 1t was obvious for the
public convenience that the law should be
observed, even by the highest parties or
representatives in the land