The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-11

d.
attorney for the Anti-Saloon League of the
District of Columbia. in which he submit
ted a statement OF the law governing the
licensing of saloons within 400 feet of a
public school. Mr. Shoemaker also called
attention to the fact that ruling of the
Attorney for the District seemed to be in
conflict with the literal meaning of the
law, and that the Excise Board had APP
parently granted licenses on the strength
of the ruling of the Attorney and con-
trary TO law.
Mr. Shoemaker calls attention to the
fact that section 16 OF the law governing
the sale of Intoxicating liquors in Wash
ington provides that license for any of the
purposes specified in said section OF said
act shall not be granted to any person to
conduct such business within 400 feet of a
public school, private school, or house of
religious worship. Continuing Mr.. Shoe
maker says:
notwithstanding this positive prohi-
bition Of the law, the Excise Board. acting
under an opinion furnished by your AttOr-
ney some years ago. has a number of times
granted licenses to hotels located within
400 feet of schools and churches. This
construction Of the law is. We think en-
tirely erroneous and Unwarranted by the
text and the intent of the act In this
opinion We are supported by the written
opinion of a number of attorneys, members
Of the local bar of the highest standing
and ability.
THE matter is OF such Importance that
We feel constrained to appeal to you for a
review of the case. and if necessary for a
reference of it to your present Attorney
for his consideration and opinion
Commissioner Macfarland yesterday rec
commended to his associates that the letter
of Mr.. Shoemaker be referred to the At
nd int
The Commissioners have received from
the secretary of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association copies of several
resolutions passed at a recent meeting Of
the association. One of them relates to
the laying of cement sidewalks instead
of brick, commencing the present policy
of the Commissioners in that regard. The
resolution is:
That the members of this association
record their hearty approval of the policy
of laying cement sidewalks in the streets
of Washington, and WIZ hail the day when
all bricks have disappeared therefrom
giving place to cement"
In another resolution the association
calls attention to the condition of Four
teenth Street north of Florida Avenue
and to the need of cement sidewalks Of
uniform width on both sides of the street
from Florida Avenue to Whitney Avenue
third resolution calls for the enact
ment of House bill No 1906, lately in
troduced in Congress by Representative
J. w. jenkins of the House District Com
mittee, providing for the extension of the
Metropolitan Street Railroad north
through Columbia Heights and Holmead
1t was also resolved that the members CT
the association do all in their power to
promote and bring about this extension.
By the terms of another resolution the
thanks of the association are rendered to
the Commissioners for their efforts in
establishing electric street lamps on
Fourteenth Street between Florida Ave
nue. and Whitney Avenue.
The resolutions have been noted and
filed by the Commissioners.