The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-30
Drafted With Great Care
by the Municipal
Authorities.
NEED FOR NEW LEGISLATION
Present License Laws Drawn More Than
Thirty Years Age, and Are to Certain
Extent Obsolete Owing to Many
Changes That Have Been Made.

| The District Commissioners yesterday
! forwarded to the committees of Congress
on the District Of Columbia copies of the
new license bill which has been drafted
with great care by the municipal: authori-
ties. The bill was first drawn up by the
Assessor. after which it was submitted TO
the City Solicitor, who approved 1t. 1t
was tkon submitted to thorough revision
1 by the committee appointed by the Com
missicners to revise the regulations of
the District. Messrs. Francis Nye and
Daniel Curry.
In their letter transmitting the bill to
the committees, the Commissioners say:
The license laws under which the Dis
trict is operating are acts of the late
Legislative assembly. made more than
thirty years ago, and in consequence of the
great space Of time that has elapsed
since their enactment, and the fast that
in many instances an almost complete
change CT conditions has taken place.
these laws are to a certain extent obso-
iete, and it is therefore imperative that
they should be re-enacted with proper
amendments and additions thereto.
Population Doubled.
During the period named, the popula-
tion has more than doubled. and it is
necessary to increase the number of bust
nesses, occupations, etc, that should pay
license taxes at least so per cent. The
bill also provides for increase and re-
ducticrs in the amount of the tax i'm
posed under the present law to meet ex-
listing conditions"
The bill is based upon the present
license law with such additions and
amendments as experience has shown to
be desirable. II provides that no person
shall engage in any trade, profession or
calling, for which license is imposed.
without having obtained such license.
The application for license is to be made
to the Assessor, and no certificate shall
be issued until the fee for the same is
pai3. The license is to date from the first
day of November in each year and 10 be
in force until the last day of October of
each year. Licenses may be assigned, but
a fee OF so cents is charged therefor Lii
censes may be issued also for a portion
of the license year and il is provided that
they shall date from the first day of the
month upon which application is made.
Changes in Proposed Bill.
The principal changes proposed in the
bill are: For apotheearies' licenses there !
is an increase in the fee from IS to Sc
a year. Auctioneers are TO pay as
at present, 800 per annum. Commission
merchants pay as now, $40 a year, with /
certain conditions attached as to the con-
duct of their business. The fee of cattle /
dealers is decreased from SIG 10 SIS |
per annum. the fee for hack drivers |
is Sc for vehicles drawn by one
horse, 50 for vehicles drawn by more than
one horse, and s. for all automobiles or
mechanical vehicles used for passenger
hire. The person licensed is required to
wear in a conspicuous place a badge in
iicating that he is licensed driver of
the vehicle.
Proprietors of livery stables are requir-
ed TO pay S25 per annum for stables con-
aining Is stalls and s. extra for each
additional stall, and ii is provided that
nothing in this section is to be construed
80 as to exempt livery stable keepers from
paying additional license for operating
any description of vehicle occupying
public stand.