Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-25
ENTERS A PROTEST
NIB. SHOEMAKER ALLEGES HASTY
ACTION OF EXCISE BOARD.
States He Was Not Given Opportunity
to Inspect Application for
License.

Saloon League, has written TO tne excise
board protesting against the manner in
which bar room license was granted to
Patrick r. Carr. at ga H street northeast.
Mr.. Shoemaker claims the application,
which was for a transfer to the premises
indicated. was rushed through the board
with undue and exceptional haste. This
saloon was the subject of vigorous pro-
test from DR.. E. M. Gallaudet. president Of
the Galiaudet College, at Kendall Green.
The transfer of license was granted by the
board September %.
THE records show, says Mr. Shoemake
in his letter to the excise commissioners.
that the application was filed the 18th day
of September. on which day 1t went to the
office of the assessor, was returned by that
Office to the excise board, and sent out In
turn to the police department 1t came
back from the police the Odd instant, and
was Immediately acted upon by you.
The custom of the Office has been IN
such matters not to dispose Of applica tons
for some days after their return from the
police department, during the interval per-
sons interested In such applications having
hasty action in the case In question denied
me as attorney for the 125 local organiza-
tons affiliated with the Anti-Saloon League.
and other protestants. this privilege.
The Points Raised.
Not having an opportunity to examine
the case before your action thereon, and
not being present when action was taken.
l was unable to present to you the fact
that the applicant did not furnish with his
application the necessary written consent
of the owners of real estate on the square.
An examination of the records in the Office
of the assessor shows that on the north side
of II street there are twelve owners, the
names of but six of which appear upon the
applicants petition. Because of these facts
the petition lacks the required consent of a
majority OF the owners of real estate on
the north side of the street.
ION the south side of the street the petit
ton also lacks the required majority OF
owners. The records show that there are
twentY-four owners of real estate on this
side Of the street. Two of the owners are
counted favoring the application. when
a matter of fact. their names do not ap-
pear on applicants petition.
Margaret Hiles' names appears twice
upon the petition. and it is counted twice
Regardless of what property one owns on
the square. be the pieces many or few. he
has but one vote in determining the wishes
of the owners of real estate on the square
in reference TO an applica ton for a bar
room license. This can be done under our
law by computing the number of owners
of property and not by computing the num-
Der of separate holdings.
ION September IS. the day the applica-
ton was filed. Abner & Drury. local brew
erS Interested in the application, trans
ferred to John Quinn and jeremiah Mac
kessy interests in lot 10. on the south side
OF the street. apparently for the sole pur-
pose of making up the required ma jority of
owners on that side of the street. This
piece of smart work should not be permitted
TO weigh against the wishes of a ma jority
or the legitimate owners on the street.
Says It is Not a Majority.
Counting. however, the names of Quinn
and Mackessy. the applicant has the con-
sent of but eleven out of twenty-four clear
ly not majority, without counting them
he has but nine out of twenty-five. clearly
not majority. How the assessors Office
could have given certificate under such
showing is beyond comprehension. If it is
error 1t Is one that is of too frequent oc-
currence
THE written consent of ma jOrity of the
owners of real estate on either side of the
street Is mandatory prerequisite to the
granting of adbar room license under the
law. bar room license granted without
strict conformance to this provision of
the law is null and void and should there
fore be revoked
Because of the foregoing, therefore !
hereby request that upon a showing that
the application lacks the required majority
or owners or real estate on either side of
the street said license issued by YOU
thus errt neouslv to Patrick R. Carr. for
premises 65i, on III street northeast be re-
voked as being null and void and that if
said application by virtue of which said
license was granted be renewed a hearing
be granted to those opposed to it,"
The protest from Mr.. Shoemaker will be
referred to the assessors office for a report
as to the correctness of the statements re-
garding the owners of real estate in the
square affected