Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-20
Important Action Regarding
Sale Of Liquors.
EXCISE BOARD RULING
HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD ON
PROTEST OF SALOONS.
The Anti-Saloon League Joins in the
opposition-Sunday Sales
Prohibited.

The excise board of the District late
this afternoon issued an order which will
affect all clubs in the District with re-
spect to the sale Of intoxicating liquors
by the organizations. The order Is to the
effect that hereafter no permit will be
granted for any duly licensed incorpo-
rated club In the District of Columbia to
dispense or sell Intoxicating liquors be-
fore 6 am. daily or after 1890 am. on
secular nights, and that the organizations
Will not be allowed to dispense. or sell in
toxicatfng liquors between 10 and !
o'clock daily or after II o'clock midnight
on Saturdays.
This action Is taken under authority
granted to the board in section of the
excise act approved March 3, 1893.
The question in respect to the granting
of these licenses was discussed at length.
Protests against the issuance of licenses to
these so-called clubs were entered by the
Retail Liquor Dealers Association, through
it's president. Mr.. Hugh F. Harvey. and ITS
attorney, ex-senator John M. ThurstOn, and
by Attorney A. e. Shoemaker on behalf of
the Anti-SaloOn League.
The protests, as was specifically explained
by the parties interested, were inspired by
different considerations; the liquor dealers
association objecting to the issuance of the
permits on account of the business inter-
ests involved, and the Anti-Saloon League
objectlng to the granting of the licenses
because of moral considerations.
Representatives of several clubs were
present at the hearing, and briefly set
forth the claims of their respective organi-
cations to recognition as legitimate clubs,
within the meaning of the law.
At the close OF the hearing Mr.. H. H.
Darneille, chairman of the excise board,
stated that the proposition before the board
in the consideration of the applications of
clubs is one difficult of solution because OF
the difficulty in drawing the line between
the legitimate clubs and the organizations
operating as clubs in order to evade the
law. He stated, however, that the board
and fairness and will give careful consid-
GRAFTON to all the applications.
The Liquor Dealers Side.
Ex-senator Thurston said that he repre-
scented an association which has for its
business the duty to see that the liquor
business is carried on along legitimate lines.
He said he was not present to protest
against the issuance Of license to any
particular club. but to ask the board to
give the most careful consideration and
scrutiny to all applications from clubs, 10
see that the organizations conform to tue
letter and the spirit OF the law. Mr..
Thurston declared that the serving OF
liquor in a club Is merely an incident in
jects of its organization.
Mr.. Harvey stated that the liquor dealers
are not objectfng to any particular club,
and that they have no protest to enter
dealers, he said, do not object to the grant
ing of licenses to any organization. pro-
vided that the licenses are granted with
equal rights to all. -
Mr. Harvey. that clubs can issue ind:s-
criminately to individuals, upon the pay
ment of nominal sum. cards granting TO
the recipient all the privileges Of member
ship in the club with the exception Of
sharing in the profits of the business that
may be conducted by the organization.
Clubs have privileges that ordinary bar
rooms do not enjoy The retail liquor deal
ers feel that the granting OF license to
sell LIQUOR to a club organized by a few
persons who reap the profit of the bus ness.
is an interference with the rights of the
saloonkeeDer.
eff it appears to the board" said Mr..
Thurston that a room or number of
rooms are furnished in a city by one or two
or more individuals, and it is the apparent
purpose to give the members an opportu-
nifty to secure intoxicating liquors after
midnight and on Sundays, that organization
is not within the meaning of the law re-
lating to clubs. All members of club are
actual and equal participants in the bust
ness of the rganiZa ton
Mr.. Thurston said he knew in a general
way that throughout this District there are
clubs where a person can go on Sundays
and by the payment of a nominal sum Sc
cure card and get all the liquor he wants.
He was of the opinion that the excise board
has the authority to make regulations gov
erning the ticket system. He asked that
the line be drawn between the legitimate
clubs and those organiza tons organized to
evade the liquor law.
The Anti-Saloon League.
Mr.. Shoemaker said that there are many
clubs in the city which have been doing a
business not justified under the law and
under the licenses issued. Many of these
clubs are in the nature of Sunday bar
rooms. He said that the Anti Saloon
League objected to the operation of these
so-called clubs In the interests of morality,
and he believed that the conditions which
have existed for some time past should not
continue.
Mr.. Harvey. at the close of Mr.. Shoe
makers remarks. arose and said:
II want 1t distinctly understood that the
liquor dealers appear before the board pro-
testing on commercial grounds and not in
the interests of morality. We are not al
lied in any manner with the Anti-Saloon
League, as has been intimated.
THE Anti-Sa1oon League disclaims any
alliance with the liquor Dealers promptly
rejoined MIR. Shoemaker, and the members
broadly.
Attorney Alexander Bell spoke briefly in
the interests of the jolly Fat Mems Club.
and invited the members of the board and
others to the club rooms to investigate the
manner in which 1t is conducted.
Mr.. Joseph e. Luckett, representing the
Iriquois Club. stated that he did not con-
slider that the protests referred to the club
he represented. and he explained it's men,
bership and method of operation in a few
words
Representatives of the Cosmos Club and
of the Bartenders' Union Club also spoke
briefly in behalf Of their respective organi-
Zations.