The Washington times., 1906-02-26
DARNEILLE DENIES
NEW BOARD NEEDED
Anti-SaIOOn League Does
Excisemen Injustice.
CANNOT PLEASE ALL PEOPLE
Nobody Could Be Fairer, He Says,
Than Members of Present
Commission.

The Anti-Saloon Leagues assertion
that a new Excise Board is needed IN
the District stirred the wrath OF the
members OF the board today and receIv-
ed warm reply.
Chairman II. IL Darneille declared the
statements by the league to the Com
missioners on Saturday reflected gross
" on his board. The statements were
prepared officially through Secretary L.
D. BIakemore and were to the effect
that the Excise Board has been deTelict
In its duty in granting licenses to GER
tain saloons Notwithstanding protests
by citizens. and that a change in the
board is urgently needed.
In Favor of Bill.
The league sent report TO the Com
misstoners in favor of the Senate bill
providing for a new board composed Of
three members. not employed in other
capacities by the District or the
United States.
"AH this talk about a change in the
Excise Board" said Chairman Oar
nellie. Ito nv opinion is a gross refiec-
tion upon the membership OF the board
as at present constituted.
THE excise law is economically, con-
servatively. and honestly administered
by the present board of assistant as
SCISSORS. who have most TO 90 with the
granting of liquor licenses.
Ample Law for Kickers.
LAS to the talk in relation to citi
Zens' protests not receiving just con-
sideration, and that protestants realize
that there is practically little or no use
in making a protest against an estab-
he
law amply provides for a way to eiimi-
nate a saloon where the objections are
such as TO make il necessary from the
standpoint of the citizens and property
owners in any particular locality. The
law in part provides that whenever
majority of residents and property
owners In any given location protest
against the reissue of q liquor license,
II IS mandatory upon the Excise Board
to reject said renewal.
The Excise Board cannot at all
times please all elements. They do
the best that they know how, Justly
aud wisely using the discretion vest
ed in them by law, and because pro-
testants do not make out q sufficient
case against an established place TO
warrant its rejection, there is no good
reason why said board should reject
the same
Where a place has been located for
many years. and the Hcensee conducts
himself and said place in a manner
the Excise Board feels it but just to
grant the same.
Aim to Do Justice.
''As 10 the advisability Of making
n change on account of the Board of
Assistant Assessors being charged
with the duty Of assessing property.
and making the Excise Board separate
and distinct from the revenue-getting
board. the one desire of the members
as a real estate or as an excise board.
is 70 do justice TO all sides. The
Board Of Assistant Assessors have
ample time TO deal with the excise
matters, and as l have said before
from an economical standpoint, there
could be no Improvement in the situa-
tiOn.
The Excise Board has passed many
resolutions for the betterment Of the
morale OF the community. They have
at the request of the temperance people
IN many cases where the necessary
slgners have been obtained by the appli-
cant for new license, and all other
requirements of the law complied with
rejected the same
4 do not see how II is possible TO get
an Excise Board who would more fairly
and conscientiously administer the laws
entrusted by Congress to their discre-
ton and enforcement than the one as
at present constituted"