Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02
COMPLAINS OF SALOON
GEN. MILLS ASKS FOR AMEND
MENT TO EXCISE Law.

Gen. Anson Mills, owner Of the Mills
building. located at Pennsylvania avenue
and 18th street. has lodged complaint with
the Commissioners with reference to two
saloons to the rear OF his building. the front
entrances Of which are located on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. In communication to the
Commissioners Gem. Mills states that on
October 10 last he addressed q letter to
Lieut.. Boyle Of the third police precinct
asking him to take measures to close the
alley embraces to the two saloons. under
standing such entrances to be prohibited by
law. The reply OF the lieutenant was that
tthe rear entrances were maintained prior to
the Issuance Of the last licenses and that he
was not authorised to take any action.
Cen Mills further states that November
last he addressed communication to
the excise board, fnclosing the correspond
ence with Lieut.. Boyle and a photograph
showing the advertisement through the
alley to @ street. He says the matter was
taken up by the excise board but that his
request was not granted. He requests that
the commissioners recommend to the con-
8ress1onai committee having charge of Sem
ate bill 6O37 regarding the control and
granting OF liquor licenses in the District,
that an amendment be made allowing but
ono entrance to any saloon, and that on
the main street.
Government officials interested.
Gen. Mills states: CAS- the Secretary Of
the Navy is the lessee of the Mills building
for an annex for the Navy Department, and
the Secretary of War is the lessee of the
Mills building addition for the use Of the
fsthm1an canal commission, / assume that
they are interested in this matter. and I
respectfully request that either the Com
mtssioners or the committee of Congress
having this bin in charge refer my request
to them, for remark"
Gen. Mills says that in the matter of ga
looms he has been given to understand there
are about five hundred such places under
license. an apparent superabundance for
city OF the size Of Washington, each pay
Ing Tor It's license the sum Of $500. In the
aggregate nearly half million dollars:
that in addition to this license paid for b.
the saloons, the United States pays from
It's treasury an equal amount as revenue to
the city government. practically a subsidy
from the federal government to increase
and perpetuate the number of saloons in
the District. az every taxpayer is given to
understand that any increase IN the rev.
enue from the licensee or the government
decreases his individual taxes
Not Willing to Maintain Subsidy.
In conclusion. Gen. Mills says he does
not think that the federal government Is
willing to maintain any such subsidy, and
he asks the Commissioners to recommend
such amendments to the bill as will provide
tnal the government pay no equivalent to
revenue from saloon licenses into the city
treasury, and states that II any additional
revenue be necessary the license tax be in
creased to $1,000 He submits also the
suggestion that the excise board should
have no connection with the assessment of
taxes. as the two duties must necessarily
conflict. In that the raisers OF revenue must
naturally look favorably upon measures
which increase It.
AS a final request the writer asks that his
communication be referred to the chairman
OF the committee having charge of the bill,
and that the papers in the hands of the
excise board with reference to the closing
Of the alleys accompany the letter.
When the matter was taken up this morn
ing by the Commissioners 1t was decided to
refer the communication to the Secretary
Of War and the Secretary of the Navy for
remarks ON the question, and that upon
the receipt OF the replies the communica-
ton aud the accompanying papers be trans
mitted to the Senate committee on the
District of Columbia.