Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
PERMISSION DENIED


In the daily bulletin Of the police de-
partment that was issued from police
headquarters yesterday afternoon Maj
Sylvester took occasion to advise the MEM
bers Of the force of ruling Of the District
Commissioners upon an application that
was made some time ago for permission
to serve meals IN place where intoxicat-
ing liquors are sold. such service to be dur
ing the hours when the law prohibits the
sale of liquor. The question came before
the excise board, 1t Is stated, upon an appli-
cation that was made by the proprietors of
restaurant on Pennsylvania avenue that
they be permitted to serve meals, stipulat-
ing that they would hide the bar from pub
lie view by a solid frame partition.
It is stated that the proprietors Of the
restaurant were permitted to conduct busi-
ness under that arrangement on the SUM-
days when the Spanish war veterans were
holding their convention here, but after
ward the privilege was withdrawn. Upon
those two Sundays the bar was hidden by
a partition seven feet high and there was
could be gained by the employees. In order
to have the District Commissioners pass
upon the question formal application was
made and 1t was referred to the excise
board. Following an inquiry and consid-
cradle correspondence the board decided
that the permit could not be granted.
Position Of Excise Board.
In their response to the query of the
Commissioners as to the propriety of grant
ing such permission the members of the
excise board stated:
lin view of the 9Th section Of the act of
Congress approved March 3. 1893. which in
part Is as follows: That under the
license issued in accordance with this act
no intoxicating liquors shall be sold, given
or in any way disposed Of between
II o'clock midnight and o'clock in the
morning during which last named hours
and on Sundays every bar room and other
place where intoxicating liquors are sold
shall be kept closed and no Intoxicating
liquors sold,' the excise board Is Of the
opinion that permission cannot be granted
the proprietor of bar room to keep his
place open within the hours specified or on
Sundays for the purpose of furnishing meals
to his patrons even though his bar Is Sc
curely partitioned off. The board believes
that to grant such permit would afford a
dangerous precedent and lead to great
temptation to violate the Sunday law"
Endorsed by Commissioners.
Following the response of the board to the
inquiry, DR.. William 'Tindall, secretary to
the board of Commissioners, directed to
the excise board the following
1.-The Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia direct me to notify YOU that they
concur in your recommendation relative to
the illegality of permitting the proprietor of
a bar room to keep his place open between
II o'clock midnight and O'Clock am, and
on Sundays, for the purpose of furnishing
meals to his patrons, as follows.
1t is said that application has been made
to the Commissioners for the privilege of
serving meals Sundays on the upper floors
of a liquor establishment, and that appli-
cation is being considered by the authorities.
The question will probably be determined by
the corporation counsel. All that Is asked
by the applicants, it is explained. is per-
mission to give the public the service that
is supplied by licensed hotel proprietors
Sunday with the exception of serving in.
toxcants.