Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-25
AMEND LICENSE Law
Draft of Bill Forwarded to Con-
gress Today.
POWER OF REGULATION
Annual License to Brokers One Hun
dred Dollars Each.
LICENSES ISSUED BY ASSESSOR
Provision for Columbia Golf Club,
Which is Specially Designated
in Section 10.
LICENSES ISSUED BY ASSESSOR
Provision for Columbia Golf Club,

mitted to Chairman Babcock of the Dis
trict committee of the House the draft OF q
bill to regulate certain licenses in the Dir
trict, land for other purposes" and recon-
mended its enactment during the present
session of Congress. It is Regarded as ex-
ceptionally important legislation. Certain
methods of making assessments in the Dis
trict now, they contend, are in need of
amendment.
1t is first provided in the proposed meas
ure to more clearly define the method now
in force of charging property assessable Tor
improvements with particular reference to
property belonging to nonresident own
ers." The Commissioners object to the
present method of assessing such property
because property of non-residents may be
sold for the expense of the work done,
while residents owning property who fail
to comply with the law may only be fined
for their delinquency.
Tire proposed measure in its second para
graph is intended to meet constitutional OBJ
jections to assessments under An act 10
provide for the drainage of lots In the DIS
trict Of Columbia" approved May ID, 1880,
from lands in the city of Washington, Dis
trict of Columbia, and for other purposes,
approved March /, 1899. based upon the
inequality Of the effect Of those laws.
Purpose of Amendment.
The object of this is to vest in the Com
missioners the option to accept indemnity
bonds from plumbers and others in lieu OF
money deposits, to guarantee the protec-
ton of public property from injury by such
artisans or their employees, and the restora-
ton of pavements or other public works
disturbed in the prosecution of their work.
Section of the proposed bill provides
hot fhc IA i'm
Congress approved July /, 1902, upon claim
agents. shall hereafter apply to those per-
sons, firms or corporations who make
business of prosecuting claims against the
government of the United States or the
District of Columbia, and also to collection
agencies. With respect to claim agents the
license year: shall begin November f@ahd
terminate on October 81 in each year.
Section 4 reads: That an annual license
tax OF $40 is hereby imposed upon dealers
in cigars smoking or chewing tobacco,
cigarettes or any form OF manufactured
tobacco; the license year to begin Novem-
Der l and to terminate October 81 In each
year.
Tax on Brokers.
It Is provided in section that an annual
license tax of 500 be imposed upon all
brokers transacting business in the District
of Columbia. Every person, firm, company
or association not incorporated Except in
surance and real estate brokers acting as
such), soliciting business from the general
public by advertisement or otherwise, and
who purchases, sells or negOtiates for.
other securities, shares, stocks, bonds, ex-
changes, bullion coin money, bank notes,
or promissory notes, or that deals In futures
on market quotations of prices or values on
merchandise, shares, stocks, bonds or other
securities, or eccepts margins on prices or
values of said shares, stocks, bonds, mer-
chandise or securities, shall be deemed
broker: Provided, that the foregoing enact
ment shall have no reference whatever to
the provision of the act Of July l. 1902,
respecting private banks or bankers or the
Washington stock exchange, but the pro-
visions of said act shall remain in force
and effect. With respect to licenses issued
to brokers, private banks or bankers and
note brokers; the license year shall begin
on July and terminate on June ~ Oh eacn
year.
Framing the Regulations.
1t is further provided that power be given
to the Commissioners to adopt regulations
and to impose penalties for violations there
of in the governing of victualers, restau-
rants, oyster houses, cook shops, ice cream
parlors, dairy lunch establishments, eating
houses, by whatsoever name designated;
concerts, entertainments, exhibitions, cir
cuses information bureaus, intelligence Of
fees, private detective agencies, clairvoy-
ants, fortune tellers and mediums, by what
soever name they may be called; builders,
contractors and plumbers.
In enforcing regulations governing these
places the Commissioners want the power
to revoke license when they see fit, after
due notice and hearing.
To Be Issued by Assessor.
All licenses referred to in this bill are to
be issued by the assessor, and payment
therefor shall be made to the collector Of
taxes. but no license can be issued without
the approval of the Commissioners. That
the latter intend this law to be "all power
full" they make provision for a fine of not
more than $500 for any viola ton upon con-
victon thereof.
The last section of the bill reads
Section 80. That the excise board of the
District of Columbia be, and it is hereby,
empowered in its discretion to issue IL
cense at the rate prescribed by law to the
Columbia Golf Club of the District Of CO.
lumbia, subject to regulations and restric-
tions now relating to other duly incorpor-
ated clubs.
All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with
the provisions Of this act are repealed by
the latter.