Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-10
ARE FLOATING BARS TO So?
STEAMBOAT MEN AWAIT DECI-
SION OF CORPORATION Council
Test Case Comes Up Soon and VIII
Be Fought-Excise Board
at Sea.

The right of the excise board to issue
a license for the sale of liquor on steam
boats in the District is soon to be deter
mined by Corporation Counsel Thomas,
the question having arisen this week
when application for such a license was
filed by 8. Bensinger of the INDEPENDENT
steamboat and Barge Company. His ap.
plication was for license to do business
on the steamer River Queen on It's trims
between the wharf at Water and n
streets to Washington park and other
points outside the District Of Columbia.
No such similar application having been
previously acted upon. the members OF
the excise board concluded 1t would be
well to have the corporation counsel ad.
wise them of their rights under the law.
The filing of the application followed
the swearing out Of warrants against
persons connected with this and other
steamboat companies. Liquor has been
sold on river steamers for many years
without the District authorities entering
complaint, but recently Lieut.. Sutton 81
the harbor precinct was directed to ale
charges against the several ALLEGED VIC.
lators of the liquor law. The representa-
tives OF two companies. 1t Is said prom
ised to, abandon the liquor business In the
District. one of them-the Alexandra
Ferry Company-siving up the business
altogether, and the charges were noIle
pressed. One warrant issued has not
been returned to the Police Court and the
remaining case is to come before judge
Aukam the 18th of this month.
No Provision to Cover.
1t is said that the local excise lav
makes no provision for the granting Of
licenses on the river or at other than
been made for floating bars The section
of the act governing the matter of grant
ing licenses says: 1T shall be the duty
Of every applicant for a barroom license
to present to the excise board with his ap-
plication the written permission of a ma
Jor1ty of the persons owning real estate
and majority of the residents keeping
house on the side Of the square where Il
is desired to locate such business and on
the confronting side OF tbs square 'front.'
Ing opposite the same; and IL the location
OF such barroom is on corner and has an
entrance thereon, such consent will be
required from such owners and residents
on both streets. and in that portion OF
the District Of Columbia lying outside of
the said cities of Washington and George
town such applicant shall present such
permission from majority of the persons
owning real estate and OF residents keen.
Ing house within the space of $50 feet OF
Va ioou vi edcH sue OF the
place where II Is desired to locate such
business and within a similar space ON
the SIDE or the street or road fronting
opposite such place."
Test Case to Be Fought.
1t is said that the several steamboat
companies will hereafter not open their
bars on the down-river trips until the
boats have cleared the District line At
Alexandria unless the corporation counsel
finds way to have licenses granted. The
one case pending in the Police Court Il ID
said, will probably be fought to . finish
in order get a construction Of the law.
1t Is contended by some attorneys that
a license to sell liquor on the river 10 net
necessary. Steamboat representatives and
the police are looking forward with Ia
terest to the decision that IL soon to b
rendered by the corporation counsel.