Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-01

| in issuing licenses to hotels, even
| though consent of property owners
| is given.
| Power given to excise board to
| deny license, even though there has
| been no court conviction.
| Power given to excise board to
| summon witnesses to testify under
| oath.
Important and far-reaching changes in
the present excise law of the District to
'enable the excise board to regulate the
sale of intoxicating liquors in the District
in such manner as to make the business
least Objectionable or to modify IL not
eliminate some of it's harmful influences
upon the young people of our community
have been recommended to the District
Commissioners by the excise board, with
the draft of bill amending the law.
Changes Recommended.
The changes recommended are in brief
as follows:
for keeping a disreputable or disorderly
place shall be equivalent to revocation
of his license.
Minors absolutely prohibited from enter
ing saloons
| Sale of liquor to minors illegal, whether
| or not proprietor knows the person to be
minor.
Minors who falsely represent their age
to procure liquor shall be guilty of mis-
demeanOr.
Excise board shall have discretion in
issuing licenses to hotels, even though
necessary consent of property holders
nearby is given.
Excise board shall have power to refuse
to renew license, although there has
been no conviction in court of the pro-
prietor of keeping q dsorderely place.
Excise board shall have power to sum-
mon witnesses to testify under oath be-
fore it.
The Required Signatures.
Discussing the proposed changes and
the reasons therefor. the excise board
says to the Commissioners:
"The first change proposed is to strike
out In section 5 the words land has an
entrance thereon The effect of this
change will be that when barroom is to
be required to obtain the consent of
majority Of the real estate owners and
resident housekeepers on both streets.
We think that as the residents, etc, on
both streets are affected by saloon on
the corner their consent should be first
obtained before locating a saloon in their
midst
THE second proposed change is to more
definitely fix the limits in which consent
signatures are required in the county.
Some controversy has arisen as to the
point from which measurement should be
made. The amendment will eliminate
doubt in the future.
THE third amendment is to substitute
tifying officer. When the original law
was enacted the lieutenants were in
charge Of precincts. but they have since
,een superseded by captains.
Discretion Given Excise Board.
1.-The fourth has reference to hotels, and
Is intended to give the excise board dis
erection in granting licenses. Under the
law as construed by the courts any one
securing building containing twenty-five
rooms for guests and getting the consent
signatures We are compelled to grant him
or her license. Some of these So-called
hotels are among the most disreputa BILE
and vice-breeding resorts in our city. We
have investigated a number of these no
tells, only to find that they are drinking
places with the privileges of selling after
hours and on Sundays; during the week
days a very few or no guests being reg
istered, but on Sundays several pages of
names of guests appear.
1.-THE fifth is to make the law more di-
rect in it's terms and say that when a
majority of those qualified to give con-
sent shall petition the board, stating in
SAID DCUtlOn tfldt the DidCe Is DOI noceS-
sary and is objectionable. that the license
shall not be renewed. Also to strike out
at the end of the section the words but
until such conviction such licensees IL
cense shall not be revoked or taken away
from him. The object OF this amendment
Is to make this section harmonic with
other proposed changes. It's effect will be
to revoke license during the year. for
which it is issued in case of conviction
but giving to the excise board discretion
in a license in Cuch puhprQ
disordery Objectionable places are
conducted, but when evidence is difficult
to procure that will result in cOnvic-
ton before the courts. The witnesses,
who are often frequenters of these places.
failing to see anything that would jeop-
ardize the license, and reluctantly give
any testimony of damaging nature
against the place or the proprietor. On
is very Objectionable never frequent or
patronize the place and therefore cannot
give any direct evidence of the conditions
which may obtain inside, and for this
much weight legally as the more direct
evidence Of the frequenters.
1.-THE sixth suggested change is to sec
ton 6. and its object is to make it con-
sistent with other parts of existing law.
..Seventh-ft is proposed to amend sec
ton . by requiring the permit showing
the hours the holder is permitted to sell.
and authorized to be issued to clubs by
section q, to be framed ana exposed TO
view with the license, which will enable
the inspector and officers to determine,
upon examination, If the law in regard to
hours Is being violated.
Eighth-That section Is be amended. as
proposed, to enlarge the discretion of the
excise board in the granting Of renewals
of license. etc, for without such enlarged
authority the board is powerless to regu-
late or control this traffic. but are held
responsible by public opinion for the con-
ditions which exist.
Minors Barred From Saloons.
I'VE believe that minors should not be
allowed to enter barrooms, either with or
without the consent of parents or guard
ians and for this reason recommend that
the age limit and consent of parent or
guardian be stricken out of the law.
"Ninth-For the same reason we adj
wise that the age limit be stricken out
in section 10. and that the substitute Of
fered herewith be enacted. In the SUBJ
stitute we have stricken out the word
knowingly thereby placing the respon-
sibility for the sale of Intoxicating liquors
to minors upon the licensee or his en-
ployes or agents and not upon the prose-