Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-22
CLUBS TO CLOSE At MIDNIGHT
NO LIQUOR SELLING AFTER To-
DAY, EXCISE BOARD RULES.
Jolly Fat Mems, Chamberlin's and
Bartenders' Union Refused Lii
censes and Fiat Goes Forth.

| Sale of liquor stops at midnight to-
night at the Jolly Fat Mems Club, the
Chamberln Club and the Bartenders'
| Union Club, If the order of the excise
| board is obeyed.
w. c. Richards, chairman of the board,
| announced that the police would be noti
| fed to see that the order Is enforced. A
| meeting of the board was held this morn
! ing, at which its former decision was
| affirmed.
The question of granting the liquor IL
censes to the clubs affected by the order
OF the excise board made Saturday was
brought UP this morning by Leon To-
briner. attorney for the Fat Mems Club.
and w j. Lambert, representing the two
other clubs. They pointed out that the
| time which the clubs were given to
range for closing out their bars was
| short and asked for an extension of time.
A motion was put to grant an extension
| OF one week. majority of the board
voted in opposition.
Attorney Tobriner also asked about the
filing of a motion for a rehearing of the
case, which must be done within seven
days after the order Is passed. Asked
regarding the plans OF the clubs, he re-
fused to make q statement.
Some OF the club managers have init
mated that they would carry the case
Immediately to the courts by keeping the
bars open after midnight tonight and then
submitting to arrest If the police interfere.
Maj. Richard Sylvester, chief of police,
said this morning that he had not received
the official statement of its action from
the excise board. He will give instructions
to the members of the police force to see
that the order Is obeyed when notified. he
said. and to make arrests if it is violated.
In discussing this morning the published
statements OF managers of some of the
clubs that they intended to fight the order
lsaf
pointed out that the granting of licenses
TO any club is entirely discretionary with
the excise board. The section of the law
governing the issuing of licenses to clubs
Is as follows:
And provided further. the said excise
board may, in its discretion. issue a IL
cense to any duly Incorporated club on
the petition OF the officers of the club, and
the said excise board may, in its discre-
ton, grant permit to sell Intoxicating
liquors to members and guests between
such hours as the board aforesaid may
designate in said permit.
During the discussion of the motion for
a rehearinS this morning the matter OF
giving the clubs a retail liquor or saloon
license was brought up. Chairman Rich
ards explained, however. that when the
club managers We're asked If they wanted
that. II they could not get a club IL
cense, they said the club could not live
with such license. Su-h license would
give the clubs no right to sell after mid
night at night and on Sundays.
Attorney Lambert, representing the
Bartenders' Union Club and the Cham
berlin Club, appeared before the board
shortly before noon and made an appltca
ton for an extension of thirty days. The
matter was argued at length by the at
torney. Then the board went into execu-
tive session to consider the application.
1t was announced shortly afterward that
the board was determined to stand by
the decision made earlier In the day,
that would liz.
uor selling I'm the clubs in question must
cease at midnight.