Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-08
CLASSED AS UNF AIR
GaI|inger Bill to Regulate
Liquor Traffic Criticised.
VIEWS OF S. VERNON SMITH
Declares Proposed Measure Is Ty-
rannical and Unjust-Meeting
of Commercial Club.
VIEWS OF S. VERNON SMITH

The GaIlinger bill ito better regulate
the traffic in intoxicating liquors in the
District of Columbia was dissected and
denounced at meeting of the Columbia
Commercial Club last night in Harrison
Hall. S. Vernon Smith declared the
measure was "a covert attempt to foist
prohibition upon the people Of the Dis
trict without the consent of the majority"
Referring to section Of the bill, which
provides that the excise board shall be
composed of the Judge of the Juvenile
Court the health officer and one of the
INSPECTORS Of police, Mr.. Smith, said the
excise board members should have no di-
vided duties if the business Of the. board
is to be properly attended 10. The Off
Gals named could only give its affairs a
small part of their time and attention.
Declared to Be Tyrannica1.
He described as 'tyrannicaI and utterly
unfair that part Of the section which
provides that the action of said board
shall be final and conclusive; and that
it shall not be mandatory upon said
board to grant a license. Objection was
made to that part of section 3 which pro-
vides for the appointment of clerk at
50, 400 per annum, because 1t made an in
crease of $3.50 in clerks salary for the
property owners Of the District to pay.
Attention was called to section D. III
which the amounts to be paid by men in
the LIQUOR trade for wholesale and retail
licenses are left blank. Mr.. Smith said
he understood the retail license was to
be fixed at $500 per year. This was
declared to be an uncalled for increase.
Some temperance folks. 1t was asserted.
believed the license fee should be $l,SO
for wholesalers and 81 500 for retailers.
There was criticism of that part OF
section ) which proposes that "a Wnoie-
sale liquor license shall authorize the
licensee to sell liquors to the holders OF
barroom licenses only under the pro
visions of this act and In quantities
not less than five gallons, and not 10 De
drunk upon the premises where SOLD; ana
every place where intoxicating liquors
are sold to be drunk on the premises or
in quantities less than one gallon, whether
drunk on the premises or not, shall be
regarded as a barroom." Such pro-
vision in force, it was said. would put
out OF business one hundred dealers VINO
engage in a wholesale family liquor
business"
Another part Of section 5 it was
declared would require agents of brewer
cries who come here from other cities
to sell beer to take out wholesale
license.
Gallinger Bill Quoted.
Mr.. Smith read from the Gallinger bill
section 6, which proposes that In the
city of Washington every applicant for
wholesale or a barroom license shall pre-
sent to the excise board with his appli-
cation the written permission Of ma
iority of persons owning real estate and
a majority of residents keeping house,
including bona fide tenants in flats or
apartment houses who lease by the year.
within the square in which it is desired
to locate or maintain such business and
within the five other squares located
nearest to said place of business. and
in that portion of the District of Column
bia lying outside of the city OF Wash
ington such applicant shall present such
permission from a majority of the per.
sons owning real estate and ajority
of residents keeping house within the
space of one thousand feet of the street
or road on each side of the building
where it is desired to locate or continue
such business and within similar space
on the side of the street or road fronting
opposite such building"
1T is almost impossible to comply with
this section" the speaker declared. Ger
tainly none of the saloons in the business
haps a person might by lavish outlay
of money in the outlying districts get
the necessary signatures"
Affects Clubs and Hotels.
He said the early closing clause and
| that requiring liquor dealers to refrain
from selling their wares on Sundays and
legal holidays will apply to all clubs and
hotels. Objection was also made to the