Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Bad Prospects Of Liquor
Trade Cause of Retrench-
ment in Saloon Expense.
SITUATION MUCH WORSE
IN NEXT LICENSE YEAR
Four Hundred Drink Mixers Will Be
Thrown Out of Work, It
Is Estimated.

Anticipating possibility of being put
out of business with the start of new
license year. many retail liquor dealers
are already reducing expenses and pre-
pairing for the worst There are a
number Of bartenders looking for Jobs
Records of the excise board show a
total of 452 retail liquor places in
Washington, including about thirty
hotels and seventeen clubs. The law
stipulates that the total must be re-
duced to 300 by November l. beginning
the next license year. Not more than
twenty-five clubs may hold license to
sell liquor, according to the law. which.
however, places no limit on hotels.
Proprietors of saloons in the pro-
hibited zones or too near church,
school or inhabited alley hurried to the
excise board to get transfers to local
tiles where they will be able to do
business next year. Others whose
saloons are within few feet of the
legal limit to any place enumerated as
the location of their entrances, where
over possible, to escape the provision.
Business Area Increased.
What disturbed many saloon keepers
was the provision making residential
sections prohibited zones. The law
specifically states, however, that a
saloon may be licensed in a block
where more than fifty feet of the 'front.'
age, exclusive of saloon property, Is
occupied for business purposes. In or
der to insure such a business frontage,
it is stated, number of business places
have been opened in different parts of
the city
Many applications for transfers are
pending. Objection is invariably made
by Albert f. Shoemaker, counsel for
the Antf-Saloon League. In some cases
already heard protestants crowded the
rooms of the excise board to voice OBJ
lection to saloons being put in their
neiShborhoods.
Hard Problem for Board.
The excise board will seek to de-
termine early in October what 1872
sa Don keepers will have to close their
doors. The board also will decide just
what saloons will have to leave certain
blocks to reduce the number to not
more than three saloons or barrooms
other than hotels or clubs, on one side
of d street between intersecting streets
nor more than four on both sides.
On Il street northwest between 18th
and 14th streets, on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest between Sd and Az
streets and on 9TH street northwest, OPP
posite the Center Market the number
of saloons will have to be reduced to
those that will have to go will be de-
ternlned is Il problem for the board.
Police reports may have something to
do with the boards determination
1T is admitted that wedding out 152
saloons promises to be difficult. Much
thought already has been given to the
question: b.t3thc7 excise board, which has
reached no conclusion as to how to
proceed with the elimination.
The closing of 1872 saloons. it is es-
t1mated. Will put out of employment at
least 400 persons, and cause ito rent"
signs TO be set up in many vacant
$ ores. Some saloon keepers may con-
duct business not identified with the
liquor traffic in the stores they now
occupy. Many will probably go to other
cities n:erprising business men al
saloon keepers with view of selling
them saloon property i'll Baltimore.
License Tax for New Year.
Saloon keepers will be required to pay
license tax of $1..O0 the coming license
year Wholesale dealers will be required
to pay $500 few dealers will de-
liberately close their doors rather than
pay the increased license tax. Others will
be unable to raise the increased amount.
But the greater number of those who now
hold licenses will strive to get their
license money together for the coming
year, it is believed.
After the beginning of the next license
year. with a decreased number of saloons
saloon property. it is thought. will be
more valuable than heretofore. Those
who are able to hold out think they
will be able to do an increased business
The several sections of the new liquor
law that will serve to make important
changes in the traffic and that have
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