The Washington times., 1915-03-04
SCORE EXCISE BOARD
IN REPORT TO SENATE
Members Of Probing Committee
Submit Findings Through
; Senator Sheppard.
Continued from First Page.)

''The resolution authorixins this COM
mittee was passed in the following
terms:
rs. Res. 522)
Resolved, That the special COM
mittee appointed by the President
Of the Senate to investigate the con-
duct Of the excise board Is hereby
fully into the manner in which the
excise law, 80 called, is being ad-
ninistered in the District Of Colum-
bia, and said committee 10 hereby
authorised to send for persons and
papers. to administer oaths. to COM
pei the attendance Of witnesses. to
employ stenographers to report such
hearings as may be had at a rate not
to exceed y per printed page. The
expenses Of such hearings shall be
paid out Of the contingent expenses
of the Senate. upon vouchers to be
approved by the chairman Of the
said special committee. The said
committee IL also authorized to sit
during the sessions Of the Senate.
Many Witnesses Quizzed.
I'VE have examined many witnesses.
and submit herewith transcript Of the
evidence We have taken.
I'VE have also made personal investi-
cations Of various premises in contro-
versy.
Il We find that the present excise
board was appointed to administed what
excise liquor law of the District Of CO.
lumbia, which became effective July /.
1913. and said board was originally CONF
posed Of Joseph c. Sheehy. chairman;
Mr.. Sheehy resigned from the board
early in 1914. and was succeeded as chair
man by Robert g. Smith. who still re-
mains chairman. Cotter 7. Bride was
appointed to the vacancy thus occasion
ed, and Is now a member Of the board.
y. We find that the Excise Board
in administering the excise law has
adopted certain rules which in many
instances change the substance and
letter Of the law.
Law Regarding Hotels.
"a: The law as tS hotels .; Is as 70 follows: ,v
sued to. a hotel having less than
nifty bedrooms for guests, nor to any
hotel the character Of which. or the
character Of the proprietor or man
ager Of which, is shown to be objec-
tionablc to sa:r board"
"Ihe rule adopted by the board in the
administration of this clause Of the law
70 as follows:
Sec. 2 No license shall be issued
To- q hotel. as such. having less than
fifty bedrooms for guests"
change of the law by the board. several
hotels with less than fifty bedrooms foi
guests have been granted licenses fol
the sale of Intoxicating liquors. The
board granted these hotels licenses un.
remains. however. that they are licensed
as hotels by the District government
and are not entitled to liquor licenses
under the true spirit and purpose OF
the law.
''b. The law provides:
"'That no license shall be granted
TOR any saloon or barroom on any
side Of any square. block, or tract
of land where less than 50 per
cent Of the foot frontage. not In
cluding saloons or hotels and clubs
having barroom licenses under this
.esaso: lection is used for business pur-
Rule Adopted.
In this connection the board adopted
the following rule:
"'Section g. Beginning November /,
1914. no barroom license shall be granted
on any side Of street where less thar
b0 per cent Of the foot frontage be-
tween intersecting streets, excluding the
part Of buildings wherein barroom IL
censes are held. Is used for business
purposes: Provided. that this restriction
1T Is clear that the above proviso Is
an addition to the law which is wholly
unauthorized. Under this provision thu
board has licensed a number OF hotels
with less than 50 per cent Of the foe
frontage used for business purposes.
Licenses for barrooms have beer
given to hotels or clubs where the hotc
or club is the only business on the side
OF the square in which the same IL 10.
Gated.
&C. The law provides:
That no minor under the age Of
eighteen years shall be allowed to
enter or be permitted to remain in
any place where Intoxicating liquors
are sold, other than hotel. restau-
rant. or club"
''The rule Of the board on this sub.
jcct Is us follows;
Sec. 49, Minors under the age OF
eighteen may enter a wholesale liquor
store In case where the licensee also
sells merchandise other than intoxicat.
liquors are carried in stock and solo
In a section of the store set apart fol
that purpose by a railing: Provided
That no minor under the age o.
the place so set apart: And provided
further. That no intoxicating liquor:
shall be sold. given away. or In an!
way disposed Of to minor
Contrary To Law.
This rule permits minors to ente
stores where Intoxicating liquors ar,
sold. contrary to the express proyisio,
and real intent of the law.
ID. The law provides:
''No licensee under this section shall
sell. give away. or dispense any in
toNicating liquors to any person be-
tween the hours of 1 o'clock a. IN.
and I O'Clock a. m. nor on Sundays,
or Inauguration Day; and between
said hours, and on Sundays. and
Inauguration Day. every barroom
and other place where intoxicating
liquors are sold shall be kept closed"
1.-THE rule of the board Is as follows
"'Sec. IS (a). For the purpose of clean
ing up and doing other necessary work
licensed premises may be entered or oc
cupied by licensees and their regula
employees between 6 AS a. m. and a. m
except on Sundays and Inauguration
Day; and between the hours of 10 a. m
and IL noon on Sundays and Inaugura
tion Day: Provided, That neither sal
licenses nor their employees shall drink
sell, give away, or dispense any intoxi
eating liquors during the time mention
cd"
Men Seen In Saloon.
'Nembers Of your committee saw sew
sral individuals in several saloons dur
ing the two-hour Sunday period permit
- h,, hoo ri cla