The Washington times., 1915-03-04
or three young men dressed In business

clothes.
I'm section 20 (b) of the rules the
board has added what 10 In effect COM
plete new section Of the law. az follows
death Of a licensee any person or per-
sons duly authorised by the Supreme
Court OF the District Of Columbia may.
with the consent in writing Of the ex-
S.ra the S no 81
sixty days. In such cases posting OF the
licensed premises shall not be required
This gives express authority for re-
ceivers. trustees, and other representa-
tives Of licensees appointed by the gu.
bia to conduct the business Of licensee
for which no provision whatever IL made
In the excise law.
Board Given Discretion.
''a The law places the maximum limit
at 800. but It gives to the Excise Board
number It may see fit to permit. The
board has not exercised its discretion
for a smaller number. The testimony
shows that 1t 10 the intention of the
board to keep the number at 800. there
by adopting the construction most IA
vorablc to tho saloons.
-. Tho law provides:
"Nor shall any barroom licensee es-
ttablish more than one bar under his
This provision has been violated in
two instances by permitting the opera
license. one At the corner Of POUR
teenth street and Rhode Island avenue.
and another at the corner Of Fourteenth
"By the operation of double bar we
mean that in each case the bar was
making about q ten-foot opening be-
tween the rooms. and running the bar
through the opening and on both sides
Of the partition separating the rooms.
Only One Entrance.
"6. The law also provides:
"Nor provide or permit to be used
more than one entrance to said bar
room from the street unless
the Excise Board shall especially
permit an extra entrance.
"This provision clearly means that no
more than one entrance shall be pro-
vided unless some special condition or
board would be expected to grant but
few such permits. According to the re.
port Of the board. out Of thirty-nine
applications for extra entrances. thirty
eight were granted and only one re-
'6 The law provides that:
mo saloon, barroom or wholesale
liquor business shall be licensed
west Of the western line Of the fire
limits as now established"
Because the time Of the passage of
the law and the time II was to 80 Into
effect. the Commissioners Of the District
Of Columbia SO changed the fire limits az
territor yinto license territory. and the
territory changed was SO small as to
raise the unavoidable presumption. IN
the opinion Of the committee. that 1t
keeping the saloons within the license
limits.
Protests Filed.
Protests were filed with the board
against the granting Of the licenses t.
the saloons thus brought within license
limits and the conditions were fully dis
closed. Although 1t had the discretion
to refuse these licenses. even though
the location might be practically out
side the p ohibited zone. and. although
fy the positive provision OF the law, the
board granted the licenses.
y. The law provides.
mot more than three saloons or
barrooms. other than In hotels or
clubs, shall be permitted upon ono
side Of a street between intersecting
streets"
Contrary to this provision Of the law
Tour saloons are now permitted to oper.
Fourteenth streets northwest. one OF
the principal business sections Of the
city. The saloon on the corner Of Four.
teen and e streets. opposite the New
willard Hotel. which is owned by Miller
brothers. had been refused license
while its entrance was on E street be-
cause there were three other saloons
located on that side Of the block. Ii
cense was then applied for by Miller
and the on %
mediately the window fronting on Four
teenth street was broken out, made into
a door. the entrance on E street wa
closed. and the board permitted the
Of the saloon was exactly where It wal
before:
THE saloon. barroom. or other
place where Intoxicating liquor Is sold
at retail shall be licensed, allowed. or
m,;sintsined n,; ,cn;n within 900 t.of feet Of any
OF places commonly called slums. ex-
cept upon the unanimous vote OF all
three members Of the said Excise
Board"
Would Protect Poor.
The plain purpose Of this provision
WAS to remove barrooms a reasonable
distance. at least. from these places
and protect to a certain extent the pool
people living in them from the banefu
influences of the same. The board hal
apparently disregarded this purpose. 4
has granted licenses in practically ever,
instance when applied for within 81
feet Of these places. and there are many
instances where there are three or four
and. in some instances. more barroomi
located within 800 feet Of single alley
80. The plaw provides:
No saloon, harroon, or other place
wherein intoxicating liquor Is sold at
retail or wholesale. other than hotels
and clubs. shall be licensed. allowed.
or maintained within 400 feet Of any
public school house. or a now To-
Gated established college or uni
versity. or with 400 feet Of any now
established house OF religious wor-
ship, measured between the nearest
entrances to each by the shortest
course Of travel between such places
of business and such public school
house. college or university. or es-
tablished house Of religious worship.
Square Cornered Measurement.