Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-26
The New License Law.

The Commissioners committee which
some time ago undertook to revise and
bring up to date the Districts anti
quated license law of 1902 has COM
pleted its task and laid the finished
product before the Gibson subcom-
mittce of the House, at whose sugges-
ton the revision was made. AS the
bill incorporating the proposed changes
correctS certain abuses which have de-
veloped from lack of proper regula-
ton and more evenly distributes the
license tax burden among those insti-
buttons and individuals which in equity
should share it, it is to be hoped that
the legislators will make it their bust
ness to push the measure through Con-
gress during the present session. The
BILL or one like it, should have received
attention long ago. There is no ex-
cuse for further delay.
AS revenue-producing measure the
new bill would add about fifty thousand
dollars more to funds raised in the
District. The old bill, producing APP
proximately thirteen thousand five
hundred licenses, brought net profit
to the District of about sixty thousand
dollars. The new measure would re-
suit in the issuance of about sixteen
thousand five hundred licenses and
produce net profit to the District Of
one hundred and ten thousand dollars.
But the revenue-producing aspects Of
the measure are not as important as
the remedial effects to be expected in
connection with some unregulated prac-
tees now existing in the District. 1t
requires for one thing, license of five
dollars for those professional guides who
undertake to pilot visitors through the
city and who at present are able to
come and go at will under no SEM
blance of supervision as to their char
acter or qualifications. The bill would
place with the superintendent of police
the authority to license guides and
would empower the police to require
them to wear proper badges as a means
of Identification. The new bill hits at
the nuisance of doorbell ringing by
agents and solicitors who go about
seeking orders in advance for articles
to be delivered later by requiring that
they be examined and licensed by the
police, the license to cost five dollars.
The licensee must also post five hun
dred-dollar bond. This enables the au-
thorities to require from door-to-door
solicitors and agents a guarantee as to
their own responsibility and the re-
sponsibility of the organizations they
represent.
Dealers in dangerous weapons must
pay license of fifty dollars annually.
While such regulation would not ac-
complish great deal to restrict the
unregulated traffic in dangerous weap-
ons, it would in part correct the pres
ent condition which permits anybody
anywhere to sell such articles without
police supervision. The license fee for
taXicabs is raised from nine to twenty
five dollars for each vehicle; there is
an increase in the license on sight
seeing vehicles, and the ubiquitous clair
voyants and fortune tellers must, under
the bill, pay license fee of two hun
dred and fifty dollars in place of the
twenty-five now demanded.
One of the important provisions of
the bill is to base the license for buses
on mileage, in place Of the nine-dollar
fee now exacted. Under the old sys-
tenn there is discrimination against the
BUSES maintained and operated by the
traction companies, which now pay
four per cent on the gross income.
These are only few of the many
changes covered by the new bill, but
they indicate the general intent of an
important measure for Washington
| which demands the attention of Con-
| greSs.