National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-19
THE LIQUOR DEALERS.
PROPOSED ORGANIZATION FOR PRO
LECTION.

WHY THEY OPPOSE THE LIQUOR FEATURE
OF THE MORRILL, BILL RESOLUTIONS
PASSED BY THE MEETING YESTERDAY
A FIGHT IMMINENT.
A meeting Of the hotel and restaurant-keepers
10 the number Of about one hundred was held
yesterday afternoon at Sengorbund hall. The
meeting was called to order by Mr.. Louis Schade,
chairman Of the citizens committee, who stated
the objects Of the meeting to be for the purpose
Of asking that steps be taken against the threat
ened danger in the Morrill, bill to the liquor
dealers.
On motion Of Nj. Browning, the following were
elected officers Of the meeting: President, John
H. Russell; vice president, Geo. Jeunemann;
secretary, Samuel @. Palmer; treasurer, John
Buehler.
Mr.. Russell, on taking the chair, returned
thanks for the honor conferred.
OBJECTION TO THE BILL.
MI Browning asked that some of the obiec-
tionable features in the bill be explained, where
Mr.. Schade read a part setting forth that the
bill gives power to the police and damages those
selling liquor, and allows the police to frequently
inspect their premises and articles for sale. This
he thought, placed the liquor-seller in an aWk-
ward position. The bill also fOrbids any honest
man from carrying on the business, and throws
He spoke Of the foreign born citizens, and re-
feTred to their enjoying themselves on Sunday,
and claimed that the bill broke up all their pleas
ures and prevents them having glass Of beer on
Sunday. This will necessarily require Congress
to cause to be built at least six more tails as this
portion of the bill will certainly be disObeyed,
and, as matter Of COURSE those so violating it
will be arrested and imprisoned. This, he thought
was cruel, and would have the effect to cause
3 decrease in emigration. During the past year
emigration decreased 10000. The Temperance
men think this will aid their cause, but in this
they are greatly mistaken, for those who drink
home.
He next took up the bill section by section crit
icised it bitterly, and closed his explanation by
saying the bill was cruel, unjust and one that
would likely break up honest mans business.
He dWelt particularly on the clause which relates
to the damage law which he said was brutal IN
party had been beaten in consequence Of its tenn
perance prOclvities, and the members thereof are
beginning to see their error. The people in the
District will not submit to haVin,, tho city made
an experimental garden for te Ia Derance. He
begged his hearers to defend them selves by ap-
peallng to Congress.
The secretary read an abstract from a West
Chester lPa.) paper in regard to the evil effects
Of local option in that section.
On motion Of Mr.. Peterson, Messrs. r. Peter
SOD, H. Browning, and L. Abner were appointed
by the chairman q committee to draft resolutions
RESOLUTIONS.
The committee, through Mr. Schade, reported
the following:
against the passage Of the bill introduced in the
United States Senate by Senator Morrill,, emit
tied "A bill for the better government Of the Dis
tTct Of COlum bia" as under its provisions we will
be deprived Of some of the most invaluable rights
Of American citizens, and placed upon the same
footing with keepers Of houses Of ill-fame and
gambling bells.
p 51i:e@ lat we are utterly opposed to the
therein proposed enormous increase Of license, as,
in cur opinion, and in consideration Of the present
hard times, one hundred dollars per annum, as
now fixed by law, is sufficient for all purposes.
Resolved, That the arbitrary power allowed in
that bill to the board Of excise makes us mere
Outcasts, annihilates the legal status Of bust
ness, and affords miserable and worthless specu-
latOrs an'OppOrtunity to sue US for high damages
without having committed any wrong, and de-
streys in the end business recognized as legiti-
mate and honorable by all civilized nations,
and which is taxed as such by the Federal
Government.
ResoIUed That some Of the provisions in that
bill act as eI post fGcfO laws destroy the validity
Of contracts, simply because, for instance, per
son keeping 4 restaurant or hotel within two hun
dred feet from church cannot, therefore, obtain
license.
Resolved, That It is cruel and altogether wrong
that a second violation Of the many unjust and
unconstitutional provisions of that bill shall cause
3 forfeiture of license, and also Of large Of
money; and that we are satisfied that such viola
tiOns, as heretofore, shall be punished by fines
and regarded as simple breaches Of police or
municipal regulations, as iscustomary in all large
cities.
ReSoIved That we do not believe that the peo-
pie OF this country are in favor Of making the Dis
Irtct Of Columbia an experimental garden for EX-
PLODED "IsNs," and which they have only re-
gently Te1pdiated almost in every State where
elections have been held.
Resolved, That we most respectfully petition
Congress not to pass an act that Will make the
keeping Of hotels and restaurants disreputaOle in
this District. and compel every honorable man,
at q great loss to himself and family, to dispose
Of his business, whereby, as q consequence, such
8 business will get into the hands Of persons who
have no character TO lose, and who do not care
about the respectabity Of their calling; in fact,
will not be above the the keepers Of houses
Of prostitution, with whom on equal footing
the Morrill, bill proposes to place every hot Gland
TestaUrant-keeper in this District.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Browning moved that q committee Of three
be appointed to prepare suitable bill in lieu of
that portion Of the Morrill, bill which relates to
the liquor tTatic. Adopted.
MORE RESOLUTIONS.
MI. Abner submitted the following resolutions:
Whereas IL seems TO be the intention Of our law
makers and rulers TO pass and enforce arbitrary
and usuriOus laws against liquor dealers in this
District, and to put them to all the expense, in
convenience and trouble they can, and placing
them on an equality with dishonest and disrepu-
table persons, and TO make them feel degrade
tic i and dishOnOr which they do not merit or de-
serve: Therefore, be Il
Re5olred, That it IS to the interest OF every
hotel and Testaurant-keeper in the District Of Co
lUmbia TO assist in the formation Of permanent
organization, in order to protect themselves
against the unjust and tyrannical laws which
have been and are about to be passed to break up
tnelT business, thereby Illuminating and QegraQ
ing hem as men; therefore, il possible. to remove
from our shoulders the Odium and stigma placed
there by our legislators.
RcS0iUCd, That the chairman Of this meeting be
authorized to appoint q committee to wait on the
different men engaged in the liquor business, and
urge upon them the importance and necessity Of
meeting together At the time and place desig-
mated by the chairman Of this meeting for their
mutual interest and protection.
Adopted.
Mr.. Junemann said this interested every bust
ness man, whether a hotel or restaurant-keeper.
This bill Injuries them all. He hoped all would
bind themselves together and fight the measure.
Mr.. Russell said IL was necessary that the re-
tail dealers form an organization through which
they could protect themselves, and he asked that
every man take an interest, and join the Organi-
cation at once.
The Chair appointed the following gentlemen
as the committee TO draft a bill: Messrs. 5. Z.
Palmer, Louis Schade and II. Browning.
The following were appointed as the committee
10 wait on the various liquor dealers and assist in
peTleCting an organization: Messrs. X. Peterson,
John SprUhs. Geo. Jeunemann, John Kaiser, J a.
cob Roth, James DOnnelly and Richard RObO.
The chairman was authorized to increase the
latter committee whenever he deemed it proper.
The meeting then adjourned to January s. at