The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-27

has not attempted to provide by law, In
some degree, against the evils Of intemper-
ance. Any extended review of these evils
has been made unnecessary bv the thorough
and exhaustive ire stment which the subject
has received in speeches addressed to this
House during the last and the present Con-
aress by the able Representative from New
Hampshire, (Ar. Blair.)
1t is NO doubt true that we can attain only
approximate accuracy in the statistics Of
crime and misery which the traffic in alco-
holic beverages furnishes US, but we all do
know that the calamity is SO great that it
would be difficult to find any statistics that
could accurately measure it, or any imagina-
ton, should such statistics be reached, that
could fully embrace their meaning. The
quality of our statistics, however, viii be
greatly improved whenever the House will
consent to pass the Senate bill to provide for
q commission on the subject of the alcohol
ic liquor traffic'-a good work which hope
we shall accomplish before the close of the
session. Such q commission could not do
everything, but II could do much. 1t could
extend the bounds of accurate knowledge in
regard to our monster evil, and SO far as 1t
should go, would give us a body of facts
which would be authoritative and which
could not be attributed to party prejudice or
to the extravaganza Of high-wrought feeling.
Unhappily the district of Columbia is not
free from the calamity which sffiicts other
portions of the country The evil exists
here in such proportions as to challenge at
tention and demand legislative remedies. In
saying this / do not at all express approval
Of statements which have sometimes been
published that Washington is among the
most disorderly, Incorporate and immoral
cities Of the Union. On the contrary, l be-
lieve that the opposite of this is true. lam
convinced that the relative character OF this
city for sobriety and good order is very high.
But, while Washington may justly claim this
relative merit. the evils resulting from the
sale of Intoxicating drinks in this District
are absolutely very great. As introducing
us at once to some knowledge OF the extent
of these evils, present to the House an ex-
tractfro letter which have recently re-
ceived from the excellent superintendent Of
police, who has devoted himself to the cause
of good order and sound morals In this me-
tropolis with unusual courage and earnest.
ness. He says:
1T is safe to say that seven.fenths Of all
arrests made are due directly to the immod-
crate use of intoxicants. .-r --.....
There are at present upwards OF five hun
DIRE licensed bar-rooms In this District, and
it is estimated that there are at least three
hundred additional places where liquor is
sold contrary to law
Ifany apology were needed for introducing
into this House a bill to protect the people
from the evils of intemperance, certainly an
ample one would be found in the fact that
seven-tenths OF all the arrests made in the
very city where we assemble are due to this
cause. But what are the number and char
acter of these arrests? A satisfactory an
swer to this question may be found in a sum.
mary of arrests taken from the report of the
operations Of the police department for the
past year, furnished me by the superintend-
ent, from which VIC learn that the number OF
arrests was II, 1888; seven-tenths Of which, or
S,6SS, according to the safe estimate Of the
superintendent, were due to the immoderate
use of intoxicants. Other painful facts are
disclosed. Nearly one half of the arrests, or
5,3l5, were of native white persons. The Of
fenses against the person are S,19S, or nearly
three-fourths of the Whole. Two thousand
seven hundred and sixty persons arrested
almost one-fourth of the entire number
were between the ages of ten and twenty,
mere boys and girls. Keeping these deplor-
able facts in mind, and remembering in how
large degree they were produced by intoxi-
eating ks, furnished by eight hundred
tippling houses, three hundred of which
exist in defiance of law, we shall see how
little excuse there can be for apathy on this
subject in .his House, to which, with the 9TH
er branch of Congress, has beergiven by the
Constitution power 'to exercise exclusive
legislation over the District of Columbia.
Facts like these have made me feel that l
could not justify myself in remaining quiet
In my place without attempting to secure the
passage OF some bill like that which have
The regard which we feel for the virtue,
intelligence and happiness Of the people the
desire to promote the general welfare which
is, no doubt, sincerely felt and is often ex-
pressed upon this floor, the very pride which
we take 10 this capital of our common coun
try, should prompt us to adopt some form Of
remedial legislation. ,- l-
Some law to provide against the evils OF
intemperance in this District Is demanded
not only by the sense of duty but by the best
public opinion. Early in the present session
/ had conference upon this subject with the
District commissioners, the major OF police,
clergymen, business men and other promi-
nent citizens, all of whom / found deeply
interested in this question of good order and
public morals. At later period petition
was entrusted to me signed by the accredited
representatives of fifty-three temperance or
ganizations, secular and religious, represent
ing more than six thousand members-a petit
tion which presented to this House and had
referred to the Committee for the District OF
Columbia. In compliance with the earnestly
expressed wish Of these petitioners, and in
accord with the Judgment of many intelligent
citizens, offered to the House the bill which
has been read. No bill could be more rea-
sonable and moderate and retain any con-
siderable degree of efficiency.
It's PROVISIONS will require little explana-
tion. Sections and 2 make 1t a criminal
oGense to sell intoxicating drinks to minors
or to persons in the habit of becoming intox-
Gated. Iwin venture to say that no member
of this honse will object to these provisions.
No sane man will contend that Intoxicating
liquor should be sold to either of these class
es. Sections substantially like these have
long focmed q part of our Ohio law, where
they have produced excellent results in pro-
tecting those who are least able to project
themselves. Section provides suitable
penalties for the violation of the provisions
of sections and 2. ;..
The object of section four is to break up
those places where intoxicating liquors are
sold contrary to law. These places defraud