Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-11

MEETING AT LINCOLN HALL YESTERDAY.
A meeting Of the friends Of religion apd
afternoon to consider the liquor license ques-
ton. There were on the platform Revs. q. W.
heech, who presided Rev: Drs. Rankin, Noble
Smith. Powers, Dennison, Kramer. Kelly.
Wynkocp and others, and In the audience were
Judge Smell and many prominent church mem
companied by organ. cornet, flute and violins.
The meeting was opened by singing the hymn
&C rGnation:" and Rev. A: F. Steele. OF the P. E.
fhe oeed Rev Mr. Leeen made
the object was to secure a more 1igid
eh11',e ne OF the law. Our youth
sn1 gue1oo 1e projected. They had presented
slOneIs Tor reorganization OF the license board
ana mad received a reply showing that some
COCO hsd been accomplished. that some progress
tne commissioners have adopted were not put
Ia force year ago. While from some portions
Vi .ne answer they feel degree of satisfaction,
yet taken as whole 1t is unsatisfactory, for the
commissioners decline to accept the suggestion
10 appoint new board; In fact their answer
Is complete vindicatiOn OF the present board
the Commissioners that the license board has
been faithful to its duties, bit say that Ia some
instances they have not performed their duty
IN, law LAY was violated In granting a license 10
lne Iheater Comique; in issuing licenses to
PAGES fronting On government property;
and IN issuing license to Bernard
Henze at the corner of 9TH and streets,
against the protests of citizens Ia thta nelsa-
DOfho00. The very character OF this meeting
SHOWS that the answer Is not satisfactory. IL
was acknowledged that on the applications
there were fOrgerieS; and it was stated last
Sunday by one OF the board that there had been
$40 applications for tippling-sn0p licenses and
all had been issued except % and the receipts
10 tie gov' rnment had been increased $4,000.
Inc charge had been made that some of the
S1gnerS on the applications were church mem
6ers, and the speaker held 1t that man was
n roll rfn rt-I1
these papers. He claimed that this board is
not pound 10 issue licenses: that 1t has diScrim-
mating power; and one would suppose that
under the law they would at least limit the
number. Here were che friends OF religion and
morality without the ordinary means of redress
If they failed, they should goto the President.
Rev. Dr. Noble was the next speaker and re.
TERED TO the action Of the central organ1za ttnn
In which ffftysiX churches and societies, with
6,ee0 pifGged men, were represented, some
few years since. in presenting petition asking
that the traffic be in a measure suppressed by
requiring strict conformity TO law. This was
nied away among the papers, andthe board vas
made TO understand that the Commissioners de-
sired the greatest amount OF money from this
source. aud In few months the number of
licensed places was increased, and the liquor
sellers boldly proclaimed, We have your TEN
perance men by the throat" AS pastor he
had Investigated some OF the licenses in SOUTH
west Washington, and had found that there
had been an utter disregard OF the law. lie
went on to specify the cases. The names were
not unfrequently forged or fictitious, ani In
one case at least there were but two names
He, however, desired to exonerate MI Dodge
who. finding himself powerless in executing the
law. resigned his position, but the other two
members were TO blame. he rejoiced tina Goa
reigns, and he believed that a new era was
dawnirg. on the city. and the law would be
more rigidiy enforced In future.
Rev. ]. T. Kelly said that the people here rep
resented the law abiding community, and the
object they had in view was the enforcement of
the law-that the good be protected and the
evil punished, They did not complain OF the
law, but OF the manner In which 1t was exc
cut. d. He then reviewed several cases OF alleged
violations or the law. 1t was said that The
present board was not responsible for these
licenses, but there were two OF the same officers
In the board. five are TO judge by the past
what can we expect In the future-when
but 20 applications out Of 600 are rejected?
When It is acknowledged that signatures
he conceded that Mr.. Dodge was a
man CT integrity, who resigned because he was
oIerruled. He read the letter Of Mr.. Cahill
clients THAT the liquor dealers should be repre-
senfed on the board If there was any change,
and said the ministers did not ask representa-
ton thereon. but that the law should be COM
piled with. Mr.. Kelly said that the expenses
OF the Police Court, prisons, &C.. footed up
S4'oo0o annually. and az it was acknowledged
That liquor caused so to Go per cent OF the crime
he took the smallest figure. and thus made
S2@5 eco as the cost OF liquor and taking the
licenses therefor, fines, &C., there was Still a
deficit OF $4,000 due from the men who say
the churches.
Rev. Dir. Riley, of Georgetown, said that de-
clded progress had been made, for the Commits
siOners were to make these applications In pub.
lie record. Some church members did not
regard the command. Drink no wine" and
slgl ed tie applications and Others rent prop
erty for liquor saloons. Voices. Turn them
Quit They will say that their business COM
Pllcations are such that they cannot help II;
but cl ucchmen should make the floors OF the
sanctuarieS too hot for the lQuOr seller. On
this question. there was no mi idle ground. The
liquor traffic Must be got out OF the world. All
he believed that it would be cradle ited
The meeting was closed With benedictiol by
Rev. Mr.. Powers.