National Republican., 1884-01-21
FIGHTING THE BILL.
A Grand Mass Meeting at Masonic Temple
Yesterday.
The Clergy, the Lawyers, and the w. c.
n. u. n Opposition.

Masonic hall was crowded yesterday at the
temperance mass meeting called for the dis
cussion of the liquor license bill, now in the
hands of tho congressional committee on the
District of Columbia Mrs G. l.. Roach,
president, occupied the chair. Mrs. NJ Stevens
Hart read the Scriptures and Rev. Mr.. Burk-
hart made the opening prayer. Mr. L. Ii.
Thomas had charge of tho music.
DIR. Presbrey was introduced and presented
tho report of the committee appointed last
Sunday to wait upon the commissioners. 1t
was to the effect that the com nmittee had per
formed that duty and found that the proposed
license bill had been sCnt to congress, and
recommended the appointment of II commit
tee consisting of Rev. DR. Faunce, Mrs. Roach,
and II. A. Hall, tho names of Rev. DIR. Cox
and b. II. Warner being added on the adop-
tiou of the report, to place before the district
committees of the senate and house the OBJ
ieCtions to that clause of tho bill which por-
mits liquor dealers to continue their business
without the annual consent Of the household
ers, and to any other Objectionable features Of
the proposed law.
Mr.. A. NJ. Brant, Of Georgetown, was then
introduced and said that no thinking person
would defend the liquor traffic from q moral
standpoint. 1t was astonishing that mon
could be found who will try to fasten still
to-day brought face to face with such a
measure in the proposed license bill. He had
no harsh words for its trainers. The fact that
the liquor men were so much in favor of it
ought TO arouse the people to action.
Rev. George o. Little, pastor of Assembly
church, said by the provisions of this bill the
liquor men are trying to get rid of the re-
strictions heretofore resting on them
At present they must obtain consent of
certain majoritics of citizens. Our resi-
dents on any square are changing
every year, in fact every month. 1t is now
proposed that the opponents to the saloon
shall get the majority, in order to close one
already licensed, thus throwing the burden
of petition on the other side and save the
saloon keeper the humiliation, as he calls it.
Gen. William Birney said as attorney for
this district some ten years ago he had much
experience with the liquor dealers. He found
there were then about 400 licensed saloons,
aud that the laws respecting them had not
been executed. Fines If ordered had not
been collected He succeeded in collecting
some, but found great difficulty in trying
such cases before courts which were in SYM
pathy with the liquor traffic. He had known
the Judge to send TO n saloon near By for u
dram and drink it preparatory to trying
case he had called against liquor seller
The liquor men formed an association some
years ago, and by that means had accom-
plished great deal in their favor through
congress and otherwise. They had increased
the number of grog shops to 1.19S by official
count: or one saloon for about every thirty
men. They have introduced liquor selling
by nearly every grocer. and he comes in con-
tact with your children and your servant
They have reduced the tax on the wholesale
dealer. who ought to DO made to pay more,
for he sells more liquor than the retailer
The liuuor dealers have come to be recognized
as business men. The commissioners even
sent for them and conferred with them us to
the tax they ought to pay. He supposed they
would next send for the thieves and the
burglars and confer with them in regard to
their business also.
The bill does not provide for reducing the
number of grog shops. Their number now is
lar beyond the needs of city of the size of
this. One hundred would be enough, and ii
congress will still inilict them upon us let
them be reduced to the needs of the people
and then placed in some locality set apart for
this social evil so that we can have
our residences II mile away from them
if we wish. This bill makes no pro-
vision for the inspection Of the liquors
He told of having visited some years since
an establishment in New York. where he
saw them making brandy which sold for SO a
gallon, as the proprietor told him, at 20 cents
per gallon. This bill does not refer the ii"' or
to the proper persons. 10 ought to be re-, ed
to the mothers of the district. He referred
TO some progress made in favor of temper
ance, mentioning the temperance eating
houses which had been established through
the efforts of few temperance women some
years ago to lie Droit park, where no liquors
! can be sold, and to the forbidding of Licenses
to retail liquor stores within 400 feet of a
school house.
Rev. DR.. Cox said he was heartily in favor
of every practicable measure for doing away
| with the sale of Intoxicating liquors i'll this
city and every other place ON the face of tho
| globe. So much evidence has accumulated
| in regard to the evils of intcmporance that il
| needed no argument to show it is the creates
| aiiliction on society that it allows to exist
| Is it lust to tax the people for the burdens o
the iquor traffic, SO that q favored few shal
be supported and live on the sorrows anC
degradation of others? The trouble is thu
public mind has been blinded. 1t is
false notion that the revenue frou
The proposed law is compromise with the
liquor dealers, and why should the commits
soners surrender any of our rights? If 81
looms 90 on increasing as they have in tn
past it will not be long till people will qni
turning their eyes toward Washington as
place of retirement.
The report of the committee was taken ant
adopted.
The following resolutions were unanimousl.
adopted, and copy ordered to be forwarde,
to the President of the United States:
Whereas the Woman's Christian Temperanc
union OF the District of Columbia, after CAREFUL
considering the bill proposed by the committee 4
all its probable bearings on the temperance cues
ton, still regard with alarm the pruvisO of sectio
IL, which virtually does away with local option o.
our squares annually: Therefore
Resoircd That we earnestly protest against tn
passage Of this proyiao and all our energies sha
be cXerted against 1t.
ResOiUcd, That in the opinion OF this meetin
the appointment OF any man other than one
known temperance habits 10 the Office of distriC
attorney for the District OF Columbia would be in
furious to the cause Of temperance aud moralil!
The meeting then adjourned to 3 o'cloc
next Sunday at the same place.
"DRINK, pretty creature, drink" u little at
time, and you Will relieve your cold and not rac
your chest and lungs 10 pieces aud keep everl
body else in Il state OF agitation. You surely ougf
to spend quarter for bottle of DR., Bulls Coug
Syrup. 1t will pay
The Real Estate Brokers.
In the police court on Saturday the ca,