Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-08
A Bill Which Has Been Prepared For
Presentation 90 Congress-.

AOCAA OPTION IN WASHINGTON.
A Bill Which Has Been Prepared For
Presentation 60 Congress.
A PLAN 10 SUBMIT THE QUESTION OF PROHIBIT.
TON 10 POPULAR voTE-wHAT Is SAID OF
THE Observation-Disclosures OF THE BILL
&C.
bill has been prepared for presentation to
Congress providing that the question of
prohloition shall be submitted to a vote
In the District This bin. It was an
nounced in q morning paper, would be i'm
troduced In the Senate by Senator Colquitt
1t provides that residents of the District may
petition for an election, and whenever Ii, 900
OF such residents shall so petition the superin.
tendent of police shall give notice in two or
more daily papers that an election will
be held not less than sixty, nor more
than ninety days thereafter. At such eiec-
ZION all male residents, whether permanent
or temporary, twenty-one years old and over
who have lived continuously here for six
months, may vote. II majority shall vote in
favor OF the suppression of the traffic in LIQUOR
then, after the expiration Of the license in force
aiS Se hu 1e r 10 SELL barter
son or persons, Intoxicating liquors. EXCEPT in
sickness, and then only upon the prescription
votes cast be against suppression. then It shall
be lawful to continue the traffic. All sprituous
fermented and malt liquors of every kind
are denominated as intoxicating. The election
is to be held in the twenty-five election districts
provided by the late legislative assembly, and
one policeman and one civilian shall receive
the votes in each district. 1t is required that
the Commissioners shall provide a method of
registration for lawful voters Any person who
trary to this act shall be subject to tine OF not
less than 800 nor more than 5000 or fmpris-
onment from ninety days to one year, or both.
Any physician who shall sign q prescription
for liquor except where actually needed in sick
ness snail be lined not more than 500 or inn
Ofense.
WHAT SENATOR COLQUTTT SAYS ABOUT IT.
II have not promised to introduce such q
bill" said Senator Colquitt to q STAR reporter
to-day, referring to the bill to prohibit the man.
ufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors In the
about it have been spoken to on the sub
Ject and have indicated my willingness to aid
the people of the District in suppressing saloons
only rough draft, and not like what will be
introduced, If IT is to be presented by me. 1
may, and think shall, introduce bill, but 1t
will be one of moderation. shall strike at the
doggeries; that is my idea, and will not seek:
to Interfere with personal habits or personal
large public sentiment In its favor. II large
proportion OF Intelligent and respectable citi-
zens desire II, the bill will provide for an cleo
ton to test the sense of the community. But
this large body of citizens must first vote for an
election. This, think, will be in accord with
our popular idea of local selfgovernment. 1t
VIII afford the people here an opportunity, If
they choose to avail themselves of it. to give ex-
preston upon question affecting public NOR
ais. 1t they do not want the election, why they
need not ask for 1t. But any bill may offer
will be even more moderate than our Georgia
prohibition laws. AS have said, my object is
resort, and not to interfere with any persons
giving away liquor"
SENATORIAL VIEWS.
Senator ingalls,, chairman of the District COM
mittee, says he never heard of the matter until
1t was called to his attention by a STAR re-
porter this morning He added: 1--WE have the
subject before the committee now in the shape
OF measures to regulate licenses, and will act
upon 1t soon, but as yet the committee have
done nothing on that subject"
Senator Blair said: 81 have never seen the
bill, but have heard that something of that sort
would be introduced. shall be glad to see it
introduced
THE HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE FAvoRs HIGH
LICENSE.
The House District committee will not, 1t is
thought, approve of the proposition for local
option in the District They will probably re-
port to the House some measure regulating the
sale OF liquor in the District, but it will be in
the nature of high license and rigid regulations
rather than prohibition or local option.
81 am opposed to it, said Mr.. Rowell one Of
the committee, when asked by The STAR re-
porter what he thought of the proposition. "In
the first place, am opposed to submitting any
question to vote in the District. Ii the people
are gwen u vote on InlS question tney might as
well regulate all other matters. do not think
it practical to have elections in the District 1t
properly belongs to the government and Con-
est Of the welfare of the District that it should
be so. A large part of the most intelligent pop
ua1ion who on,a are most Interested in is
to Vote, and municipal affairs would you'd
be subject to the more ignorant classes.
ity. Moreover, understand that the best cit
liens do not want to vote. Washington is a
national city. The government and all the peo-
should not be controlled by anybody except by
Congress. Whatever regulations are needed
Should be made by n and the sale
not prohibited. Members believing In local
option for the states would not favor it here, as
free liquor, most likely should favor a high
license. The authorities are then given control
OF the matter and can regulate it properly.
Aside from all other considerations, am OPP
posed to submitting anything to vote of the
81 have not looked into the question, and do
not know just what the District people want"
said Mr.. Heard. "But believe the best way to
reg ulate the liquor traffic is by high license"
bell, of Ohio, "but it would take pretty strong
argument to make me believe that local option
would be better than high license. 1 voted for
high license in my own district. In fact, was
about the only man who did, the lines being
tightly drawn on prohibition and anti-prohibi-
VIEWS OF MRS. LIE FETRA.
"Local option is the most popular subject that
we can discuss in our meetings" remarked Mrs.
LeFetra, of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, this morning to a STAR reporter, in
discussing Senator Colquitts bill "The people
seem to be very much interested in it, and there
is q very strong feeling in favor of submitting
the question of the traffic and use of liquors in
this District to the test of a popular vote.'
ssDo you think that a popular election here
could be carried for local option?" inquired the
reporter.
DOT course, I can't say absolutely yes or no in
reply to such a question:" was the response.
"What the temperance people would want, if
authority was given for such a test, would be
two or three months for preparation, in order
that we might arouse the people on this great
question. I think that we would have all the
church people on our side and the better classes
OF our people. All the women are, of course. on
our side, but they cannot vote; they can only
work; but that is almost as important"
"Why not make woman suffrage one Of the
features of this bill?" inquired the reporter.
II would be in favor Of it," replied Mrs. LIE
Fetra with smile, "but then, you know, there
are great many people who, while in favor of
local option, might not favor the women voting
and it would imperil the success OF this local
option movement, which is the important
question. The colored element here, however,
is of very great importance in q contest where
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