The Washington critic., 1888-03-03
wAsHINGToN, MARCH 8, 1sss.
LICENsE-LoCAL oPTIoN-PRoHI-
BITION.

The decision of the Senate District
Committee on the subject of the liquor
traffic leaves the question in a rather
peculiar shape-to the determination
of the people. To that extent it is n
concession of the right of self-govern-
meht, though to the cursory observer
It may look like the shifting Of dis
agreeable responsibility from the
shoulders OF Congress, which is in
vested by the Constitution with the
power of exclusive legislation over the
District, to the shoulders of citizens of
the District, who possess no law-mak-
ing power, whatever.
In this instance, however, the peo-
pie are not authorized to legislate di-
rectly for themselves, but merely to de-
eide what sort of legislation they de-
sire Congress to enact.
We believe it had been better for
The committee, having expressed its
disapproval of the Platt Prohibition
bill, to have accompanied its report
with recommendation in favor Of
high license and bill to that effect
Local option answers an excellent
purpose in community of qualified
voters, and may answer satisfactorily
here after the voters have been
created, but in view of the fact that
public sentiment in the District, to
judge by expressions of local opinion
submitted to the committee, is largely
in favor of regulating the sale of in
toxicants by a judicious system of
licenses and not in favor Of an abso-
lutte inhibition Of the traffic, it seems
as if the end might be reached without
going through long process of cir
cumlocution.
The committee is to be credited with
The adoption of popular plan for dis
posing of the subject and saving itself
--tor the time being the necessity of
further contention and worry. To be
generous as well as just we would also
credit the committee with a magnani-
nous desire to let the people decide for
themselves one side of matter the
other side of which the committee has
already decided for them.
II is hardly worth while to compli-
cate the situation by raising constitu-
tional objections to the contemplated
method of adjustment. As Professor
Seelye says in his Forum article on
"0ur Political Prospects p "Our Con
stitution is neither the basis nor the
bulwark Of our rights. The rights
were ours before the Constitution, and
the Constitution rests upon these, moi
they upon it,"
To summarize: The committee has
decided TO submit the prohibition ques
ton to popular vote, with the un,
derstanding that if it is defeated high
license will be adopted. The alterna
tive to be submitted to the people be
ing only the choice between these two
systems, the committee already as.
sumes the responsibility for high Ii
cense legislation, unless the people de
clare for prohibition.
Having reached this decision, IL Il
difficult to see why the committee doe
not at once take action to carry TIL,
high license proposition into effect II
this system proved satisfactory to tn,
people, there would be no necessity fol
the doubtful and difficult expedient O.
local option, with all its delay, expens,
and confusion of registration and agita
tion.
The committee has already decided
the question for the people as far a:
would be done by establishing tn,
high license system at once and allow
ing local option to follow if popularl!
demanded
THERE is A KICK IN THE British
House of Commons now over Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain's Fish Commits
sion expense account in this country
most of which was distributed arounC
Washington, II is put in at $3.50 (
day, and Mr.. Labouchere is the oh
jeotor, but Mr.. l.. may be excused on
the ground of his ignorance Of tn
pnce of terrapin and orchids in thi
land Of freedom and protection.
CANADA IS MUCH BETTER PLEASE
with the new tariff bill than it is wit
them Fisheries treaty. Free lumbe
is what catches EN-.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A popular vote il
Washington on the question of licens
or no license, it will first be necessar
for Congress to make the voters. VIII
shall they be? Who constitute tn
people of the District? Certainly nc
the officials and employees of the Gov
ernmem, for a large proportion q
them have their voting residence else
where, though they may own propert
and spend most Of their time here
Only those, therefore, who, i
case Of the adoption OF a terr
torial form of government &c
The District, would possess the neeei
sary qualifications of voters, includin
large number whose sufIrages ON an
great moral question could in no sens
be considered correct reflex Of publ
opinion. But there are the women q
the District. They might lay claim I
the ballot on a question like tbis, an
who more justlyY And Congress, i
the exercise of It's assumed pRwer I
invest the people Of the Dislri| wit