Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-12
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
A Hearing by the House COMMITTEES ON the
One-Mile Limit Liquor Law.

Hearing by the House COMMITTEES ON the
One-Mile Limit Liquor Law.
The judiciary subcommittee Of the House
District committee gave hearing this morning
to persons interested in the bill providing that
the act prohibiting the issuing Of liquor
licenses within one milo Of the Soldiers Home
shall not apply to any part of the city Of WASH
ington within the city's corporate limits.
Col s. R. Stratton, Mr.. Alex. s. Clarke, Mr..
H. ]. Mattern, Mr.. Henry Jaeger, Mr.. W. W.
Elliott, Mr.. A. L. Conway, Mr.. Henry Heine
and Mr.. Warren c. Stone appeared before the
committee in favor of the bill
Mrs. La Fetra, president Of the ". c. T. q. Of
the District, and Mrs. L. A. Williams, treasurer
OF the same. Mrs. NJ. NJ. Smell of the National
w. c. I. o., Mrs. E, A. Cameron, Mrs. ]. Ellen
roster and Mrs. W. 7. g. Curtis were present to
oppose the bill.
Col. Stratton. as attorney for those favoring
the bill, addressed the committee. He con-
tended that existing law gave the Commission
ers control OF the liquor question without Con-
gress passing the law which this bill seeks to
amend He held that the proscriptive laws re-
iatlng TO the liquor traffic in the vicinity Of
the Soldiers Home seem to argue that the old
soldiers are hopeless drunkards and that the
name Of the institution should be changed to
the home for inebriates. He advocated amend
ing the law, because it works an injustice to
worthy citizens and property holders.
MIR. Alex. s. Clarke testified to a depreciation
of the value Of his property located within the
mile limit since the law was enacted. Mr..
Clarke read o list of business properties on It'll
street which have been closed since the law
went into effect. Mr.. Clarke and Mr.. Heine
whose holdings are alleged to be worth nearly
Sl,0 900 favoring the repeal Of the one-mile
limit law.
Mr.. Heine testified that the governor of the
Soldiers Home had told him that the one-mile
limit law had not decreased the purchase Of
liquor by the inmates of the home. They
went further into town to got it.
Col Stratton read a copy Of letter from the
Distrlct commissioners to Chairman Hemphill,
recommending adverse action on the bill under
consideration, on the ground that they are
satisfied that the measures sought to be re-
Toked have been entirely in the interests Of
public order and private welfare. Col Stratton
stated that the Commissioners had promised
the liquor men hearing upon their recon-
mendation of this bill, yet the foregoing letter
Was transmitted to Mr.. Hemphill February 8
and no hearing was granted.
Mrs: j. Ellen Foster, In opposing the bill, de-
MED that property had been deprecated by the
one-mile limit law. She held that morality and
decency required tho enactment of the law
She denied that the law fixed the stigma upon
the old soldiers alleged in the argument of Col
Stratton. She said the whole atmosphere of
the prescribed district had been purified by
the law.
Mr.. Curtis, in opposition to the bill, also de-
MED the statement that property had depreci-
ated. 1t ls true a number of properties which
were occupied by saloons we're vacated, but
they are being gradually occupied by mer-
chants doing legitimate business
MIR. Paul, a real estate dealer handling prop
erty in the prescribed district testified to a
general and healthy increase in the value Of
property.
Mrs, La Fetra said she had peraonal knov1.
Mr.; Jno. G. Willy opposed the bill in q short
speech.
TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS
The Senate yesterday passed the Senate bill to
prevent fraudulent transactions on the part Of
the commission merchants and other consgnees
of goods and other property. This bill pro-
vides that If any factor. commission mer-
chant, conslgnee or any person SELL
ing goods on commission or the agent, clerk
or servant of such person shall convert to his
own use in the District Of Columbia any
provisions, fruits, flour, meats, butter,
cheese or any other goods, merchandise or
property or the proceeds Of the same and shall
fail to pay over the avails or proceeds less
his proper charges within five days after
receiving the money or its equivalent
from the purchaser or purchasers of
made therefor by the person entitled to re-
ceive the same as his or her duly authorized
agent, he shall be deemed guilty OF INSIDE
meanor, and, upon information and conviction
in the Police Court of the District, shall be
fined not more than one thousand dollars or be
imprisoned not exceeding six months or both,
in the discretion Of the court.