Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-31

To every one who has even the slightest &C
quairtance with local conditions the necessity
for q comprehensive and rigid liquor law mus
be evident Efforts by conscientious citizen.
and officers Of the law in the interest Of public
welfare have been thwarted by statutory
weakness. and ~ a depiorable consequence
the traffic which enlightened sentiment de-
clsres should be controlled is really the CONTROL
ing power. That such conditions should no,
continue IL q proposition which calls for nc
discussion in this civilized and civilizing era
nor IL there any one careless as to assert tina,
there is not In this community an outspokeu
desire for proper legislation And yet the de-
msnd IL not unanimous. Two classes whose
interests are very widely separated insist that
there be no licensing and regulating liquor
Law. and these the believers in prohibition
and those hquor dealers Who have not an atom
Of regard for the communitys welfare in their
se,nsh composition, and VINO are impatient of
all restraints upon free whisky traffic. The
former are not content TO accept the best
that can be had: the latter are
opposed to any semblance Of law. II 10 q most
extraordinary and incongruous combination Of
forces. but the alliance will probably continue
until there IL demonstration of the probability
or impos-ibility OF absolute legal prohibition
Under present conditions il would seem as
though q reasonably exalted license fee could
hardly fail 20 meet the restrictive require
msnts. but that Is Of minor importance. What
IL needed /. q law that and will be enforced.
There are now three bills before Congress.
Either Of them would improve present
conditions in At least respect but in two Of
them they are all sketched at length in other
columns are evident weaknesses and at least
one retrogrGds proposition. Viewed from an
important standpoint the Mcmillan bill is cal
Sulated 20 give more general satisfaction than
the measures faihered. respectively. by Repre-
ssu.atives Campbell and Meredith. And
-; Unnaturallv; for Senator Mcmillan
framed h. measure after the fashion
Of the Minneapolis high license law,
while Messrs. Campbell and Meredith did moth
ing more than introduce bills which while
plausible on the surface and containing some
excellent provisions paid no more heed to the
public interests than wo-ld be regarded by the
more far-sesing of the liquor men as absolutely
ssseati&l in view Of the state OF public opinion.
These latter propositions have several large
loorho in them. noticeably capscious orifice
being the one which permits druggists TO sell
liquor for medicinal" purposes, but which
fails 10 touch the physician who by wholesale
prescription counives at evasion Of the law
The Mcmillan bill seems to cover every
point about which there has been
discussion Two features Of that measure
are worthy Of special consideration. One is
the bonding idea. in which i! is provided that
every dealer who secures q license must be
vouehed for. on $4,000 real estate basis BY
two reputable citizens. Violation of the law
NAV then result in punishment in the Police
Court. revocation Of the license and forfeiture
Of the bond. The other provision is the one
which viii. IL enacted. prevent the sale Of
hqnor 10 hsbitnal drunkards IL the unfortu-
nate~ have any one who Is sufficiently inter-
ssted IN them 10 invoke the law
Citizens who are really interested in the
welfare o; Washington will render themselve.
and the community service by studying the
chapter on proposed liquor legislation. which is
TO be found in the news columns. Washington
wants the best licensing and regulating law
that car De devised. II must, however, have
some definite and enforceable law, passed at
this session. a, the very least making sale Of
liquor without a license Illegal and providing
suitable penalties. most determined effor.
should be and doubtless will be made to secure the
comprehensive law which the capital ought to
have. But If it appears that time will not sur
fee at this short session 20 pass such
measure in the face Of the opposition which
vii be encountered. the opportunity should
not be lost % slipping through brief provis-
sion Of the Kind suggested which cannot be
opposed eNesp; b. the few who are willing to
openly declare ,or lawlessness, and which will
not be Substitute for or an obstacle to the more
comprehensive regulation. when the time at
which u can be passed shall arrive.