Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-19
THE oNE-MrLE LIMIT.
Gen. Keiton Advocate. the Repeal OF the
law.
BE SAYS ITS OPERATION HAS PROVED DISASTROUS
TO the INMATES OF TEE soLprEKs HorH-uE
RELIEVES IN THE MEREDITH RIsa IIcrSsH
BILL

BILL
Chairman Hemphnl today received long re-
port from Gen. Kel;on. governor 81 the
Soldiers Home. upon the mle-linit liquor law.
Gen. Kel,on writes.
The ons-miie-l!nit law, passed. I believe.
With the best intention Of beneating the Home
BY preventing .he members from having easy
access TO Intoxicating liquors. has not oaly
iamentably failed in restraining the inmates
from becoming intoxicated and IN restraining
those living within the mile limit from selling
them liquor, but hs. doubled the number OF
inmates who return drunk from the city and
the number cf those who sell liquor 20 them.
mo Law that Congress could PASS could do
more harm 20 The Home and 10 the reputation.
10 the people within the mile lirsi; and 20 their
property than the mie-limit law has effected. -
Gen. helton SAYS that by competition the
price OF whisky has fallen so co eerts q gallon.
and is so bad tina, the number Of inmates who
fall BY the wayside and die from its effects hAs
doubled during the year.
ASKS THAT TIE LAW RE RrPEAlRp.
I'm the interest Of these hundreds Of worthy
inmates ask your most favorable consideration
OF the Meredith high license bill and tha; the
nile-limi. law be repealed.
Some OF the men at the Home will always
drink too much with this mie-limitla law in force,
Tor the reason that when they take the gisss
hat is helpful and harmful a mile or two from
home they remember that thew have 20 take the
same long walk to &c, another. it occurs TO
them 1t VIII be long time between
drinks. ard then Gdd 10 what 10
already enough. This is the reason Of their
falling BY the wayside on returning. This Is
the reason the law Is. in my opinion. a cruel
discrimination against the inmates OF the Home
n shapa aud q off
GERS OF the Home, who have rot only their In
terests and contentment at heart, but their dis
cipline to enforce
WHAT THE MEREDITH BILL WILL DO.
The Meredith bill will secure responsible
liquor dealers, who will for their own Interest
stop Illicit liquor selling in this neighborhood.
so baneful TO its property interest. So detri-
mental 10 the health and contentment Of the
inmates.
The revocation Of the mile-limit law will
enable the 200 temperate inmates % feel. TO act
and be treated like responsible men, not worse
than children.
'Of the SOS inmates of the home today over
700 have been here for wears without ever hav-
ing committed an inGiscretion greater than that
committed by the same number of good ciii-
Zens % any other community There is always
a Heating population Of the home. sixty or
eighty who forget the laws and regulations gov
erninG them and so out or are put out, they re-
pent, are forgiven and taken In out OF consider
alton FOR their services. and specially for their
disabilities, only to fall prey TO their infirm
habits again.
An 1NFfRNARY WANTED.
But 1 hope better day in this respect is
dawning upon the come: that soon Congress
willlet the commissioners OF the home have con-
troll OF the funds in the treasury belonging TO il,
SO that they can establish here an infirmary,
which they have been considering for wears
but can do nothing for lack of funds. where those
inmates who show the disease of drunkenness
may be placed by law and treated by the str
geons as for any other disease and return to
good habits There are many here now being
so treated, although under most unfavorable
conditions, with every prospect OF successful
results.
with responsible high-licensed liquor
dealers in this part of the District. their
saloons under good police jurisdiction and
with an intirmary at the home. all the dis
charged soldiers of the army entitled TO come
here, having the drink habit NAV be received
without bringing reproach upon the army or
upon Washington. The drunkards at the home
need not then be discharged 10 msest the city.
vcx the police and cause the comment Of good
citizens. They will be legally placed in the in
Urinary, be treated for their disease and be-
come right-minded citizens to glorify Gen.
Scott and the enlisted men Of the army. who
have made such home possible. and will be
source of interest and benefit only to the CAP
ital Of their country"