Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-24

THE oNE-MILE LIMIT SOUGHT TO BE ELINI-
MATED OR THE DISTANCE REDUCED.
In accordance with the notice given just be-
fore adjournment yesterday afternoon Sena or
Hansbrough. at the conclusion Of the morning
business today, called up for consideration the
liquor license bill Mr.. Turpie of Indiana
offered his objection and Mr.. Hansbrough
moved that the bill be laid before the Senate,
thus necessitating a roll call which resulted
AZ yeas 10 3 nays. thereby placing the measure
before the Senate.
Those who voted against the consideration OF
the bill Messrs. Berry, Blackburn, Call,
Dubois. Gallinger, Lindsey, PETER, Turpie
and Voorhees,.
AcLUB AMENDMENT.
After the bill had been read the first time Mr..
Hansbrough offered amendment TO strike
out the provision that any duly incorporated club
having license under the act NAV sell liquor
after l a. m. and inserting a clause which gives
to the excise board the right to grant in their
discretion a license to any incorporated club on
the petition of the officers of the club and give
the board further power to grant permission TO
such clubs az they may see fit TO sell liquor be-
tween such hours as they may determine upon.
MR.. GaLLINGER AGAINST THE BILL
Mr.. Gallinger made strong plea against the
bill, which he said was in opposition to the
homes of our country and in the interest of the
liquor dealers. lie went through the bill and
pointed out various sections to which
he would offer amendments at the
proper time. among them being the
provision that every place having
twenty hsbitabe rooms should come under the
hotel clause. Under this provision every dis
orderly house could obtain a license. The Ii
quor business, he said. was vicious and should
be placed under the ban of the law. No legis-
lative sanction should be given to a traffic that
destroys American homes. ruins the young
men and brings misery, pauperism and
wretchedness to the people.
Mr.. woLcorr's EXPLANATION.
/ In explanation Of the amendment Mr.. VOL
cott said that about six clubs-the Metropoli-
tan, the Cosmos, the Press Club. the Univer-
sity, the Columbia Athletic and the Army and
Navy clubs-were reputable clubs, which
should not be placed upon the basis of bar
rooms.
These clubs sold liquor not for a profit, but
at cost, and should not be under a bar room
license. At the Press Club many of the mem
bers did not get through their work until after
O'Clock and this club was TO many of its men,
bers a home.
Mr. FELTON, stated that the dealing in liquor
IN clubs was not liquor traffic, the clubs
bought their liquor in bulk and the distribu-
tion by servants Was simply at the cost price
at which the members dues bought it.
THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Mr.. Platt confessed his inability TO under
stand the amendment, and therefore could not
vote for it.
Mr.. PETER demanded a roll call on the club
amendment, the result of which AZ ayes TO
noes. The amendment by this was adopted.
Those voting against the amendment were
Messrs. Chandler, Frye, Gallinger, Morrill,,
PETER, Platt, Sherman. Teller and Wilson.
TIE oSE-MILE LIMIT.
Mr.. Hunton then offered an amendment to
strike out from the bill the provision which still
makes the selling Of liquor within mile of
Soldiers Home unlawful In support of that
amendment he had read the letter OF Gen.
/ kelton. the commandant of the home. urging
the repeal of that law. This letter has hereto
fore been printed in The STAR.
MAKE 1T HALF MILE.
Mr.. Faulkner offered as a substitute that the
| limit distance be made a half a mile He
thought the District committee would agree to
this. He believed that something should be
done to close the vicious saloons and gambling
hells at the gates of Soldiers Home. but the
| mile limit was too great, as il came down into
the city limits too far.
Mr.. Butler asked whether the objections of
Gen. kelton would not hold as well against the
halfmile limit as the mile-limit.
Mr.. Hunton said he could not accent the
substitute. The law had been originally en-
acted at the request of the commendant of the
home. The law had proved to be failure and
the commandant now asked it's repeal for the
good discipline of the soldiers. Ii was cruel TO
the inmates and worked great injury TO them.
as having to 90 a mile to get drink they did
not return until they had more drink and got SO
drunk that they fell by the wayside.'
HOW THE LAW OPERATES.
Mr.. Faulkner said that since the adoDtion OF
the one-miie limit law there had been more
i drinking and drunkenness in this city than
ever before. This was because there was at
present absolutely no liquor law in the District
and this fact discovered by the attorneys
) of men who in defiance of the one-mile limit
/ had opened saloons In that very vicinity. As
/ consequence there were more saloons now near
/ the Soldiers Home than ever before.
Mr.. Butler was of the opinion that the sub
lection of these saloons TO a license fee of S40o
| would close MANY Of these small shops in the
/ neghborhood of the home.
! Mr.. Cullom entered his argument in favor of
some legislation which would keep those small
rumholes. which were probably untitled for a
white man to enter, away from the Soldiers
| Home.
THE BILL HAS TO GIVE WAY.
While the discussion was still on the hour of
1 p. m. arrived and the unfinished business was
laid before the Senate. Appeal was made to
Mr.. Dawes. in charge Of the legislative bill. to
let the liquor bill go on. He said that If be
could be assured that it would be disposed of
| in half an hour he would do SO.
| Mr.. Frye declared that il the revocation Of
/ the one-mile limit was insisted upon the bill
would not be disposed of in half an hour. An
| effort was then made to have the liquor bill
made the unfinished business, but several Sena-
tors interposed their objection.
1t is the understanding, however. that the
liquor bill will be again taken up when the ap-
| preparation bill is ont of the Mav