Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-21

Out Of the many bills land limitations Of bills)
that have been Prssentedto Congress for thePur-
pose Of settling unsettling the liquor traffic
there ought to he evolved measure which will be
reasonably satisfactory TO the public wellas to
the dealers whose trade Is In theory to be reGu-
lated in the public interest. Nearly year ago
Senator Mcmillan introduced and secured a
favorable rerort upon a clean and forceful
high-Iiceuse bali. but it never got any further
than the senate calendar and the probabilities
are that IL never will II received the endorse
msnt Of the District Commissioners and was
generally approved by the many who regard
the hqnor traffic. even when conducted under
the strictest regulations, great evil
The bill represented almost the extreme limit of
municipal control Of the traffic on this side o;
sbsolu;e prohibition. Naturally il was hotly OPP
posed by liquor dealers and others leniently dis
posed toward the traffic. Some Of the objections
made 10 it were worthy Of consideration and
might have led to notifications Of the measure
in some matters Of detail if the bill had ever
been debated in Congress. 1t possessed one
merit which especially appealed to the law-lov-
ing citizens Of the District. in view Of the shfty
state Of the czis ting law and that was clearness
which rendered any evasion Of its provisions
seemingly impossible. To this very plainness
Of the proposed measure probably due
much Of the opposition to it from those who
bal profted by the ineficiency Of the ex-
isting law. Much more attention was given
the Meredith bill. which is by no means drastic;
1t raised the bar room license fee to $50,
and contained some excellent provisions, but
on the whole was favored rather by those who
are literally inclined towards the liquor inter-
este than BY those who seek 20 restrict the
traffic by the most stringent regulations. Then,
IN December last. came the Campbell bill, which
vas at once recognized the bill most sp-
proved BY the liquor dealers themselves. though
even that contained some provisions too strong
for thom "a NAV be seen BE- any one who viii
compare the original draft with the measure
Discussed Thursday by the House commit
nittee. There may be good and sufi-
cieHt reasons for giving to every person
the right to demand and secure a license
BY occupying house which has in it twenty
chambers and on the front Of which structure
/. placed hotel sign, but the experiment would
seem 10 be a dangerous one. Hotels" of the
character required by the bill could be estab-
h-hed in the heart o; respectable residence
ueighJorhoods and there would be no legal
IoNcls tAttis an dailtltaAt+AN at VI NOASAtsSs
that could proven, the opening of bar room
and the coming OF the disrepute and the de-
probation Of property values which would
almost certainly follow. The Campbell bill
called for hundred chambers in a hotel and
limited the number Of licenses 70 Eve hundred,
but the bill which has superseded it is wide open.
The Meredith and Mcmillan provision, which
made the display Of bottles or other vessels of
liquor evidence that liquor for sale, does
not appear in the amended measure. The COM
binS.ion bill j. stronger than the Campbell bill
IN one important particular; it permits agents
or officers Of the Commissioners to examine at
sny time during business hours all premises
where liquor is sold. the Campbell proposition
very strangely exempted hotels, taverns, retail
grOcers and clubs.
one concession which the combination bill
and AL the pending bills except the Mcmillan
bill makes 10 the liquor interest would be re-
gsrded as a long step backward by the temper
snce element. and that is the exemption from
the requirement Of securing upon every re-
newal of an application for bar room
license. the consent Of majority Of
the reighboring property owners and
residents. In this respect the present law il
made effcaciOus would be preferred by those
who regard this provision. practically establish
Ing local option on eve-y square in the city. as
ar effective means ci restraining and even pro-
hii.,'ns .he srafic in localities where neighbor-
hood Interests 5>mand such restriction or pro-
hibit,en
But faulty as Is the bill now before the House
committee il il an Improvement upon present
Conditions. and BIZ the tine it gets through the
House and Senate it may. to the public advan-
tlge and without disturbance to reputable
dealers. be in much better shape than i. now is.
Even it, most enthusiastic advocates expect it
vi. pe amended.