Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-20
THE LIQUOR LrCENSE BILL.
Protests Against Its Passage in Its Present
Form.


Form.
largely attended meeting was heldat the Me-
tropoiitan Methodist Church last night TO protest
against the present form of the liquor license
bill for the District which has passed the House
and is now before the Senate. The protests by
Congressman and citizens were warmly ap-
plauded. and resolutions were adopted antago-
MIXING the feature Of the bill which came in for
particular condemnation. This feature was the
clause relieving saloon keepers from the neces-
sity of obtaining every year the consent of a
majority of the real estate owners aud house,
holders upon both sides of the block before
their licenses can be reissued by the District
Commissioners
The committee of five chosen to present the
resolutions 80 the District committee of the
Senate was Rev. Dr. Corey, +. VI. Bradley, j. W.
Van Week. 4. y. Garfield and A. Kalstrom.
The bill Was condemned as a measure pre-
pared by the liquor dealers and for the liquor
dealers III which citizens at large cut no figure.
REMARKS BY CoNGREssMES.
DIR. Corey presided and explained the pur-
pose of the meeting opposition to the most
sUperhuman effort tic pass most iniquitous
measure. He first called upon fIr. Elijah
Morse Of Massachusetts, who directed most OF
his words TO the general evils of intempersnce.
He said he did not believe i'll any license system,
because he thought it wrong TO countenance a
crime.
Representative Picker, who was the next
speaker. declared himself essentially and eter-
nally against the saloon. The west was radical
upon the question. he said. They were begin
ming to let the women vote out there and would
soon roll the reforms eastward He had not
voted for the District license bill, because be-
tween high license and free rum be was on the
fence. He believed in making the traffic obnox-
iocs and wiping it out.
CLAUSES OBJECTED TO-
Mr.. F. VI. Bradley denounced that part o!
the bill which would make the consent of d
majoity of the real estate owners and house
holders on a block once obtained, a perpetual
permission for license. The property hold
ers lived away. he said and their protest against
a saloon could not be obtained. The clause by
which saloon keeper could continue to sell
while his application for renewal was pending
would make a loophole by which the Commits
sioners could keep him established against the
protests of neighbors. The clause allowing a
Motel. with accommodations for twenty guests,
TO keep bar would result in placing a saloon
opposite the New York Avenue Church, Mr.
Bradley said. and he opposed the concessions to
clubs and balls. incidentally quoting the Arion
ball III New ORR as an example Of balls.
AN ORGANIZED DEsPoTIsM.
DR.. Corey. in closing the discussion. said he
considered the liquor interest The most marvel
Gus organized despotism in existence ard said
that there had not been a republican form OF
government in any city Of over 10000 inhabi-
tants for ten years The saloons ruled them
The liquor dealers employed skilled attorney
20 write "a bill and take it up TO Congress. Then
the committee sent an invitation to the liquor
dealers 10 come and discuss it,
They did not invite the temperance societies
or the citizens Why not send for the burga
to approve the laws against HOUSEKEEPING?