Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-19
LIQUOR LAW CONFERENCE
A Committee From the Anti-Saloon League
at the District Building.
They Earnestly Urge the Commission
ers 10 Eaforcs Existing Law With
out Regard to Pending Legislation.

The Commissioners were arraigned this
morning in the board room by committee
representing the Anti. saloon League. Sew
eral days ago the Commission ers were re-
quested to give public hearing to this
committee, and promptly at IL o'clock to-
day DIR. l.. B. Wilson, who is the president
of the league, appeared at the District
building with his com mittee. They were
ushered into the board room, and after the
Commissioners had taken their seats Mr.
Wilson stated the object of the hearing
He said it was to urge the Importance Of
observing the laws air eady on the statute
books, and while the committee was pres
ent in the interest Of temperance, 1t also
had higher purpose. 1t was to have the
executive officers administer justly the laws
already on the statute books. 1t was nee
essary not only for the good of the country
that it's laws should be enforced, but also
for the education of the people
The laws of the land are the bulwarxs of
our liberty and the foundation upon which
our country rests. The liquor power of the
land, he said, has laid hands upon its laws
and the executive officers of the govern
ment--yes, even the highest-had condoned
violations Of the law. Pardon followed
rather than punishment 1t was certainly
not conducive to good government for
mercy 10 the ldWDredker Is unmercl1ul TO q
larger multitude and it should be the duty
of the Commissioners to see that the laws
are promptly executed
He referred especially to the inactivity on
the part Of the Commissioners to enforce
the 40O-feet rule in relation to hotels and
wholesale places. 1t will be recalled that
the Commissioners have allowed all hotels
and wholesale places within 400 feet of a
school or church to continue business pend
ing legislation on the subject, and 1t was
for this reason that the Anti-Saloon League
entered its protest.
An Alleged Favored Glass.
Mr.. A. N. Garfield, who has been identi-
fled with temperance work for several
years, was the next speaker. He said he
represented every Christian denomination
and every temperance organization in the
District of Columbia. Their sentiment was
indicated he said, by the action of the
christian temperance elements OF the Dis
trfct In forcing amendments into the bill
proposed by the liquor dealers, provisions
which they now seek to have enforced.
The law has been in existence over one
year, and should have been enforced six
months ago. But there was favored class
The hotels and wholesale men had not been
disturbed, although they were within 400
rect OF a school or church, for the reason
that there was expected legislation which
would not affect them. The Anti-Saloon
League did not want exceptions.
There are none in the law and such ex-
eepuons will tend to break down the laws.
We simply demand that the plain law of
the District be enforced without fear or
favor. If the law is bad change 1T, but
good or bad. enforce 1t. Let US have a
wholesome respect for law because II is
a law.
1t is a strange doctrine that the present
unquestioned law may be disregarded, vio-
lated and defied In anticipation of legisla-
ton. No community can maintain a whole
some regard for law unless Ii is respected
and enforced by those whose duty it is to
enforce it or where the law is enforced i'm
partially. Not many years hence, contin-
ued the speaker impressively, the city of
Washington VIII be protected by absolute
legal prohibition of the liquor traffic. Then
the inevitable howl viii be raised. 'prohi-
bition does not prohibit" Attention will
be called TO the speak-easies. dives, blind
tigers, &c. And those institutions will
then be here: they will be here in de-
are now being taught to disregard all law
by seeing others allowed to set at naught
the law made for their suppression. What
soccer a man soweth. that shall he also
months have passed since the new liquor
law became effective and many saloons are
now open In violation thereof.
These saloons ask for exemption because
they anticipate change of the law II
they do not respect the present law, what
assurance have we that they will respect
new law? The Anti-Saloon League does
not demand that when a license is rejected
",
believe that they should be given a reason
able time to dispose of their stock in trade
The CommissiOners' Position.
The speakers attention was called to the
saloon of Hummer & Ross, a license for
which was rejected some time ago, and
which is still open. He said he did not
know how that was.
Commissioner Ross was little worried
over the remark of the gentleman. and
said that the Commissioners believed as
he did in giving the saloons a reasonable
time to sell out or close up after rejection,
and this was the reason this place had not
been closed. At the suggestion of Capt.
Powell, Commissioner Ross continued
This subject is full of administrative diff
ficultes. 1t Is the first year we have had
a good law, ard there are many difficulties
which the Commissioners are seeking to
overcome. Now, this hotel question you
mention is one of them. We have two
opinions in the Office from our attorney in
which he holds that they are not affected
by the 400-feet rule. People of the intelli-
gence you seem to be endowed with could
not expect US to act radically in this mat
ter especially when legislation was pending
which would satisfactorily dispose of the
question. You should give credit at
least of a desire to enforce the law"
DIR. Wilson said in conclusion that the
Anu-Saloon League was not unapprecia-
tive of what had already been done, and
begged to assure the Commissioners that
possible to help the Commissioners enforce
the law.
1--WE are assured in this matter" said
Commissioner Ross, slowly, that We are
| acting in the best interests of the citizens
of the District of Columbia and thank you
for your views and will give them consid-
eration.'
The members Of the committee present
were as follows: Rev. L. B. Wilson, presi-
dent; A. N. Garfield. James L. Erwin, vice
president j. j. CLEARWATER r. A. Dins-
more, Mrs. NJ. E. Griffith, Mrs. Lydia Til
ton, Mrs. H. A. Clearwater, Mrs. Clinton
Smith, Mrs. Hartsock, h. F. Bingham, Rev.
z. o. Eldridge, Jesse C.. Suter.
THE "DOCKlNGv OF MEMBERS.