The Washington times., 1895-06-24
Law Violated at the Behest of
Some Unseen Power"
ANTI-sALook LEAGUE REPORT
Second Anniversary Celebrated at the
Church of the Covenant Eleven
Liquor Sellers Are Dispensing Drink
without Licenses-NearIy All Have
Bad Observation-Disclosures.


second anniversary last night with a spe
Cial programme Of exercises at the Church
OF the Covenant, and among other things,
received the annual reports from its officers.
Among the more prominent features was
report, submitted through the execu-
tive committee, concerning matters pending
before the excise board, and the work of
the Leagues attorney, from which it was
learned that eleven applications for license
that were filed last November are still
pending, the applicants meanwhile being
engaged in liquor precisely as though they
had the permission of the board through the
regular channel, and this the League regards
as a clear violation Of the spirit of the law.
HAS 1T AUTHORITY?
The question was asked, in the report,
whether or not the excise board has the
authority under the law to defer action on
applications for an indefinite period, and it
was excepted to upon the grounds that If
they can be held for eight months without
action, why not excuse the board entirely.
The boaro, 1t is alleged, bases It's action
upon the seventeenth section OF the law. and
the opinion expressed was that under the in
depreciation given il, the improved new
liquor law u man need never make but one
application for license.
1T is clearly the duty of the board" " says
the report, mot only to consider an applica-
ton, but to act" in support OF which
portion Of section was quoted Nearly
all of the applicants have bad records, or
are badly located" the report reads, "and
the board evidently has objections 20 the
places, but some unseen power prevents it
from taking action ia conformity with its
own convictions and probable wishes"
ERNEST LOFLER'S CASE.
The report cites as the most notable
of the eleven cases that OF Ernest Loflcr,
who, it is alleged, was compelled by in
terested citizens to quit business on Sew
enth street road Afterwards it is charged,
the great brewer, Heuricn, made an
opening FOR him in TenaHytown at Heu-
rich's own hotel. The license was twice
rejected, but in the spring OF sd ii was
granted Notwithstanding a large majority
of the people opposed it.
In spite Of the opposition, and in
spite OF the fact that the applicant did not
in the first place comply with the laws
requirements. hc has been permitted to go
on selling without a renewal Of his Ii
cense."
An able presentation Of the years work
was made by Mr.. James L. Ewin, the first
vice president, ana addresses were made
by Rev. l.. b. Wilson, ID. d, president;
DIR. TeuDis s Hamlin. and Rev. r. ID.
Power, chaplain OF the league. Mrs. II.
A. GillenwateT, secretary, made an eX-
hibit OF the finances.
Arrangements for house to house can
vass to ascertuin sentiment on the liquor
question and also for the National con-
vention Were reported by MIR. Ewin to be
still in progress.
Fifty-seyep Organizations were reported
as allied with the league. OF which twenty
six are temperance organizations and
! twenty-six churches.
! The report of the secretary showed that
/ there was small deficit in the treasury,
but this can be met The work has been
| hampered by lack OF funds, however, and
/ an appeal was made for financial as
/ sistance
TWO REPORTS DIFFER
/ The addresses We're brief, but each was
most earnest and dealt somewhat with
! Washington statistics. II was pointed out
/ that the excise board had reported to
! Congress on the second of March that
! total of 715 applicants had obtained
/ license, while on the same date the In
/ ternal Revenue report showed that /, or
! special tax stamps had been issued TO
| residents of the District
DE- Power was especially severe upon
/ the aristocratic clubs, made up" he
| said, ''of the very flower of Washington"
| and the druggists and steamboat companies,
| for disregard of the law He also pointed
out that sixty houses OF bad reputation
! are selling liquor without either Federal
or District license.
Or. Hamlin drew distinction between
| the real saloon and the German beer gar
/ den and the French winerCom. Without
saying whether the latterare good or evil,
he said, there is a difference, the saloon
| being an altogether Anglo-Saxon institu
ton where there is nothing furnished but
/ drink.
The day is Coming, exclaimed Dr.. VIII
son. when the saloon Will go; when that
shining dome Of the Capitol shall not cover
the refuge of sin; when there shall not be
under it a licensed bar
The musical features were an organ volun-
tary and solos by Prof Pearman and Mrs.
! c. 4. Walport, respectively, and congrega-
/ tional singing.