Evening star., 1896-12-15
THE BILL PASSED
4-eAA-
Action Of the House on the Morse
Liquor Bill.
CHAIRMAN BABC0CK'S OBJECTIONS
It Should Have Gone to the Dis
trict Committee.
NJ r. MORSE'S DEFENSE
BADCOCK'S OBJECTIONS
MIR. MORSE'S DEFENSE

tion of the liquor bill In the House closed
yesterday afternoon. the proceedings were
at that stage where Mr.. Babcock and Mr..
Morse had each been granted ten minutes
in which to discuss the bill.
Mr.. Babcock said that the pending meas
ure was entirely local to the District Of
Columbia. but that no member OF the Dis
trict committee. OF any one Of the Commis-
sioners-indeed, no one having Jurisdiction
ever the subject matter OF the bill-had
any knowledge of the proposed legislation
until it came up on the floor of the House
Under the call of committees, when it was
called Up by the committee on the alcoholic
liquor traffic. Mr.. Rabcock said that all
copies of the bill, even. had disappeared
from the file rooms and he had been una
bic to secure a copy IN the Capitol.
The bill had been submitted last Satur-
day to the Commissioners, who were asked
for an opinion upon 1t. They said that
they knew nothing about this legislation,
and in a later statement said that the Com
missioners had not been requested to re-
Fort upon the bill until this time.
Mr.. Babcock's Objections.
Now there are many good things in this
bill, and many things that are objectiona-
tle.' said Mr.. Babcock. ''but the fact is
that the committee from which this bill
emanates has no more authority to bring
before the House legislation of this kind
than to present legislation for the great
state of New York. Specifically the rules
determine what committee shall handle
bills of this kind. and had I been present
at the time this bill was called up should
have made the point of order and asked
that it be referred to the proper commit
tee.
Mr. Babcock said that under the provis-
ions OF this bill a school house can be built
within 4OO feet of property which has ac-
quired vested interest, or a church can
lie built, and the owner of the property at
Cnce driven from the location and his busi-
cess utterly ruined. The House decided two
years ago that it would recognize priority
in such matters 1t provided that no sa-
loon should be hereafter established with
is iOn feet of any church or school house
already in existence. That was practically
the unanimous opinion of the House and
the Senate, and 1 have seen no reason
whatever for changing 1t since that time.
Another provision embraced in this 4GO-
foot clause is worthy of consideration. The
law provides that the 400 feet shall be
measured by the nearest track or path of
ordinary travel. This bill does away with
that provision. and you can measure direct
ly through the block or square. and in that
way reduce the distance and bring the sa-
loon within the 4OO-foot limit. For in
stance. hotel may be located, we will say.
on the east side of block. and directly
across the block. on the west side, school
may be established. Measured through
the block the distance between them proba-
bly, would be only 2iO feet. although by the
ordinary course of travel the distance
would be $40 feet or more. This bill would
close up many hotels and many business
places of that character that are now In
existence. and that are in no way objec-
tioDable 10 the residents in the neighbor-
hood
His Real Contention.
DO 1 understand the gentlemans con-
tention to be that the saloon should have
the vested and prior right as against the
church or school house, asked Mr.. Hep-
burn.
No. sir: that is not my contention. My
contention is that the House has already
voted-two years ago-that the people 1iv
ing there and doing business in this man.
ner had vested right in the property, and
that no such legislation should be enacted
as would practically conflscate the prop
by newly built church or school house. 1t
did provide that no saloon should hereafter
be established within 400 feet of any church
or school house then in existence, when
newly established.
My motion is that this matter be COM
mitted to the committee on the District of
Columbia. to investigate the questions in
yolved, and that some hearings may be had
on il, and that it may be discussed and con-
sidered section by section. AS have stated
before, it is the only committee of the
House having jurisdiction of the subject
matter involved. and hope that the House
without having 1t first duly considered by
the only committee having proper jurisdic-
ton over IT..
Mr.. Morse Defends the Bill.
Mr.. Morse then addressed the House in
defense Of the bill.
Mr.. Speaker, If the gentleman from Wis
consin will kindly turn to the bill in ques-
tion he will see that both sections to which
he objects have been stricken from the orig
inal bill by the committee reporting the bill
That seems to answer his objection pretty
well. Now. Mr.. Speaker, I may be per-
mitted to say to the House that for one l
am panied are the temperance and
Christian people Of this city. and have been
panied during my service of eight years
the distinguished gentleman from Wiscon-
sin (Mr. Babcock), the chairman of the
committee on the District Of Columbia to-
ward the saloons, billiard rooms and va
the morals of the people of this city,
VIII the gentleman permit me a mo-
ment?" asked Mr.. Babcock.
Il decline to be interrupted" said Mr.
Morse. who then continued:
He says that this action of the commit
tee in reporting the bill was done in secret
and in the corner. / beg to state to this
House that the bill. if 1 am not mistaken
greatly III my TecOiIeCtlOn OF the matter.
was printed both in The Star and the Post
OF this city within year, and undoubtedly
was largely discussed by the people of the
District
Originated With the Anti-SaIoon
League.
This bill originated with the Anti-Saloon
League of the District. and 1 am here to
say that one of TIE Commissioners of the
District. Mr.. Truesdeil. was present at a
large mass meeting held here a few nights
ago. and in the very warmest terms COM
mended the action of this organization for
the enforcement of law in the District.
claim. therefore. that by inference he COM
mended this bill. because. as l have said
IL originated with the Anti-Saloon League
and Ee must have been familiar with its
provisions. because II has been published
in the newspapers of the District
Mr.. Morse entered into a detailed descrip-
tion of the bill.
In closing, Mr.. Babcock said: II think IL
this House needed any proof that this bill
ought not to pass In its present condition
the remarks Of the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts have furnished 1t. In this bill
there are some twenty amendments to the
existing excise laws. i state this proposI-
ticn boldly, that I'm the city of Washington
We have the best regulated saloons. the
best laws governing the closing of saloons
and the admission of mir ors. and there has
come under my own personal observation
.Ir. Speaker. more than doxep coeac