The evening times., 1896-04-29
TWO EXCISE CASES HEARD
Strong Opposition to Saloon
keepers Cato and Miller.
SHARP QUESTIONS ASKED
The Applicants Denied Countena ncing
immortality and EVIL Mer and
women-AttorneyT Thomas Letter
Concerning the Work of His Office
in Grade Crossing Prosecutions.

The excise board had two cases before
it today of applicants for license, against
whom cha rges have been preferred, the
paites beng Joseph Cato, whose place
OF business is at the corner OF Eighth and
E streets northwest. and Fred K. Miller,
at No 32l Eighth street.
The cha rses against each are that
they permitted disrcputable people to fire.
quent their places for improper purposes.
MF. Cato keeps a hotel, Mr.. Miller a
restaura and it is alleged that women
with and without escorts are served
with meals and drinks at both places in
discriminably.
Mr.. Simon Wolf appeared today in be-
half of ca ch. and filed brief for each, in
which it was claimed that it is impossible
for either TO discriminate against any part
of their custom, go long as all frequenters
ofthe dining rooms conduct themselves prop
erly. The police had made favorable re-
ports upon both, he said.
1t was denied emphatically that improper
conduct is tolerated in either place, Mr..
Cato eontending that as the holder OF a
hotel license he cannot be held responsible
for the character OF those who take meals at
his tables, any more than other prOprietors
can be. ft.F
NO WORSE THAN HOTELS.
Mr.. Wolf made the statement that there
!snot hotel or restaurant in the city where
persons of iI-repute cannot get entertain
ment. so long as their conduct does not ex-
clude them. he has taken meals at 10th
places kept by his clients and never saw
anything at either that would cause him to
refrain from going again.
On the other hand, he had seen obi ectiop-
able female characters, some in company
with CongresSnien, at very many OF the
prominent restaurants and hotels in the
city, and no attempt was made to exclude
them. Their conduct was not objection
able.
Mr.. Wolf said the Italian minister, who is
eN-officin the head OF the local society OF
his cOUntryIIen, a benevolent association,
has been at Mr.. Gattos place in attend
ancc upon tie meetings of the society and
others OF prominence have frequented his
place. The Cato Hotel is a place where
one ortwo annual meetings of the associa-
tion ire usually held, and it holds its meet
ings on Sunday. No attempt, he said, had
ever been made to evade the la W, and none
would be, upon the part OF either
OF his clients. Persons had been refused
service at each when they were seemingly
improper Characters. They cater for the
best patronage, as others DO.
Both the applicants were present, and
each was questioned by Attorney Shoe
maker OF the Anti-Saloon League. One
question asked by the attorney was wheth-
er or not the two proprietcrs had not
each been in the habit sof occasionally
furnishing police Officers with intoxicants.
This was one OF the reports aga inst them,
but the charge was denied with emphasis.
Their houses they said. were always open
TO inspection.
Mr.. Shoemaker, in addressing the board.
claimed that no denial had been made of
the charges, ana that they were of such a
character as to warrant Il rejection OF the
applications.
The board reserved its decision.
THE ATTORNEY DISAGREES
Mr. s. 7. Thomas, attorney for the Dis
trict, altogether disagrees with President
Tucker and others of the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Association. in respect to
their request for permission toemploy special
counsel for the rrosecutiOnof the court cases
against the Baltimore and Ohio and Paiti-
more and Potomac Railroad Companies for
alleged violation of the police regulations.
and today copy of his opinion. supple
mental to one formerly filed. was forward
ed to Mr. Tucker for his Information.
Discussing the allegations made in the
communication of the association presi-
dent, which was referred to him, Mr.
Thomas says: Mr.. Tucker is mistaken
when he says the attorneys for the railroad
companies have been ready TO try the
cases"
He denies, also, the statement that his
office has been SO occupied as rot to be
able to give the matter proper attention
The truth is,'' he says. "this office
ever since the affidavits were filed has
been ready and willing to dispose Of these
cases. They have been three or four times
set for hearing, and have been as often
postponed by the court to Accommodate
engagements OF the counsel for railroad
compauies ~
'.On Saturday last Mr.. Justice Cox, the