Evening star., 1897-03-06
CRIME AND DRINKING
The Relation of the NHmber of Arrests and
the Number oS Saloons.
Comment on OMciaB4RepOrts Made by
q Well-knOwn, Temper.
Rnce Advocate.

For the purpose of slpewing the relation
between the licensed traffic in intoxicating
liquors and the commission of crime, the
following presentation is made, in which
the numbers are taken from the official
ports of the superintendent of police, tho
assessor and the excise board, or are found
by mathematical calculations from those
numbers. In his annual report for the year
ending June 30, 1896, Major William G.
Moore superintendent of police of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, says: Criminal statistics
and information relative to crime are care
fully summarized and compiled by the po-
lice departments of all cities throughout
the country, and are published in annual
reports. Ihey are accepted as authority by
the government as well as the student to
determine whether the world is growing
better each year or growing worse. Those
familiar with the conduct of public affairs
in this country generally contend hat there
is constant increase of crime: that 1t
Keeps pace with the growing population.
ME such may be true of the principal
cities of the United States facts and figures
support the claim of this department that
in this respect the District of Columbia oc-
cupies distinct standing of Its own. Its
OF most communities
1T may seem strange in reviewing the
operations of the past year. that with an
cases of arrest, but such is nevertheless
true. (Printed report, page ~
Licenses to sell intoxicating liquors were
issued in the District of Columbia in 1893,
to !59 places: in 1895. to III places: in 1896
10 81 places a. decrease of 217. or -, pe.'
cent, IN three years. Arrests were made in
for all causes in the District Of Columbia
in 1893 y, 245: in 1894. 24.:}2i in 1898, q, lO4
III 1876, '22,o62, decrease of 4,EiS3 or II per
cent in three years. Arrests were made in
the District of Columbia for intoXication,
intoXication and disorderly and for habit
ual drunkenness as follows: In 1913, 1870:
In 1871, 1876; in 1895. 1863: in 1896, :;.615
reduction of 1,2O5, or % per cent, in three
years
The foregoing figures seem to sustain
the contention that reduction in the rela-
i've NUMBER of licensed bar rooms results
III a corresponding reduction in criminal
acts, and the purpose of this presentation
Is to show that the remarkably satisfac-
tory condition of the capital city. as COM
pared with conditions of other cities
shown in the report of the Superintendent
of police above quoted, is a result of the
reduction in the number of bar rooms
The population of the District of Colum
bla. as shown by the last census. was
21o.'l9. During the year ending June so
lS!6, there were ID places-one to every
SO of its poDulation-in the District Ii
censed to sell intoxicating liquors. During
the same year there We're - Jti2 arrests
made, for all causes-one to every twelve
II
in police precincts, and 6S0 made by de-
tectivcs and not located, are not counted
in the following calculation. In these cal
culattons the nearest unit is given and the
number of policemen going on duty is
based upon the number SO on duty on the
Both day of June, 1896. shown il the
printed report of the superintendent of po-
lice for the year ending that day.
The reports from which these figures
are taken show that the first precinct, To-
Gated in the center of the city and bound
ed on the north by X street north, on the
south by street south, the east by
Ith street west and on the west b. Yer
mont avenue and 18th street west, with a
population of 1854, had Jag licensed places
where Intoxicating liquors were sold-one
to every IS of its population. In it sixty
nine policemen of all gradeG-one to every
1S5 of its opulation-went duty in the
four details watches during each twen-
ty-fcur hours; there were :'169 arrests
made for! all causes-one to every four of
its popula tion-and, of these arrests 1ol-
one for every eighteen of its popuat ton
We're charged with being intoxicated, or
with being intoxicated and disordery.
The sixth precinct, located east of the
first, and bounded on the north by X street
north. on the south by the center of the
Capitol grounds and the Botanical Garden,
on the east by 1st street east and on the
west by 7th street west with population
of "A 1906 had 14G licensed places where in
toxicating liquors were sold-one TO every
167 of it's population. In it sixty-six police
men of all grades-one to every 1868 of its
population-went on duty during each
twenty-four hours: there were lib ar
rests made for all causes-one to every
nine of it's population-and of these 7ol-
one to every thirty-five of its population
were charged with being intoxicated or
with being intoxicated and disordery.
The seventh precinct. composed of George
town and all of the District OF Columbia
west of Rock creek. with a population of
19,4S1. had sixty-threa licensed places where
intoXicatin liquors were Sold-one to every
800 of its population. In it sixty-one po-
licemen of all grades-one TO every 319 If its
popula tion-went on duty during every
twenty-four hours; 1913 arrests were made
for all cauSeS-one to every ten of its pop
ulation-and of these 59I-one to every thir-
ty-th-ee of it's population-were charged
with being intoxicated or with being intoX-
icated and disorderly.
The fourth precinct, covering all of South
west Washington, with a population Of
toXicating liquors were sold-one to every
365 of it's populations In it fifty-nine po-
licemen of all grades-one for every $50 of
its populaton-went on duty during each
made for all causes-one to every nine of its
population-and of these 297-one to every
III of its population--were charged with
being intoxicated or with being intoxicated
and disorderly.
The second precinct. located north of the
first and sixth precincts and bounded on
the north by r street, on the south by Il
street en- the east by 1st street east, and
on the west by 18th street west, with
population of S.4s3 had eghty-six Ii
cersed places where intoxicating liquors
were sold-one 10 every AT of its popula-
tion. In 1t forty-nine policemen of all
grades-one to every 7S5 Of it's population
went On duty during each twenty-four
hours; 2,792 arrests were made for all
caUses-one to every thirteen of it's popu-
lation: and of these 254-one to every 152
of its popuiation-we-e charged with being
intoxicated or with being intoxicated and
disorderly.
The third precinct. located between the
first and second precincts and Rock creek,
and bounded on the north by r street, on
the south by the Potomac river, on the
east by 18th street, and on the west by
Rock creek, with a population of IS, 1868,
had sixty-one licensed places where in
toxicating liquors were sold-one to every
555 of its population. In; II fifty-eight po-
licemen of all grades-one to every 5S4 of
Its population-went on duty during each
twenty-four hours; 2,561 arrests were made
for all causes-one to every thirteen of it's
populadon-and Of these 322-one to every
1O5 Of its population-were charged with
being intoxicated or with being intoxi-
Gated and disorderly.
The fifth precinct, all of Southeast Wash
ingtcn. including Anacostia and all of the
District of Columbia south Of East Capt.
fol 80 SpSs