Evening star., 1897-01-05
ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE
Annual Meeting and the Installation
of Officers.
REVIEW OF TIE WORK OF TIE YEAR
Steadily Increasing Membership Of
the Organization.
SUCCESS WITH LEGISLATION

SUCCESS WITH LEGISLATION
The annual meeting of the Anti-Saloon
League Of the District of Columbia and
installation of officers for the ensuing year
was held last evening at the headquarters
of the league, No. 623 Louisiana avenue,
with President James L. Ewin in the chair
| and Mr.. Jesse c. Suter. secretary.
Delegates from twenty-eight organiza-
lions were present; two new bodies being
admitted at the meeting. These were the
Christian Endeavor Society Of Mount
Pleasant Church and the Brotherhood of
ST. Andrew of Epiphany Mission. The del
egate from the latter was Mr.. w. c. Mayo.
| and those from the former, Miss g. Mich
OILS, Miss Ronsaville, Miss Ethel Wallace,
Miss Bessie Jolly and Mr.. Snow. The
members of the league were especially
pleased to admit Mr.. Mayo, as ne, repre-
sents the first society of the Brotherhood
OF st. Andrew to make application for
membership in the league.
President James L. Ewin presented the
following report, which was adopted:
In reporting as president for the year
1896. l feel grateful for the steadily in
creasing cooperation on the part of the
churches, the temperance societies and
other organizations which favor good gov
errment
The report of the committee on coop
Grafton will show. as 1 understand, total
or eighty-six bodies of citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia affiliated in our league
at the present time. The increase which
was figured out for the year closing June
-, 1885, with our third anniversary, was
twelve. an average Of one per month. the
total then being seventy. The increase of
sixteen since then is at the rate of over
two per month. There remaineth yet very
much land to be possessed but We have
great reason, think, to congratulate our
selves On the progress already made in
enlisting those who should be united
against the saloon.
Our constitution was amended in Feb
ruary, 1896, to provide for a press COM
mittee among the standing committees
and Mrs. Mary NJ. North, who has been
selected as its chairman for 97, has filled
this office since the committee was first
formed. otherwise the organization of the
league has remained throughout the year
as 1t was at the beginning, and there ap-
pears to be little, IL any, reason for modi-
flying it,
Incorporation of the League.
Early in the year the committee on leg
islation took up the subject Of the incor-
poration Of the league, which had pre-
viously been discussed, and the matter
was referred to a special committee con-
sisting of Mr.. Shoemaker, Mr.. Wilson and
Col Vinal. and it was finally decided that
Would be- of unGeo no matera1 genera henat act
to the leagu under the liquor law as it
then stood, and arrangements were made
10 secure Incorporation, If possible, by spe-
cial act of Congress in order to secure
such powers as are now possessed by the
Humane Society of this District and by the
Law and Order League Of Connecticut
Ihe names OF number of prominent citi-
ZG fycf
those of the members Of the executive
committee of the league as incorpora tors,
and carefully framed bill was then taken
to both houses Of Congress. 1t was in
troduced in the House April 20. 1896, by
Hon. Nelson Dingley, jr, as bill H r.
S559, and in the Senate the next day by
Senator Gallinger of Maine as bill s. 29S:i.
The hill having been referred to the Dis
trict Commissioners and adversely reported
on by Attorney Thomas, a hearing before
the Commissioners was requested and was
granted June g. 1896 a brief prepared
by Mr.. Wilson was filed that day, follow
ed the next day by another giving further
particulars, and several communica tions
on the subject have since been sent to the
Commissioners. before whom the bills are
still pending, so far as We are advised.
Work Before Congress.
Our bill, H. r. 1883, introduced by Mr.
Morse, December 16, 1895, and then referred
to the committee on alcoholic liquor traffic,
was called up in April, 1896, and on April
% was argued before the committee by a
full delegation from the league, assisted by
Rev. DIR. Crafts of the reform bureau. 1t
was reported by the committee May H.
With amendments, and, as you all know
came up accidentally or providentially in
the House and passed, after brilliant
fight on behalf of the league and its prin-
ciples by Mr.. Morse and other friends on
the floor of the House, and by our commit
tee legislation md Y,,aT hor Of 4 n
league in the lobby. Since, it went to the
Senate, December 10, 1896, and was referred
to the committee on the District of Column
bit, Senator Mcmillan, chairman by whom
1t was referred to the Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia for their report BY
the Commissioners 1t was referred to At
torney Thomas and the excise board, and
both reports to the Commissioners were
more favorable than we could have ex-
pected, while they joined in opposing our
amendments to sections 2, 5 and 6. hear
ing was had before the Commissioners
Tuesday, December %, and, as We are ad-
vised by the newspapers, they have since
reported the bill with immaterial amend
ments. For the excellent hearing accorded
us, and for favorable report, they de-
serve our thanks, and have received, no
doubt, the grateful appreciation Of the bet
ter class of the community practically
without exception. 1t remains for the SEN
ATE ana President Cleveland to complete
the good work.
"A previous hearing was had before the
House committee on alcoholic LIQUOR traffic.
April 22, 1896, in support Of what is known
as the National Temperance Society's bill,
H. r. SOI2, providing for national COM
mission of inquiry. which was afterward
favorably reported by the committee.
Before the Excise Board.
''The excellent work of our attorney before
the excise board has been supplemented
the present year by two open letters re-
lating, respectively. to the license of the
notorious Buena Vista Club under q new
name, and the license of a so-called hotel
within 400 feet Of the Central Union Mis-
sion. Naturally the medicine was not en-
joyed by the excise board. and it was not
pleasant to administer 1t, but the effect we
have reason to think has been wholesome.
Such work would, however, amount to lit
tie. II anything. as would most of the pro-
tests filed directly with the excise board by
citizens, If 1t were not for the steady and
laborious work Of our faithful attorney.
Mr.. Shoemaker, day by day, whose report
has been relied on to more than supplement
these remarks.
Work Of the Year.
Il find it impossible within the time at
my command. both for dictation and for