Evening star., 1897-02-04
ALL ABOUT LIQUOR
Lively Debate Over the Bill to Ex-
clude 1t From the Capitol.
Mr.. hill AGAINST TIE MEASURE
He Characterizes Its Promoters as
"Busybodies" and Mischief Makers.
IN THE HOUSE

The Senate continues to receive many pc
titions favoring speedy ratification of the
Anglo-Amerfcan peace treaty. In present
Ing one of them today Mr.. Gallinger IN.
HI read an extract from the letter of a
clergyman expressing hope that the two
New Hampshire senator's would not de-
SUend to narrow partisanship in considering
such broad public measure. The senator
remarked that he certainly would not de
scend to narrow partisanship." In present.
ing similar petition from the Episcopal
diocese Of Delaware Mr.. Gray facetiously
suggested that his constituents did not ex-
press fear that ne woul1 be moved by
narrow partisanship.''
The bill was passed increasing the pen
sions of survivors of the war of 1872 from
$12 to $sG per month. Mr.. Gallinger stated
that the last of the survivors would soon
pass away, as the youngest was ninety and
the others ranged up to 1G4.
Proposed Health Reforms.
Mr. Galinger, who is a physician in pri-
vate life, spoke briefly as to certain health
reforms proposed by the Pan-American
health congress and sent to the Senate
The senator referred to President Cleve-
lands recent statement that If medical
science proceeded at it's present rate old
age would be the only means of exit from
this world, and the senator added that If
all the medical reforms of the Pan-Ameri-
can congress were executed people would
be SO hampered by health laws that they
would rot reach mature age. One of the
papers was bill for department of
health which Mr.. Gallinger presented by
request and without giving 1t his assent.
Liquor in the Capitol.
Mr.. Morrilrs renewed efforts to pass the
bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicants in
the Capitol building brought on sharp
colloquy.
The bill which passed the House of Rep
resentatives December 10 and reported IA
vorably to the Senate by Mr.. Morrill,. from
the committee on public buildings and
grounds, January 2S, provides:
That hereafter it shall be unlawful for
any person persons to sell, dispense or
otherwise dispose of intoxicating liquors OF
any kind, or any compound or oreDara-
ton thereof, either in the Capitol building,
in the District of Columbia, unon any
part of the public grounds on which said
building is situated.
THAT any violation of this act shall be
deemed misdemeanor, and shall, uSon
convic ticH, for each separate offense, be
punished by a fine not exceeding $500.
Section 3. That the courts of the Dis
trict of Columbia exercising criminal juris-
diction shall have jurisdiction over all vio-
lations of this act.''
Mr. Hill (N.Y) said he would move TO
commit the bill to the committee on rules
Mr.. Mills (Tex) objected to considering
the bill. Thereupon Mr.. Morrill, moved to
proceed with the bill. This promised to
bring a direct vote Mr. Morrill, said there
was much feeling throughout the country
against the sale of liquor in the national
Capitol building. He had just received a
letter stating that the writer had seen
man coming from the building drunk.
While there was m!sapprehension as to the
existence CT ordinary saloons in the build
irg, yet as the public felt that an evil eX-
listed Congress should make strict pro-
hibition.
Mr.. Blackburn Ry.) said the subject was
not properly before the Senate, coming
from the committee on public buildings and
grounds. 1t related to the culinary estab-
l:shment of the Senate. and should go 10
the committee on rules.
Mr.. Sherman said the objection of MIR.
Blackburn was wholly technical. This was
more than question affecting the Senate
kitchen. Was it right that any part of
this great public building should be used
for the sale of liquor? Mr.. Sherman did
not believe the public idea that saloons ex-
listed here was justified. There was moth
ing like an ordinary bar here. But the law
should be made stringent SO that when a
nan wanted whisky he would have to go
outside the Capitol to get it.
BusybOdlies and Mischief Makers.
Mr. Hill came into the debate at this
point, speaking with much vehemence
against the busy bodies" and mischief
makers who Hbeled Congress and inspired
this class of legislation. He had received
many letters, he said, protesting against
this abomination in our national Capitol.
Such statements were false. No such thing
as bar existed here. Mr.. Hill read in
sarcastic tones a letter appealing to him
to aid in driving the saloons from the Cap
itol, and thus raise the standard of ma
tional honor" Has our national honor
come to this exclaimed Mr. Hill, that it
depends on whether We take a glass Of
ale or beer with our meals?"
This appeal to national honor was be-
&C ming common device every time some
small question presented itself. But there
was no question of national honor involved
in this matter. There are no saloons
mere; there is no drunkenness here; have
never seen a drunken man in the Capitol. 1
state for the benefit of these agitators that
1t is libel on Congress to say that saloons
are here and drunkenness exists here. 1t
Is absolutely false"
MI Hill said he felt no personal concern
on such regulations. as he could get along
on cold water. But question of prfn-
elpie, OF right. of decency to Congress was
ence while governor of New York. when he
vetoed two bills similar to. this The first
bill not only prevented the use of LIQUOR
at the capitol. but included the executive
possible for the governor to offer a glass
OF wine to his guests. The veto was
unanimously sustained. Then the busy
bodies always thrusting their noses into
other peoples buciness. returned the next
year and secured the passage of another
oiii, which he. as governor. vetoed. This
ended the raid on the so-called state sa-
loon," and it was in full operation today
under the republican administration at
Albany. Mr.. Hill added, that 1t might be
rare indeed that senator wished to take
glass OF wine Or beer, but his right to
take 1t should be preserved.
The discussion took somewhat huraor-
GUS turn. Mr.. Chandler, Mr.. Gallinger and
Mr. Gray exchanging sallies as to the
eject OF the bill in restricting the per
sonai comfort of senators.
Motion to Commit Defeated.
The roll call on Mr.. Hills motion to COM
NIT was followed with great interest. 1t
was a tie at first. but the summoning OF
senators defeated the motion-yeas, %;
nays. 50, as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich. Bacon. Blackburn. Brice,
Cameron. Cannon, Carter, Chandler, Faulk-
ner. Gibson. German, Gray. Hale. Hawley,
HM. McMillan. Mantle, Martin, Mills,