Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
LIQUOR SALOONS
An Effort to Reduce the Humber Of
Lioenses.
To Clear Pennsylvania Avenue Fron
list to 7th streets-what At
torney Madfgan Says.

A etrong effort will be made during the
Few license year to reduce the number Of
liquor saloons. Last year there was q
total Of 81 licenses issued to conduct bar
rooms, ana 147 persons received licenses
to conduct wholesale places for the sale
Of liquor. This Is considered to be out Of
all proportion to the needs of the District.
and an organized effort will be made to
make a big reduction. It Is understood the
Commissioners are in sympathy with the
movement end will lend their aid. Just
what course the excise board will pursue
to bring about this result is not known.
although as one Of the board said to Star
reporter today, I'VE propose to reject the
this is done the number will be reduced
materially. The board has already by its
action In refusing certain transfers OF
liquor licenses indicated its position. and
the liquor men are quite agitated over the
probable reduction.
Anti-SalO0n Leagues Proposition.
The Anti-Saloon League has started the
ball rolling by appearing before the excise
be ard last Saturday and urging the purging
of Pennsylvania avenue from LIST to 7th
streets of liquor saloons. President Ewiii,
in conjunction with large delegation from
the league, appeared before the board and
made strong argument for the rejection
OF these licenses. 1t was urged In support
of their position that 1t would be decidedly
detrimental to the best interests of the Dis
trict to continue along the principal thor
oughfare of the city the bar rooms. which.
they asserted, have so long been q disgrace
to the capital. Their presence gave visitors
bad Impression of tee city, and exersed
an evil influence that could not be reckoned.
The excise board did not reply, simply
stating that the cases had not yet come be-
fore them, and when they did, the league
test.
What Attorney MadiEnn Says.
Attorney MaGigan. representing the ma
jcrity of liquor dealers. heard Of the hear
ing. and hurried to the District building.
The hearing had been concluded when he
arrived, but he nevertheless expressed him.
self very forcibly upon the situation He
said:
Il regard this ex parte hearing as I'M
fair to the liquor dealers who are included
In the protest. Most Of them have been
identified with Pennsylvania avenue for
many years. and 1t would be a great hard
ship to compel them to move away. I adj
NIT that there are a large number of sa-
Icons on Pennsylvania avenue between the
points named, but the street is one devoted
exclusively to business, and the position
of the authorities has always been to
foster rather than limit saloons on such
streets The saloons in the residence por-
part been obliterated. They have been
driven to the business sections. Now it
Is proposed to drive them from there
Where are they to go? The business is
recognized.
The District receives a large share of its
revenue from liquor saloons, and submit.
the saloon men have a grievance against
those who are continually seeking to ruin
them. hear an effort will be made to re-
duce the number of saloons this year. If
the excise board (Which, 1 am certain, Is
thoroughly capable) will be permitted to
act upon its own judgment in this matter I
am sure no one will have cause for COM
plant. The board has an individual per-
scnal knowledge of every bar room Ii the
city, and can be trusted TO do its full duty
Understand, 1 do not defend those dealers
who have persistently violated the law.
They should be made to suffer the conse-
quences of their unlawful acts. But 1 DO
represent the respectable dealer VINO mas
conducted a lawful business, against the
petty tyrannies of class which, failing to
accomplish its purpose by direct, fair
methods. seek to undermine those who
have been firm upholders Of the laws which
were framed to regulate their business