Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-04
AMENDING THE LIQUOR LAW
Advocates Of Pending Measures Heard by
the Commissioners
Provisions Recommended by Member
Sales Those Present.

The District Commissioners today gave a
hearing on Senate bill 1919 and House bill
1867, ia regulate the sale Of liquor in the
District. The bills are identical, and have
heretofore been reported in The Star.
Those present at the hearing were those
advocating the proposed measure, about
every religious denomination and every
temperance organization in the District
having one or more representatives at the
hearing. 1t was explained by the advo-
Gates Of the proposed new law that they
desire as much as possible to restrict and
guard the sale of intoxicating liquors here,
and they were assured by the Commission
ers that they and the Commissioners are
of one mind in such purposes.
Mr.. James L. Ewin, president of the Anti
Saloon League, introduced the advocates
OF the measure, and explained that they
We're present as the representatives of the
law-abiding portion of the community as
against the patrons of the liquor dealers.
They came, said Mr.. Ewin, to heartily sup
port the proposed law, which is, he re-
marked, simply reproduction of what
was known as the Morse bill, which meas
ure received the approval of the Commits
sioners and of the Senate District COM
mittee in the Fifty-fourth Congress Mr..
Ewin referred to the substitute proposed
by the Commissioners, and urged the Com
missioners to provide in their substitute
that where liquor is sold in quantities less
than pint bar room license be required,
whether the liquor was drunk on the prem
sfoners to see to it that, whatever measure
became law, 1t should provide against the
sale by brewers of beer or any other
liquor on Sundays.
Wants Equal Rights.
Mr.. A E. Shoemaker, the attorney Of the
Anti-saloon League, advocated such pro-
vision in the new law as will allow the
protestant against as well the applicant
for liquor license the right of appeal to
the Supreme Court OF the District from the
decisions of the excise board. At present,
explained Mr.. Shoemaker, only the appli-
cant for license has the right to invoke
the aid of the District Supreme Court.
The Rev. Walter H. Brooks. pastor of the
Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, asked
the Commissioners to see that the new law
provides against the issuance of license
to any person who has been twice convict
ed under the liquor law. He also urged the
Commissioners to prevent by law such
transfers from one person to another as are
intended to simply evade such provision of
the law. Certain places, said Mr.. Brooks,
are as bad as certain liquor dealers, and
the existence of bad places as well as the
continuance in the business of bad men
should be provided against by law.
Mrs. M. B. Platt, president of the District
W. C. T. u, SAID she came as the repre-
sentative of not only her organization, but
also OF the other good women of the Dis
trtct, women who give the best years Of
their lives to the bearing and rearing Of
children. In their name she begged the
Commissioners to promptly approve the pro-
posed new law. She referred to the numer-
GUS complaints which have been made and
are now being made against the sale by
the breweries on Sundays, by which hun
dreds Of young men and boys are being
brought to ruin. The women of the Dis
trict will watch the bill, said Mrs. Platt,
and she asked the Commissioners, as
Christian gentlemen, and on behalf of the
home-making and home-loving women of
the District, to secure the desired legisla-
ton as promptly as possible.
Sunday Sales by Brewers,
Mr.. A. N. Garfield the first vice presi-
dent of the Anti-Saloon League, also re-
ferred to the sale of liquor by brewers on
Sundays. and urged such action by Con-
gress as will prevent such thing. After
Mr.. Ewin had read a letter of approval
from Father Matthews Of st. Cyprian's
Church, Mr.. NJ. 1. Weller addressed the
Commissioners individually, and as the
representative Of Father Matthews. Mr..
Weller suggested that the Commissioners
recommend an amendment to the bill
which will prevent the sale or delivery by
brewers Of liquor on Sunday.
Commissioner Ross said the advocates
OIL the proposed new law ana the COIIlnlS-
sioners are apparently of one mind in the
matter, and promised that the suggestions
made at the hearing will be given careful
consideration by the Commissioners,
Those present at the hearing were Rev.
B. F. Rattray, D. D.; Colonel John F.
Vlnal, Mrs ALA B. Foster, John 8. Black
ford, treasurer Anti-Saloon League; Jesse
c. Suter, secretary Anti-Saloon League;
Andrew Wilson, esq.,; Mr.. NJ. I. Weller,
representing Father Matthews. the pastor
of st. Cyprian's Roman Catholic Church;
James l.. Ewin, president Anti-Saloon
League; A. N. Garfield, first vice president
Antf-Saloon League; Mrs. Clinton Smith,
second vice president Anti-Saloon League;
Mrs. NJ. B. Platt, president w. c. r. T.;
Edw. H. Jones. G. c. T.. I. Q. G. T.; F..
NJ. Bradley, G. w. p, Sons of Temperance;
A. E. Shoemaker, attorney Anti-Saloon
League; Grant Leet, president D. c. c. l..
Union; J. F. Engle, president Washington
District Epworth League; Rev. Chas. II.
Butler. president Junior c. E. Union Of
District Of Columbia; Rev. Walter Fl.
Brooks. D. D.; Rev. ]. ]. Muir D. D.; Rev.
J. W. Duffey, D. D.; Rev. J. G. Butler,
D. d.