The times., 1899-03-21
sale OF beer IN THE
LIBRARY BUILDING
The Excise Board Powerless
to Prevent 1t.
Statement Of Superintendent Bern
ard R. Green on the Subject.
All Restnurnnt-Kcepers In Govern
ment Buildings May Make Ap-
plication for License.

AT tne OIlCe Oh Tue ENClSe bOdIu III
the District Building the principal topic
of conversation yesterday was the pub
lication of affidavits in The Morning
Times alleging that beer had been sold
under the napkin at the new Library
Of Congress. J. Harrison johnson, Pres
ident of the Board, and his associates were
seen, and each in turn maintained that
the District had no right to interfere in
the matter.
Il am not aware that liquor is being sold
at the Library" said Mr.. Johnson to a
reporter, but even If / were certain of
the fact that would not alter the situa-
tion. The Excise Board has no authority
over the reservations and public buildings
of the Government in this city. The po-
lice, as Major Sylvester has heretofore
held, have no authority to enter these
buildings and arrest persons for violating
the excise law. The act of 1898 forbids the
sale of liquors in the District without
license. The Congressional Library has
not applied to us for license, and IL
liquor is being sold it is against the law.
But we are poweriess to do anything in
the matter, inasmuch as no application for
license has been made. Our duties include
the receiving of applications for licenses
| and their granting We do not enforce
the law. 1t is not our duty, except in
cases where we have granted licenses.
The law provides that no license can be
granted without the approval of majority
OF property owners on each side of the
street in which it is intended to estab-
lish saloon, and also majority of the
residents on each side Of the street, The
matter as regards the Library of Con-
gress is entirely beyond our jurisdiction"
The District Commissioners were also
seen. They expressed themselves in
practically the same words as Mr.. John
son. -
Bernard R. Green, Superintendent Of the
Library of Congress Building, was asked
| yesterday if he had anything to say about
| the blind pig notoriety which was being
| given the restaurant in the Library Bui d
| ing. Mr.. Green, however, seemed very lit
tie concerned over what was being alleged.
| He said he had seen the article in The
Times, in which his letter to Senator Hans
brough appeared in connection with other
documents furnished by the Rev. Wilbur
F. Crafts, but he thought the matter was
one of too small consequence TO merit dis
| cussion.
| He said the rules of the building pre-
cluded the sale of liquor of any kind, and
| that they were being rigidly enforced Mr.
Green said that if there was any question
in taking his statement of these facts, the
building was a public one. and anyone was
at liberty to test the validity of his state
ment, and added further that any infringe
| ment of this rule, if reported to him,
would receive his prompt attention.
| In reference to the charges which had
| been made, Mr. Green said: las mat
ter of fact, there were few bottles of beer
| sold in the restaurant during the last
week or so of Congress. The matter was
| first brought to my attention by the report
| nj he Ri me 1pfp trt.. ..cy
pear to have been employed by the Rev.
Mr.. Crafts, and Immediately went TO the
man in charge of the restaurant and asked
him about 1t. He said the pressure had
| hea,, -. ...--. ,fquoi, uv
had sold few bottles of beer, the total
number of bottles sold being very small.
Many members OF both Houses OF Con-
gress spend much time in research in the
Library, and it is an accommodation to
them to have place where they can take
their lunch. Many of them also are accus-
toned to taking a glass of beer with their
lunch, and as the Library is considered by
them to be essentially branch OF the leg
isiative department of the Government
particularly under their control there has
been no hesitancy on their part in asking
TO receive the same accommodation in the
Library lunch rooms as they do in the Cap
| itol lunch rooms
IL is the opinion of prominent individuals
| who were seen on the subject Yesterday
that should the present agitation lead TO
| any action on the part of Congress. that
| action would be in the line of amending
the rules so as to permit beer and light
wines to be dispensed in the Library lunch
| room.
There has been no small amount of
criticism on the part of many also on the
methods employed by the Rev. Mr.. Crafts.
| VINO seems 10 have constituted himself the
| guardian angel of the Congressional Lii
brary. Mr.. Green Immediately stopped the
further sale of beer as soon as the matter
| was brought to his attention, and it is
| declared by men who know him that
| he would have done this just as quickly
| II the matter had been brought to his
attention in a private manner
The agitation, it is understood, will be
the cause OF the starting of a movement
to obtain licenses for the sale OF liquor in
all the public buildings now provided with
/ lunch rooms.
| In the opinion of large percentage of
the public there is no reason why wines
| and beers should not be sold in lunch
rooms located in Government buildings
| the same as prevail In other public restau-
| rants. Now that the matter has been
| brought up it is highly probable that every
proprietor of restaurant in the public
buildings will at once make application for
a license. They claim that their patrons
demand it and they see no reason why they
should not have license the same as
others in the same business.