Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07
LIQUOR LEGISLATION
District Affairs Figure Prominently
in Wisconsin Politics.
Mr.. BABCOCK UNJUSqLY ATTACKED
An Incomplete Report Of a House
Debate Circulated.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS

Advices from Wisconsin state that an at
tack, believed to emanate primarily from
this city, is being made upon Representa-
tive Babcock in his canvass for the United
States senatorship. The basis of the raid
upon him is his alleged unfriendly attitude
to anti-liquor legislation for the District of
Columbia in Congress.
Circulars have been sent broadcast through
that state by the Wisconsin Anti-Saloon
League deploring the candidacy of bad
men" for the Senate, and inclosing print
ed slip branding Mr.. Babcock, by inference
at least. of such character. The slip is
as follows:
"On The floor of the House of Representa-
tives, Monday, December II, 80, according
to the Congressional Record of that date
(Nol. -, p 153 Fifty-fourth Congress- Eli
JAN y. Morse of Massachusetts (now de-
ceased) gave the following testimony as to
Mr.. Babcocks standing with reference to
reform legislation in general.
MIR. MoIse-Now, Mr.. Speaker, l may be
permitted to say TO the House that for one
L am panied, are the temperance and
Christian people of this city, and have been
panied during my service of eight years
upon this floor, to witness the attitude of
the distinguished gentleman from Wiscon-
SIN tMr. BabcOckD. the chairman of the
committee on the District of Columbia to-
ward the saloons, billiard rooms and various
morals of the people of this city.
" Mr.. Babcock-Will the gentleman per-
NIT me a moment?
Mr.. Morse decline to be interrupted
Since | have had the honor of Il seat upon
this floor, | repeat. l have been panied at
the attitude of the distinguished gentleman
from Wisconsin in regard to all matter af-
fectlng the moral interests of the District,
ana TINS Very question among them "
The Record of the Case
inspection of the records show that the
facts in the case are these In 1893, in re-
Spouse TO public demand for a change in
the liquor laws of this city the House COM
mittee on the District of Columbia, of
which Mr.. Bahcock was chairman pro-
ceeded to frame a comprehensive law COW
ering the subject. Mr.. Babcock was of the
opinion that prohibition was impossible in
Washington. a view shared with him by a
large number of citizens. The next best
thlng, 1t was thought. was to pass law
which would limit and restrict the liquor
traffic to a greater degree than ever be-
fore.
The Commissioners OF the District of Co
lumhia, the executive officers of this COM
munlty. were called before the committee
to give their views. The representa- tives
of the anti liquor and church organiza tions
were given full hearings The result of
careful consideration of the subject was
the enactment by Congress of high license
LIQUOR law.
In 1876 Representative Morse of Massa-
chuSctts was chairman of the House COM
mittee on the alcoholic liquor traffic This
Is a committee whose sole function in lat
ter years has been TO furnish chairman
ship for member of the dominant party
in the House. The committee has accom-
plished nothing in the way of legislation
and nothing is expected of it. A bill was
introduced in 1896 to amend the District
liquor law of 1893. By some means now
unknown. the bill was referred to the COM
mittee ON the alcoholic liquor traffic al
though it should appropriately have gone
to the committee on the District of CO.
lumbia. which had framed the original law
1t was reported by Mr. Morse and called
up by that gentleman in the House for con-
SdeTa-icn.