Evening star., 1902-01-10
FAVOR The PENDING BILL
TEMPERANCE ADVOCATES HAVE
AUDIENCE WITH COMMISSIONERS.
Adoption Urged of Liquor License Law
Which Provides for Closer scru-
tiny of Business.

The District Commissioners today granted
hearing TO representatives Of the Anti
Saloon League, the women's Christian
Temperance Union. the Christian Endeavor
and Epworth League societies, and minis
ters Of several denominations, on the sub
tect OF the liquor license bill which was re-
ported to Congress at the last session. The
representatives OF the several organizations
at the hearing today urged the Commits
sioners to renew their efforts for the intro
duction and passage of the bill during the
present Congress, and also suggested sew
eral amendments that might be made to t
with advantage The new law proposes no
radical changes in the excise law as IL
exists at present. but provides for a closer
scrutiny and closer compliance with the
intent of the existing statute.
Mr.. A. Z. Shoemaker, attorney for the
Anti-Saloon League. made the opening ad-
dress. He called attention to the fact that
under a decision OF the Court of Appeals
some years ago the clause in the present
liquor law prohibiting the sale Of whisky
to minors became a practical dead letter,
and asserted there had been no prosecu-
tions under IT since the decision was hand
ed down. Mr.. Shoemaker said that an
amendment to the draft Of the new law
should be made so as to more specifically
prohlbit the sale of liquor to young men
under twenty-one years Of age. Mr.. Shoe
maker called attention to the recommended
tion of Major Richard Sylvester the super
intendent of police. that saloons be con-
fined to the business sections and business
streets. He said a number of applications
were now pending for saloons in the resi-
dence sections, and asked the Commission
ers to indorse Major Sylvester's recon-
mendation in order that their position
might be made known to the excise board.
Mr.. Shoemaker also called attention to
the conditions which he alleged are pre-
vailing in the Police Court. He said that
since 1893, when the present liquor law
went into effect, there had been 22s pros
ecutions in the Police Court and only fifty
two convictions He said cases were often
postponed until witnesses could not be Sc
cured. He said further that in one-half
Of the fifty-two convictions the minimum
penalty Of SO was imposed. In fifteen
cases personal bonds were taken, and sew
eral others dismissed He said that eighty
eight out of the 229 cases, or more than 20
per cent, were mol. pressed. He ventured
the assertion that in no other class Of cases
could such large percentage of mol.
pressed causes be found. Mr.. Shoemaker
quoted from recent report of Police Lieut.
Amiss on an application for a renewal OF
license, In which the officer said that unless
something was done to expedite the trial
of liquor cases IN the Police Court the law
would become a farce. Mr.. Shoemaker
said the Anti-Saloon League would not at
tempt to fix the responsibility He recon-
mended that the Commissioners draft an
amendment to the District code making the
jury term in the Police Court thirty days,
instead of three months. as IT now stands
He believed that would help matters to
some extent.
Among others who spoke along these
lines were Mr.. James L. Ewin, president of
the Anti-Saloon League; Rev. F. d. Power,
Rev. j. F. Heisse, Rev. ]. G. Butler Mrs
NJ. +. Berry, Mr.. J. NJ. Pickens, Mr. O. p,
Kellar. Mr.. E. S. LaFetra and Mr.. s. w.
Russell.