Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-12
No LIQUOR 1t CAPITOL
Law Prohibiting the Sale of In
toxicants There to Be
Strictly Enforced
CONGRESS TOOK RIGHT COURSE
Influence of the Capitol Bar Was Bad
and Scenes Were Enacted There
Which Would Have Caused Public
Scandal Had They Been Exposed
Many Youths Corrupted.

Washington, March 12.-"Give me 9
high-ball. quick, said belated con-
gresham yesterday morning, as he
walked up to the counter of the restau-
rant at the house end of the capitol
Indeed, sab, we don't sell highballs
no mob, no time. That's the ordahs
sab. Congress done passed the bill,
replied the waiter.
AT last the blow has fell" muttered
the statesman as he walked away.
1t is too true. The blow has fell.
The capitol is dry. Major Alexander
Mcdowell, clerk of the house. called in
the manager of the restaurant Monday
and informed him that the sale Of all
Intoxicating liquors must be stopped
forthwith. The manager said this or
der would be obeyed. The clerk will
be chief executive officer of the house
of representatives until the Fifty-eigth
congress conyenes in December, and 1t
was acting in that capacity that Major
Mcdowell laid down the law to the
restaurant keeper. The major informed
MIN that when the new speaker is cho-
sen and q new committee of public
buildings and grounds appointed, then
the capitol prohibition matter viii be
one for them to act upon, but during
the summer vacation there must be no
liquor sold in the building.
The sale of liquor in the capitol is
prohibited by a clause in the immigra-
ton bill. passed by the last congress.
BY inserting this clause. which might
have been Knocked out on the point
that it was not germane, had any sem
ator or representative seen fit to raise
such point, the house was merely fol-
lowing a precedent that had been es-
;ablished years ago. 1t has been GUS
tomary for the house to pass such a
provision at nearly every congress, de-
pending upon the senate to cut it out.
thereby giving the lower branch the
credit for enacting prohibition legisla-
ton and the senate the odi,lm of kill
ing 1t. But this year the senators de-
cided to call the bluff and they allowed
the provision to become law, much
to the surprise and chagrin of many
representatives, who had voted for 1t.
While the affair is usually discussed
in a Joking spirit there are many per-
sons who have been about the capitol
for years and who are not themselves
who assert that congress
took the proper course. They have
seen enough to convince them that the
influence of the bar was Il bad one and
they remember many scenes enacted
IN the restaurant which would have
created scandals had they become
known to the public. Leaders in ma
tional affairs have participated in in
cidents as result of generous libations
at the capitol bar that would have
brought upon them storm of indig-
nant reproof from their constituents
and the public If the facts had been
printed. 1t is common knowledge that
pages and employees whose youthful
ness would have prevented them from
buying liquor in any licensed saloon
in Washington, We're able to get it from
the capitol bar. An employee who has
been about the building for more than
twenty-five years said that as far back
as he could remember liquor was sold
in the capitol With few and brief in
tervals of prohibition. These intervals
were brought about by the speaker or
committee on public buildings and
grounds shutting down on the privilege
as a result of warm temperance agi-
tation, but they never lasted longer
han one session. AT the beginning of
he following session the bar would
De doing business.
In the senate restaurant liquors were
1ot sold to the public. But senators
could have beer or wine served with
heir meals and 1t was common to hear
, luncheon order given that included
one of these beverages. There has
been some talk that the new prohibit
ion law will prove ineffective because
here is no penalty attached, but this
s not probable. The proprietor of the
,apitol restaurant pays no rent and
his business under permits
ion of the committee on public build
ngs and grounds. If he fails to obey
'rders they can throw him and his
property out of the building without
eremoney. If the prohibition law is
lot enforced it will be because those
n power wink at the law. 1t is not to
,e expected that Uncle joe Cannon, |
IS speaker, will countenance such |
hings.