Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-12
SALOONS IN BLADENSBURG.
Delegation Asks for Adoption Of Strtn'
gent Law

A delegation of citizens and property
owners from Hyattsvi1le and vicinity visit
ed the legislature at Annapolis recently
TO ask mitigation Of saloon evils in
Bladensburg. The delegation consisted Of
w. A. Bartlett Joseph Blundon, w. Brew
er, Rev. Chas. Ely, Rev. A. L. Hughes, Rev.
Claude Jones, Frank Metzerott. ]. c. Rog-
ers and w. B. Severe. The senator and
three Of the delegates from Prince George
county listened for an hour to the presen-
tation of arguments against the saloon.
Capt Bartlett opened the case by stat
ing that he would not discuss the moral
question. but confne himself to economic
conditions. HyattsvflIe now has 1000 peo-
pie. he said. and is growing at the rate OF
500 Der year, with an annual property m
crease Of about quarter million dollars.
Hyattsville has but one saloon. Bladens-
burg Just across the Baltimore and ONO
ri way. has ten saloons. seven within the
corporate limits. for a population OF less
than SOC. A majority of these saloons were
closed during last year, he declared, for
confessed violation Of law. but were
promptly reopened, sometimes under other
names, Hardly three houses have been
built In Bladensburg in as many years.
Access to Bladensburg Is through Hyatts-
Vile, he said. and on Sundays hundreds OF
Washington toughs come out by the cleo
trio road get drunk In Bladensburg and
swarm the streets of Hyattsville and
Brentwood, which Is in Hyattsville district.
Capt Bartlett presented petition signed
by nearly 500 voters in Hyattsville, asking
that no license to sell liquor IN the Hyatts-
willie and Bladensburg districts be granted
unless on petition Of majority OF the
property holders within one mile and that
the license fee be at least $500. Cat pres
emit the signatures of eight freeholders may
secure license. and each freeholder may
sign two petitions. License fee. $3.50.
J. C. Rogers stated that present
conditions on the border of the District
t.,t~ - HI G,,~I ,.,
respectable woman feels safe In the street
cars owing to the crowd of men going
from Washington to Bladensburg and re-
turning in drunken condition. Hundreds
Of wouldbe purchasers of property along
the borders of the District had been de-
TERED by reason OF the existing condi-
lions. IT cannot be commended that the
small population of Bladensburg requires
ten saloons.
The legislators seemed disposed to grant
the relief, when Mr.. Howard Duckett OF
RledenSburg appeared in behalf OF the IL
quor interest He stated that rs per cent
of the property in the corporation or
Rladensburg Is owned by five persons. three
OF whom are Marion Duckett, George Gold
enstroth and Francis Gasch He consid~
cred the prosperity of Bladensburg largely
bound up with the liquor interest. He
thought some regulation desirable. He sug-
gested that no more than five names be re-
ouired on petition for license in the cor
poration of BladenSburg, but these i've
should each have a property qualification
OF at least 5000. and license In the said
corporation should be approved by a ma
jority of the Ave town commissioners he
opposed the penalty of refusal OF license
for violation OF law.
Senator CIaggett. speaking for the Prince
George legislators. said 1t was evident
something should be done to ameliorate
existing conditions. and Messrs. Ray and
Hill assented but the conflicting delega-
lions We're advised to get together, tf pos
sible. and present bill on which all were
agreed, when there was little doubt of IT'S
enactment into law.