Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-11
BELIEVES IN LOCAL OPTION
MR.. n. B. F. MACFARLAND'S
VIEWS OF LIQUOR QUESTION.
Is Of the Opinion That the Authori
ties Cannot Enforce Pro-
hibition.

In an interview today upon the much
agitated question of local option and pro-
hbition in the District O. Columbia. Com
missioner A4acfarland stated that he be-
lieved in absolute local option in certain
sections or zones in the city and an In
crease in the license tax on saloons. Alb
solute prohibition, he says, does not seen
to have a large number of advocates II
the District of Columbia. and the strong
public sentiment necessary to enforce such
law fails to exist.
He Is, however. strongly in favor OF
making an effort during the coming win.
ter to greatly reduce the number of sa.
looms, and will prepare legislation with
this object in view. He thinks the tax.
payers of the District ought to decide
this matter, in so far as they can do sc
by permission or Congress. and he favors
the submission Of the question to the tax.
payers; is also in favor Of collecting the
views of the taxpayers of the District an6
is anxious for them to forward to hin
their opinions specifying methods of treat
ment for this matter, and these will be
prepared and sent by The Commissioners
to Congress In the form of a report.
He gave a brief review of the present
laws on the liquor traffic, the affect Of al
Of which, ne said. is not generally known
Where Sales Are Prohibited.
I'VE have now two zones in the District
Of Columbia wherein the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors Is absolutely prohibited, "
he said. 1.-The first zone is within one
mile of the Soldiers Home property,
under act of Congress of February %
1891, and this zone covers a large portion
of the built-up area of the city of Wash
itc hain
and Q streets northwest, its most western
limit Flor da avenue between 14th and
18th streets northwest. and its most east
ern limit Florida avenue just east of LIST
street northwest.
1.-THE other prohibition zone, established
by Congress by the act of February /.
1907, is even more extensive, for 1t covers
any point between the Governm ent Hos
pital for the Insane and The Home for the
Aged and Infirm, or within radius OF
one-half mile of the boundaries of either
of the said properties This covers prac-
tically all that portion east of the Potomac
river and south of the town of AnacOstia.
Its longest distance Is four miles.
so far as l know there has been no
suggestion that this legislation should be
repealed.
Act of May II, 1894.
There is a so. under the act of May IL,
1894. a prohibition of the issuance of any
at any place within 400 feet Of a public
schoolhouse, private school or house of
religious worship, measured between the
nearest entrance to each by the shortest
course of travel between such pa-e of
business and any schoolhouse. private
school or house OF l.g. torsh /.
cept in such places of business as were
located and licensed at the date of The
sa d act or previous to the erection or o
Of such schoolhouse, priva,e
school OF p ace of religious worship.
I'VE also have, 10 certain extent, local
option as to the ISSUANCE of barroom Ii
censes under the act of March 3, 1-9i.
which requires in the case of a new az
plication for license. the rtten permits
son of the majority of the real es ate
wners and of the &c idents keeping house
on the side of the square whera 1t is de-
sired to locate such business and on tn
confronting side of the square front ng
opposite the same, with other provisions
as to special cases"