The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-06
" ANTS" OPPOSE
THE SINS BILL
Are Given a Hearing Be-
fore House District
Committee.
Proposed Law UnConStitu-
tional, Rabbi Simon Again
Declares.

Representative business and profess
sional men Of the District who are op-
posed TO the prohibition movement now
before the House IN Representative
sims bill, making the manufacture and
sale of liquor in Washington a crime
were given a hearing before the House
District Committee this morning IN the
new House Office Building.
The general tenor of the arguments
delivered by those who had been re-
quested to speak by the Washington
Mercantile Association was that con-
ditions as now exist in regard 10 the
manufacture and dispensing Of liquors
in the District are not such as TO war
rant additional legislation
Prominent among the speakers VINO
claimed that the enactment Of the pro-
posed prohibition law was unconsuIu-
ton. and would take away the last yes
tfpe of Suffrage now held by citizens OF
the District, was the Rev. DR.. ADram
simon. rabbi of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation.
Wants Vote Taken.
Rabbi Simon's remarks were listened
10 with interest by all the members
OF the committee, Representative SIMS
and Kahn repeatedly interuptin6 10
ask questions concerning points when
the minister brought up. He said that
prohibition, even in the South ana
West. is more in the nature Of an eX-
pertinent 3 To foist it on the city OF
Washington, said the rabbi when II
has been proven beyond doubt that
90 per cent Of the residents do not
want it, would indeed be a high-handed
action on the Iart of those framing
and making such n law
Nj I. Weller, president or the FAST
WASHINGTON Citizens Association, was
the first speaker. He called attentloh
70 the fast that WaSnlngJohlans nav
little enough representation ana plehty
of legislation az Il is. and that TO pass
such a law at tire suggestion OF SAL
aricd outsiders who come IN mere ana
have 10 other than an alleged MOI al
interest In Washington. WOUlQ De IL
rectIv against the wishes of the great
majority Of the best citizens OF the
District. In answer 10 a question put
by REPRESENTATIVE Sims, Mr. Weller
.'Ycs I believe most earnestly in the
regulation of the manufacture and sale
of 4iquor in the District, when such
regulation is necessary. but co n9t t
believe that anyone else mas the riSHS
u saw what I shall eat or what 1 snall
drink. as long as I know when 10 stop
Others Enter Protests.
Louis =. Shoemaker, president OF the
Northwest Citizens Association, con-
fined his remarks almost solely to the
roint that washington should be al
lowed TO vote on the question, even If
its residents are not real citizens OF
the United States" Mr.. Sims then
asked him II he would agree 10 have
The bill voted on after Congress had
taken action on it. and providing it
RAISED.
L agree that lack of suffrage for
WashingtCnians is a most deplorable
thing" said Mr.. Sims and am willing
10 have the bin prohibiting the sale Of
LIQUOR declared void, even after II
passes Congress. Should a majority vote
OF the residents here declare against it
The Rev. DR.. BrOdthage. pastor OF
the ST. Johns Lutheran Church, stated
that the saloons should be mOderniZed
and not driven out. ''Modernize the sa-
looms and cafes said DR.. BrOdthage,
and make them be kept so that our
wives and children can be taken into
them as we do in Germany, and there
will never be need for proposing pro-
hibition."
Miss Phoebe Cousins was allowed the
remainder Of the time. and she spoke
OF the unConstitutionality OF the act.
and of the bad results which could not
help but follow prohibition here.