The Washington times., 1908-08-30

Despite The assertion of some police
officials that there il but little hitting
|of the pipe ia this city AZ present and
practically no opium joints running full
blast. II is known thar there is. or was
until day or two ago one hop heaven
within stone throw OF the Capitol.
Here. day and night the hends who
are only happy IN the lana Of the poppy
mace dreams. found that solace for
which they are willing 10 give their
.time, their money, and their good health.
II is asserted by persons VINO are in a
position to kno wthat there are at least
twenty persons who may be claased as
regular patrons OF this one establish
ment
As tie Joint is located on the most
prominent street in the Capital and as
It has been IN operation for some time.
Il Is believed that Il must be operating
with great secrecy, for the police say
that know nothing about IT, One mem
Der OF tne police force in whose pre-
cinct the Joint" is located, when asked
about his particular place last night.
said that there might be some hop sold
there. but he maintained that no smok-
ing was done on the premises.
Do Not Conceal Acts.
While as a rule the white men who
/ hits the pipe" comes from station
/ in life which is not the best perhaps,
it is asserted that some OF the habitues
OF this particular establishment are
rather well known and do not take any
great pains 10 conceal what they are
doing In this place of the Chinese.
Another police official admitted last
nisht that while most of the hop joints
h-ye been closed up, there aye still
places in the city where a fiend can get
his pipe and his pill an" obtain that
/ brief forgetfulness for WIN he is will
ing 70 pay so high.
Not all the joints, according 20 this
man. are on the main thoroughfare OF
/ Washington, although the larger part
I of them are 10 be found there. on
some Of the side streets that run into
that street. which are in the Capital S
/ Chinatown, there are places. in which
this official believes one can still take
a Whit Of the poppy If the proprietor
! is properly fixed"
About 400 Chinese.
washingtons Chinese population
numbers between 400 and 500. according
to this official, and in that number there
/ are scores OF habitual nends who must
hit the pipe somewhere and with great
4 frequency AS To this portion. Of the
citys dope using population, there is
not much trace, but the white man who
starts to use the drug is not likely to
get away for long with his habit for il
| is worshipped in places ordinarily
strange 10 his race. and therefore his
constant attendance ia any OF these
Chinese houses is hound 10 attract at
tention.
The Cinnamon who wants TO start a
/ IOlnt for nends or who wants TO hit the
pipe alone is a very foxy individual.
He knows as well as the police know
that the scent of opium is very easy
10 detect and he always hires room
on the top floor Of a building and one
which has windows facing on a back
street If possible.
Not at All Critical.
He is not critical about the furnish
/ ings OF his den If the opium outfits
are sufficiently pleasing and the dope
good Many of the old joints, some Of
which may stiu be running, although
once closed up. were, according 10 old
policemen. as close 10 the limit OF
fIthines5 and dirtiness as it is safe for
even a Chinaman 10 go.
In addition TO the well-to-do white
men who hit the pipe in these joints
which the police are going 10 close after
while. and the chinks who of course
are great users Of the drug. there are
/ scores of little criminals who are fiends
of the worst kind.
While it would not be correct to as