The Washington herald., 1908-04-24

war tOl1fEes anu GhbAAetE BAR
raeks-One BaFroOm for Every
One Thousand Inhabitants.
Absolute prohibition in the District of
Columbia was reported upon unfavor-'
ably yesterday by the Commissioners.
After many conferences on the ques-
| ton. the Commissioners finally reached
the decision that Washington Is not
ready for absolute prohibition yet. Re-
port was made to Chairman Smith, OF
| the House District Committee, that the
bills on the subject in Congress be com
promised.
| Changes in the liquor laws are recon-
mended 70 Congress by the Commis-
! sioners. to take the place OF radical
! legislation on prohibition. These changes,
| if brought about, viii do away with
about 30 saloons This would be done
! If the recommendation made by the
| Commissioners becomes law that a pro-
/ vision be enacted which will allow but
one barroom TO every Loo population
/ Ia the District
/ If enacted, this proviso will take effect
next November, when the new license
/ year begins
AS submitted by the Commissioners,
! the recommendations included in the re-
port are as follows;
The Commissioners of tho District of Columbia have
the honor 10 recommend the following legislation in
lien Of the various bills relating 20 tie liquor traffic
referred 30 them for report by the Senate and HOUSE
/ Committees the District Of Columbia, excepting
/ the bill prohibiting the sale Of liquor IN the New
/ Union Station, upon WHICH they viii make sep
/ aTste report.
First That the prohibition zones Be increased
/ in number 50 as 70 cover the neighboThOod of the
navy yard and marine ha1acks ard the war cok-
/ lege and engineer barracks.
Second. That barromn license be issued renewed
or transferred without the consent IN writing O.! the
majority of all property 0WneTs and of al tenants
/ in the square In which Il is 10 he used and the
four squares confronting that square and that il
! cenzs shall be revoked upon the conviction or the
| forfeiture q collateral 10 one case
/ Third That the wholesale liquor license Tee
shall be SEQ and the bauoon liluor license fee
snail be s. coo.
Fourth That no license shall be issued, renewed,
or transferred for in any saloon within go feet
Of any bailding ussd fer public private school.
OF other educational institution or playground. OF
/ auy house Of worship or place regularly used Tor
worship or religious institution
Fifth. That the so-called gr5wler' trade be pro
/ hibted
sixth Tbst the law be Strengthened as 70
prevent imitation hotels and clubs obtaining incense
/ seventh That IN TO event shall there be issued
IN ans year more than one hauo7m license 20 every
100 population within the fre limits Of the CITY q
/ Washington.
HefIin Bill 10 BE Opposed.
UnfavorabIe report will be made on the
Hehin bill. which provides for the prohibi-
ton Of the sale of liquor in the Union
Station.
! Commissioner West is opposed 10 the
Heain bill, but Commission Mactarland
.favors IT, Mai Morrow has not announced
which side he viii take. but it is under
stood he will side with Commissioners
West and vote against he bllL
/ Commissioner Macfarland has indOrsed
the Heflin bin in the following words;
move that favorable report be made upoa this
bill for TIE reason that I believe the Union Sta
tion should be treated Ike a pahlie building, be-
cause Of its peculiar character and relation 70 ths
/ uuhlie and that the same rule as 10 tie sale q
liquor should De applied 10 il.
Moreover. I know Of no public demand fo- ths
sale Of hq1Cr In the Union Station. while there -
strong public protest sgaiIsg tbs sale O. hqu0r
IN the Union Station
UnfavOrabie Report Assured.
Final report will be made by the Com-
Imissioners on the bill within the next day
or so. 1t can be definitely stated now
that approval OF the prohibition Of tha
sale Of liquor in the Union Station viii
fail by q vote Of two 10 one.
The substitute provisions recommended
by the Commissioners to Congress yester-
day have been prepared by them after
several months consideration Of the Ques-
ton, and represent the nearest that could
be reached in the way OF q unanimous
4 agreement
Not only have the Commissioners had
numerous meetings and conferences on
the advisability OF prohibition and the
curtailment of the liquor trade. but ex-
tensive Investigations have been made 10
determine the probable results and advis-.
liability Of certain recommendations If en-
acted.
District officials have been cooperating
with the Commissioners in their endeavors
to solve the liquor situation. The excise
board and the police department have
both prepared considerable data for refer
enee IN the foregoing report TO Congress.
Best Possible Compromise.
Each Commissioner is Of opinion that
! the report If enacted. will be to the best
interests of the District, and IS the best
compromise that can be reached,
Raising the baTrCOm liquor license
from $500 to Sl.eo0, as is recommended,
will lessen the number OF saloons, and
the increase in the wholesale license from
500 to $500 Will also materially decrease
/ the number of saloons, according TO the
opinion Of officials OF the excise board.
Once before the wholesale liquor License
was increased, but It did not have much
effect on the number of saloons. In 1903
the wholesale license was increased from
500 to $50. with the result that the next
year there we're only three less saloons in
Washington.
There are So saloons In the District.
OF these, more than 200 viii be elimi-
mated if the recommendations Of the COM
anissioners, are needed by Congress. What
saloons are not eliminated by the estab-
lishment Of a prohibition zone IN tho
neighborhOod Of the navy yard. marine
barracks, War College, and engineer
barracks, or done away with by the
establishment Of a regulation fOrbldding
the issuance in any one year OF more
than one barroom license 10 every leO0
population within the FIRE limits OF
I Washington. will come near being AFFECT
ed by the provision that prohiolts the
licensing OF a saloon within 400 ieet OK
public or private school. educational
institution. playground, or place OF WOr-