The Washington herald., 1908-04-27
Calls It a Subterfuge.


After carefully perusing the new liquor
bin proposed for the District of Columbia
and approved by the Commissioners, ]
am of the opinion that it is most un-
Just measure and a mere subterfuge of
the prohibition bill now before Congress;
and of the two measures. firmly believe
that If Congress sand the District Com
missioners aim to decrease the drinking
evil In Washington, prohibition Is the
more effective remedy. 1t is but sheer
nonsense TO imagine that if 80 per cent
of the saloons now licensed in the city
are eXpunged the remaining 80 per cent
will not double their business. No matter
how many are cut out, the remaining
number viii do the business that was
done by all before the reduction.
In view of this fact, it Is difficult 10
understand why the Commissioners sane
toned a measure that would close 200
saloons. and thereby destroy the happi-
ness OF 20 homes, as well as that of
more than 200 employees who are de-
pendent on the business for living
Il could be justified on the grounds Of
moral reform, if the drinking evil was
lessened by the reduced number OF
saloons. But such is not the case. how
ever. The man who desires a drink will
get IL If there is a saloon in town to
supply the demand The District Com
missi0ners know this. and il is needless
TO say would not approve of the measure
II q loss OF revenue 10 the District was
in sight. This they have carefully safe
guarded. Under the proposed law they
anticipate a reduction of 20 per cent IN
the number Of licenses that may be grant
ed, and therefore recommend an increase
in the license fee Of 100 per cent 10 even
up matters financially for the District.
This, of course, is municipal wisdom
What care We" they say, IF 200 fami-
lies are reduced to penury if the Dis
triet revenue doesn't suffer a consequent
loss2"
Notwithstanding the superior intelu-
gence OF these gentlemen, TWO of whom
have long experience in District affairs
and know that there is no change neces-
saTy in the present admirable and we'll
obeyed license law, it must be stated
that they are easily led. Any organized
band Of temperance fanatics can approach
them annually and secure their approval
TO a change in the excise law, reducing
the number of saloons, providing that
such a change doesn't affect the Dis
trict revenue from the sale of liquor
These gentlemen are scholarly, honest,
moral and well-meaning, but politically,
and in their official capacity. they are
as innocent of backbone as the Mollusca.
And 1-~r 81
new bill, to annually secure the majority
of the signatures Of property owners and
residents on four squares fronting on
the applicants place of business, Is not
only unjust, but well nigh impossible
to comply with. Many slgners demand
pay for their signatures, and it frequently
happened in time past that applicants
requiring them had to give up from SO
to 800 to obtain signature necessary
to the majority required upon the appli-
cation.
And this annoying extOrtion was greatly
aggravated by the difficulty of finding the
owners of property at the required time
Many applicants under the old law were
compelled annually TO send their appli-
cations for licenses To far off cities in
the East and West, and not infrequently
to Europe, to have the names appended
Of absentee property owners. Would any
member of the national legislature, who
has given the proposed bill any considera-
ton ar all. say such a requirement is a
fair One2 To enforce such a rule upon
applicants for new licenses would be all
right but TO enforce il annually is not
only unjust, but absurd, especially when
it is in the power OF the Anti-Saioon
League 10 have an Objectionable saloon
license revoked at any time the majority
which signed for its establishment would
be willing TO sign against 1t.
The District Commissioners are doubt
less guided in their approval of the pro-
posed law by moral considerations the
reduction Of Offenses supposed to be caus-
ed by drink, but in this they viii be
grieyously disappointed. The tastes and
habits of the people cannot be regulated
by arbitrary laws If the habit of drink
ing is 10 be Iessened or destroyed in the
city of Washington, you must remove the
temptation far out of the reach of the
thirsty, who enjoy a drink and think they
have the right, or should have. TO indulge
in one when they desire it.
Prohibition, no matter what is said
against II. IS the only true solution Of the
llquor problem. Prohibit the manufacture
and the consumption win cease. If liquor
is permitted to be sold the demand viii
be supplied, no matter how few saloons
may be in existence Reducing the num-
Der would only have the effect of monopo-
lizing the trade, placing it in the hands
of a wealthy feW-200 1t is thought under
the provisions of the bill now before
Congress-who, In point Of arrogance and
! independence, would outdo the McAiister
Four Hundred of the Empire City.
Every intelligent saloon keeper in Wash
ington who has read the requirements
Of the bill knows his chance of obtain
| ing a license under its provisions, and
those who are sure OF success are its
| strongest advocates. The so-called dives
and scent places, which 1t is said the
bill aims to destroy, win prosper. They
make the most money, and reside in
neighborhoods where the signatures re-
ouired are easily obtained. There isn't a
single city Of the size Of Washington In
the United States in which the liquor
business is better conducted than it Is
here. only four violations being recorded
against il for irregularities last year. The
legitimate saloon keepers have to make a
hand-to-hand fight for their existence
every year, while the illegitimates, other
wise known as speak -easies, ara permitted
upon the show of an internal revenue
license to pursue the even tenor OF their
way unmolested.
II there is to be a change Ia the liquor
law let it be to prohibition, rather than
a prohibitiYe license, favoring the wealthy
saloon keeper and furnishing the poor one,
regardless OF his merit or the manner in