Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-10
DRINKING AND CRIME
Mai. Sylvester Questioned as
to Pending Liquor Bill.
TELLS OF LOCAL ARRESTS
Thinks Conditions No Worse Than
Ten Years Ago.
WOULD RESTRICT THE SALOONS
Believes They Should Be Confined to
Business Streets-H. F. Harvey
Resumes-CalvinC Chase Heard.

| Mai Richard Sylvester, superintendent
| of police was the chief witness before
| the Senate committee on the District Of
Columbia yesterday afternoon at the
! hearing on the Antf-SaloOn League bill
| for stricter excise law for the District.
He gave the committee information as
! to the number and character OF arrests
made in this city and his opinion of the
proposed bill.
| Mai Sylvester was asked u he thought
| the city would be benefited by higher
| license law and a reduction in the num-
| Der OF saloons but he said he was not
prepared to answer. He said SO per cent
| of the arrests in this city are due to drink.
He didn't think that crime is any worse
! In this city today than it was ten years
ago, taking into account the increase in
| population.
| He thought saloons ought to be con-
| fined to the business streets. This, he
said, would reduce the work of the police.
but he did not think 1t would greatly de-
crease the "growler'' trade.
He said the Sunday selling law is very
well observed. He did not think early
, closing of the saloons would reduce drink
ing unless clubs were closed.
| The labOring men. said Mai Sylvester,
do not. In his opinion. want the unregulat-
ell saloons to the extent suggested Fri
day by Secretary De Nedry OF the Cen
trail Labor Union. He did not agree with
Mr.. De Nedrey that nine-tenths Of the
| membership of the Central Labor Union
Mr.. Harvey Resumes.
| Hugh F. Harvey. representing the
'wets' and practically the Washington
Mercantile Association. resumed his re-
marks begun III the morning
| Senator Gaflinger wanted to know how
the bill under consideration would be
equivalent to prohibition Mr.. Harvey re-
pied that most of the reputable saloons
are within thousand feet of public
park and would be put out of business by
the 1,OOC-feet limit in the bill The clause
making 1t unlawful to sell to women. he
held. would put out of business a large
number Of high-class restaurants where
liquor Is sold.
MIR. Harvey said the liquor dealers don't
want the "growler' trade
one word from the excise board" he
said. and I'll guarantee you there won't
be drop Of liquor sold in bucket or
pi.cher: Now We have to do it because
our customers demand it,
Senator Carter asked to what extent the
saloons of this city are owned by the
| brewers
Not to very great extent" replied
Mr.. Harvey.
!
iavorlng no change in the present law.
Ihe Chamber Of Commerce the Per-
sonal Liberty League and the United Ger
man Societies Were among the number.
! Yes, said Mr.. Gallinger, 1.-THE organi-
cations Of the District have not yet quite
driven us wild
| When Mr.. Harvey got through with his
argument he Offered to answer questions
from the standpoint of practical saloon
keeper. Mr.. Gallinger said there were no
questions.
You are Very eloquent advocate of a
bad cause" said Mr.. Gallinger.
In Behalf of Colored "Wets.'
/ W. Calvin Chase. colored attorney. APP
peared in behalf OF the Colored Personal
Liberty League.
Are you the Mr. Chase who was mixed
up In public school matters here a little
while back?' asked Senator Burkett
Yes. sir. 1 have been mixed up in most
everything, was Mr.. Chases cool reply
! This caused general laughter. In which the
members Of the committee Joined heart
lily. Mr. Chase seemed to enjoy the joke,
| He claimed that the cOlored ministers
who advocate stricter liquor laws are in
consistent, in view of the fact he held
that they nearly all drink whisky them
selves.
! He charged the local police and courts
, with arresting and filming colored people
for "disOrderly conduct and drunkenness
when the evidence is to the contrary.
/ With the high license contained in. the
| Anti Saloon League bill, said Mr.. Chase,
all colored saloons will be put out of bust
ness.
| Mr. Chase closed his remarks by saying
the human system needs q certain amount
| of alcohol Men who don't drink are pale
and weak" he declared
| DO look pale and weak" asked Sem
ator Gallinger.
/ Il think you touch little" said Mr..
| Chase. This sally caused a storm of
IL tighter MIR. Gallinger joining heartily.
! some VINO appeared in behalf Of the
..drys' were Rev r. c. Dinwiddie, legis-
lative superintendent Of the AntiSaloon
! League. and President T. NJ. Hare and
/ Attorney A. T. Shoemaker OF that organi-
ZatiOn.