The Washington times., 1909-03-22
BILL TO REGULATE
LIQUOR LICENSES
Measure Introduced Today
By Representative Miller
OmitS High Fee.

Although it is known that there will
be no District legislation during the
present extra session of Congress,
REPRESENTATIVE Miller of Kansas, acting
In behalf of the Anu-Saloon League, in
tyoduced in the House today a bill reg
ulating the issuance of liquor licenses
in the National Capital. Unlike other
BILLS dealing with the same subject, the
Miller bill omits the high license fee,
the prohibitionists in Washington hav-
ing reached the conclusion that an in
creased tax on the privilege of selling
liquor is not consistent with their atti-
tude or calculated to stop the traffic
The most important feature of the
Miller bill is that section which requires
the applicant for a license to obtain the
consent of the residents and real es-
tate owners in the entire block in which
the saloon is to be located and in the
four blocks confronting the same, in
Ftee>d of simply on the side of the block
where located and the confronting side
OF the opposite block as at present.
Anderson's Statement.
william II. Anderson. acting legisla-
rive superintendent of the National
League, today made the following state
ment regarding the Miller bill.
while there is 40 likelihood of such
legislation coming up during the special
session, the introduction of this measure
row will acquaint the country with It
and facilitate the creation of sentiment
I'm favor Of its passage. We have prac-
teal assurance of the passage of such
legislation or its equivalent In the COM
ing session.
Had it not been for the introduction
of bill for absolute prohibition for the
District it would have been passed in
the last session, but While there is no
chance for the passage Of an absolute
prohibition bill in the immediate future,
yet so long as any considerable num-
Der Of people took ii seriously it was an
effective barrier to measures like this.
Members of the District Committee
from prohibition or local option dis
friets who were doubtful Of their ability
TO explain to the satisfaction of their
constituents were afraid TO bring out
any measure for fear "a prohibition sub
stitute would be offered and put them
In an awkward position.
Too Late for Action.
when the National League. imme-
diately after becoming the official rep
resentative Of the churches in the Dis
tTict of Columbia, announced that il
Old not cOnSlCer II possible 10 secure
or wiss to ask for absolute prohibition
ct the present time. this situation was
relieved. but too late for action in the
short session.
IF the National League had had the
advantage of this direct representation
of the churches Of the District from
the beginning Of the long session il
would undoubtedly have been able tC
report excise legislation which would
be as long a step toward prohibition as
the penal code amendment secured by
the league this winter is toward the
complete interstate liquor shipment re
lief that is sought.
THE National League viii now center
Its energies upon relief for the District
of Columbia and under the direction
of Rev Marina s. PoulsOn, the new
resident superintendent. will proceed L
focus the temperance sentiment OF thu
District upon this legislation as some
thing which car be secured now