The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07
ATLANTA IS HOME
 OF BLIND TIGERS
Prohibition Law Appears To Be
 Of Little Effect
ARRESTS ARE INCREASING
More Than 15o Near-Beer Saloons Are Selling Real Beer and Court Sen tences Are Not Always Car
 ried Out.

Atlanta, March Especial )-some ad- ditional figures and facts regarding the working of prohibition in Atlanta, based upon the record of two months of 1909, have been dug up. They would indicate that the city is rapidly getting back to the old basis.
 Taking the record for five years back, there were 7S9 cases of drunkenness on the police docket in January and Febru- ary, 1905; 6S2 for the same two months of 1906; SS7 in 1907; 196 in 1908, the first year of prohibition, and 547 this year. This takes the comparison back of the record year-19O7.
 Probation Officer Coogler, whose duty it is to keep an eye on tho well-known "drunks" who are let off by the recorder a time or two with a warning, says that his duties have doubled within the last three months. Rearrests of those put un- der his care are now a matter of almost daily occurrence.
 At the outset of 1908, when the prohi- bition law was new, those inclined to vlo- late the law didn't know just what the situation was going to be, and they re- mained quiescent and cautious. There were no near-beer saloons, and few if any blind tigers. Now there arc more than 150 near-beer saloons all selling real beer and plenty of blind tigers, though the number is not recorded in any official dpc- ument
 The police and the recorders court are complaining of the higher courts When ever the recorder gets hold of what he considers a genuine case of violation of the prohibition law he fines the defendant $500 and in addition sentences him to 30 days in the workhouse. An appeal is all ways taken from the recorders sentence, with the result generally that it is re- duced to a comparatively small fine or else reversed altogether. This, the po- lice claim, tends to increase violations.
 No Low Rate Campaign.
 The recent action of the railroad com mission in appointing a rate expert has given rise to the belief in certain quar- ters that campaign for lower rates is about to be made by that body.
 Members of the commission state that the appointment has not much signifi- canoe. In fact, they say it has no sig nificance at all beyond the desire of the commission to have an official whose duty it is to investigate and make &C., curate report upon all such rate matters as come into the office in the regular routine way.
 Provision was made for the appointment of such an official when the new railroad commission law was enacted, but no ap- pointment was then, made because the legislature had not made an appropriation for the payment of his salary. This ap- propriation was subsequently, made, but did not become available until this year.
 It is stated on good authority that this appointment of Secretary George F. Montgomery to the position of rate ex- pert is only in line with what the com mission has intended to do all along and that it means no change whatever in the general policy upon which the commission has proceeded.
 Peachtree Threatened.
 The fashionable pre-eminence of Peach tree street as a residence section is men aced. A new and what may be termed an ultra-fashionable section has come into being. It is known as Druid Hills, pre- tentious tract of land in the northeast part of Atlanta abounding in parks and attractively laid off.
 People who have bought lots on Peachtree street intending to build are  ernor Smith. who owns 150 feet front on Peachtree, has bought a s16,O0O lot, 300x5O0 feet, at Druid Hills and is planning to build his permanent home tn ere.
 There are to be no stores or shops of any kind in Druid Hills; that is written down irs the deeds. Nothing but residences and they must be built just so far back from the street and just so far from the side lines of each lot and must not cost less than S7500 each. These and other rigor- ous rules are part of the purchase contract.
 Thus Druid Hills lots are in demand among the fashionable. There are none to be had for less than $7500 on the main avenues though it is reported more reasonable prices prevail on some of the side streets. With the increase in popularity of the new section 1t is expected a number of Peachtree street homes will before long be put upon the market.
 Five or Three?
 There is a great deal of specula- tion just now as to what the legisla- ture may or may not do relative to the membership of the railroad com mission
 It IS not believed lnefe VIII De any material changes made in the new rail- road commission law itself--a product of Gov. Hoke Smiths administration but there is a persistent belief In certain quarters that the membership of the commission will be reduced from five to three at which it formerly stood. W
 There was a declaration in the plat form on which Governor elect Joseph M. Brown was nominated to the effect that d railroad commission of three was sufficiently large for the trans action of all business. It is claimed, in fact, that the primary object of the governor in insisting up an increase in the membership was to secure a ma jority on the board favorable to his policies.
 The new administration is almost io reductinn If the