Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-09
Draft of New Law Forwarded
to Congress.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
Any Citizen Authorized to Arrest
intoxicated Man.
HOSPITAL TO BE ERECTED
Sale of Liquor or Drugs to Inmates
Punishable by Fine
of $500.

Another proposed law on the subject of
inebriates and an inebriate hospital has
gone to the Capitol from the District
building. Although the Commissioners
made favorable report on a bill on the
same subject a few days ago, they have
thought it best to look into the matter
further. and as a result of their investi-
cations have framed a bill with several
novel features in it.
One clause makes IT perfectly legal for
any citizen to arrest a staggering drunk
and have him locked up. Two years is
the limit Of treatment in the proposed in
ebriate hospital. but the inebriate who is
found helpless from drink or drugs can be
sent to the hospital until he is able to
care for himself, when he may be sent to
his family or friends if he has any and
if they are willing to receive him. How
ever, the cost of his Incarceration must
be borne by himself, if he is in funds.
Inebriety Described.
An inebriate is described as one who
hahitua1ly is drunk. or who uses drugs
to the extreme 1t is made crime, If
such a term may be used, for the pun
ishment can be two years in the inebri-
ate hospital.
The new bill strikes out the provision
in the measure which submitted that
no inebriates Of bad repute may be ad-
mitted to the hospital. The COMMITS
sioners have reached the conclusion
that 1t may be possible that inebriates
Of Ill repute may be in just as bad
shape as fnebriates of excellent char
acter and may need treatment just as
Nfch "a al
from. two doctors and certain legal
forms before a man could be adjudged
an inebriate. The new draft of the bill
makes the formality very much like
that undergone in lunacy cases. Any
justice of the Supreme Court of the
District, on petition from relatives of
an tnebriate, can order jury to de-
termine whether or not the person Is
an inebriate.
Liberty and Industry.
While in the hospital the patients may
do all the letter writing they care to,
provided they work at some useful oc-
cupation. but a close scrutiny may be
kept over incoming mail The superin-
tendent of the hospital can open any
mail that is supposed to be carrying
liquor or drugs. 1t is made all expensive
thing to send liquor or drugs to a per-
as the penalty.
The old bill had a clause which made
1t entirely possible for an inebriate to go
without a drink for FIVE whole years He
could go TO the hospital for two years,
and after that he would not be permitted
to get a drink for three years. and any
one who sold this ex-inebffate a drink
within the three-year limit might be fined.
Regarded as Too Severe.
The Commissioners believe this is a
little too hard and of doubtful validity and
have eliminated It. In it's stead there is
a provision by which all DRINKS can be
sent to the hospital when found under the
influence of liquor. They can be treated
there for a day or two and sent home
again This, it is believed, will cover the
entire ground thoroughly.
The hospital that would be established
under this proposed law would be on the
grounds adjoining the workhouse and the
Washington asylum. 1t would be a part OF
the system there, under the superintend-
ent of the asylum and maintained out of
the appropriations for that institution.