Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-26
EXCISE LAWS DEFENDED
MORE STRINGENT THAN EVER:
ENFORCEMENT NEEDED.
Issue With Anti-Saloon League
Taken by N. B. Scanlon-0pposes .
Talk for Tighter Lid.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
| In The Star of Thursday A. E. Shoe
maker. attorney for the District OF Co
lumbia Anti-Saloon League, appears as
the author OF an article on the abuses
OF the liquor traffic in this city Mr..
Shoemaker's letter is well written and
| contains some substantial truths
He also makes several misstatements:
While the conditions here may have been
in good many places bad" 1 do not
think that they have been "horrible," rs
Mr.. Shoemaker says. He puts the blame
on the District Commissioners. Whether
he means the present board or tire ono
which P short time ago left Office is not
clear
Nor is il clear how the Commissioners
can fairly be charged with the violations
of the excise law which exist, and have
existed for long time past. The attor-
ney for the Anti-Saloon League does not
state any facts In support of his charge
that the Commissioners are to blame. ~
Whether the police have been lax in the
performance of their duty. or whether
those behind the police have been lax
in theirs I do not know. If bad condf-
lions have resulted, it is immaterial to
the people as to where the blame should
be placed.
Injury to Legitimate Attractions.
Mr.. Shoemaker. in the next paragraph
of his article. advocates the closing OF
the music hall, the private dancing
room and the beer garden i'm connection
with saloons" In a few cases there is
no doubt that such a course would be
good, but 10 cut off all the music" pri-
vate dancing rooms and beer gardens
would deprive our very best hotels of
their legitimate attractions. and many.
very many. of our respectable people OF
healthy sociable summers evening en-
joyment.
Mr.. Shoemaker next says that "dras-
tic legislation is needed to effect a
permanent change for the better. The
law governing the liquor business in the
District of Columbia today is amply ade-
quate to stop any undesirable conditions.
1t needs enforcement, that is all.
The statement that the present excise
law in the District of Columbia was en-
acted at the behest of the liquor inter-
ests is very absurd. For many years
past each year has brought an addition
al restriction. in one form or other, to
the man who sells intoxicants.
Mr.. Shoemaker also goes on to say that
the present excise law is full OF incon-
sistencies and loopholes. Is unen<
forceable and antiquated. AS he does
not specify anything In support of these
charges. / merely make my denial as
general his assertions.
Serving liquor to minors, whether male
or female. is, indeed deplorable. The
law completely covers such violation.
Proper Discretion Requisite.
A proprietor of public drinking place
must use common discretion in estimat-
ing the age of the person asking for an
Intoxicating beverage. If he diSpenses
LIQUOR to one who is obviously not of
-
that he or she is twenty-one will not be
a sufficient excuse.
What Mr.. Shoemaker has to say about
many so-called clubs and fake hotels is
true. They exist and have existed for
quite number of years
But the authorities are not ''poweriess
to remedy the evil l have the opinion
of one of our most eminent lawyers that
the present excise law completely covers
such cases.
No fair-minded person will object to a
legitimate club and its privileges. but
such places that have for years masque-
raded under the title of clubs should
be cut off from selling liquor as they
do at present. Locker systems and
other attempted evasionS should not be
countenanced.
/ have been in business in Washington
for over forty years and have seen many
changes. At no time has the law gov
erning the sale Of liquor been so severe
as at present.
The license fee is very high consider
ing the amount of business done. The
instructions as to how and when intoxi-
cants are to be sold are stringent
We don't need new laws. but a proper
enforcement Of the ones we have.
The few respectable girls who may in
nocently go into places of low char
acter should be protected
The agitation started by The Star may
not wipe the evil out completely but it
cannot fail to result in a much improved
condition, M.R -SCANLON.