Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-30

JAMES l.. FEENEY.
Georgetown University and occupying the
chair of legal ethics in the post graduate
school. was a witness.
S. Duncan Bradley was a witness.
Alexander II. Bell, president Of the Bar
Association Of the District, gave the
broadcast, most sweeping and unequivocal
and generous Endorsement to the board
Of assis- ant assessors. the assessor and
to the entire District government that
has been heard at the District building
for many a day.
Several attorneys for brewing COM
panies were on the stand for a short time,
and Assessor Richards, going back to
testify because of the criticism directed
against him few days ago by Albert Z.
Shoemaker, attorney for the Anti-Salocn
League, told the story of making mid
night Investigations Of saloons and
clubs.
Horstmann Fails to Appear.
f. Oden Horstmann was called as a
witness, but did not appear. 1t was said
he was i'll. The Commissioners also SUBJ
poenaed James L. Feeney, who was a
candidate for position on the board of
assistant assessors. He did not appear
at the morning session.
IS. Duncan Bradley said he remembered
a note on the Halpine farm, owned by
Mr.. Kalbfus, the note being for $500.
The not was dated August q. 1906 and
was purchased by Mr.. kalbfus March D.
1907. 1t was not due at that time. he
said. but Mr.. Kalbfus was anxious to
get it because he was to sell a portion OF
the farm. l.. l.. Nicholson was a witness
again also. He was asked whether Mr..
Kalbfus ever appl ed to him for a loan
of 5000 on any property in December,
1909.
Mr.. Nicholson said that Mr.. Kalbfus
had three-thousand-dol loan on two
lots and wanted to get loan through
him, Nicholson, for $1,000 on the same
property. There was some delay over
to Mr.. Nicholson, Mr.. Kalbfus said he
could not wait and dropped negotiations.
Loans Made to Saloons.
NJ. P. Sullivan, an attorney for the
Heurich Brewing Company, who has APP
peared before the excise board on numer-
Gus occasions, said he has never doubted
the honesty, ability or integrity of any
member of the board. Assistant Cor
poration Counsel White was especially
anxious to hear about the loans which
breweries make to saloon keepers. Mr.
Sullivan said that Mr.. Heuri> h owns no
saloons, but has chattel mortgages on
many of them. and that he owns fifteen
pieces of property on which saloons are
located.
He was asked to state how much prop
erty Mr.. Heurich owns that would be en-
titled to vote in an application for a
license, but he could not answer. The
witness outlined the method of lending
money to saloon keepers, the restriction
on them to sell the draft beer of the
brewery SO accommodating them, etc.
HAS barroom license in the District
Of Columbia any value outside of what it
actually costs?" asked Mr.. White.
well, If saloon man wanted to sell
out he'd ask for more than it cost, GER
tainly."
Il have heard it stated" continued Mr..
White, that d naked barroom license in
this town is worth $1,000 What about
it?"
WELL" said Mr. Sullivan, ct can't see
where it would get that value, seeing
there is no legal limit to the number that
can be issued
Valuations on Licenses.
Suppose saloon fails and the owner
sells out the business, does he value the
license at about $1,000? Isn't the right
to do business worth THAR
1T depends on the business"
George +. Hamilton was the next wit
ness. He said as a lawyer he had ap-
peared many times before the excise
board and that he knows Mr.. Kalbfus
very well. He was asked to tell what
he thought OF the beard:
II have differed with the boards judg-
ment frequently" he replied. but
have found 1t an efficient board
as an official?' asked Frank j. Hogan,
attorney for Mr.. Kalbfus.
Il never heard his honesty questioned.
l have found him an earnest, painstak-
Il ST. \
conclusions and those of the excise board
have frequently not been the same. But
have always thought the excise be ard
arrived at its conclusions after mature
elaboration. AS for that" said Mr..
Hamilton with a smile at the Commits
s.oners. II have frequently disagreed
with the District government. but that
does not mean l have lost faith in the
government by any MEANS
Mr.. Hogan brought out the fact that
Mr.. Hamilton occupies the chair of legal
ethics at the postgraduate school al
Georgetown University law department.
and then asked Mr.. Hamilton If there
was anything wrong in a man appearing
friend. Mr. Hamilton replied that in
his opinion there is nothing wrong in
that
Praises Excise Board.
Alexander H. Bell, president of the
Bar Association and general counsel for
the National Capital Brewing Company
who has appeared occasionally before
the excise board. gave the board and the
District government the finest "send-off''
heard yet in the hearing
Il have never questioned the ability
and integrity and honesty of any MEM
Der of the board" said he, although /
have differed with them. l have differed
with them in their rules of practice and
procedure; they have taken hearsay evil
dence and they are not trained lawyers.
but they are Supremacy honest, and i
am sure that if any man should go there
with a dishonest proposition some one
would kick him out of the Office
Mr.. Bell was asked about NJ. ]. Keane.
and. after a very fiatterins testimon al
to Mr.. keane, proceeded to compliment
the District government.
Take the concrete case OF a member
of the board of assistant assessors"
said Assistant Corporation Counsel
White. Suppose he borrows money
from brewer who is interested
generally in the saloon business: sup
pose he is a close personal friend of
the legal representative of that brewery
and deals with him in business. and
holds property in his own name for
that legal representative. Would you
think that officially right?"
Dealing with this as hypothetical
question purely, / would say that mem
Der might be subjected to criticism, but