Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-26
NO CHARGE OF DISHONESTY
But He Thinks Kalbfus and Rich.
ards Are Incompetent.
SAYS POLICE ARE IGNORED
Licenses Granted Despite Unfavor-
able Reports, Declares Attorney
Arthur z. Shoemaker.

llat the excise Has
closed up of it's own accord some of the
worst conducted saloons and drinking
places in the District. and that so-called
clubs run for the express purpose OF
selling liquor on Sunday. have been
smeled out and forced to the wall by the
excise board. Albert +. Shoemaker. at
torney for the Anti-Saloon League. con-
t;nued as an enlivening witness today III
the investigation into the excise board
being conducted at the District building
Mr. Shoemaker went on the stand yes
terday as witness for Assistant Cor
poration Counsel White, and threw many
hot shaft into the excise board, before
which he has appeared as an attorney
regularly for many years One OF his chiei
complaints was that the excise board does
not exercise any discretion. and that 1t
opens too many saloons. At times his
testimony was extremely personal. as he
undertook to tell what he thinks OF the
board members and their competency.
Police Reports Ignored.
..The police Of the first and sixth pre-
cincts have reported adversely against
various saloons for the past several
looms are those with the upstairs drink
ing rooms, where women and men are
served at the same tables. and where
there is music and sometimes vaudeville
and dancing The police have advised
that these features should be eliminated.
The Anti-Saloon League believes these
features are harmful. In neariN every IN
stance the excise board mas ishoreu 'he
police recommendation.
Commissioner Judson asked Mr.. Shoe
maker IL he knew whether there dre
many places where liquor is sold without
| a license.
There are several Of these speak
easies' as they are called, replied Mr.
Shoemaker "Some time ago | made an
examination of the internal revenue rec
ords and found that there We're seventy
five places here which sell liquor under
revenue license. but which have obtained
no excise board license. These houses
are in the neighborhood south OF Penn
syivania avenue between 18th ana lott
streets. -,
fhtsp' asked Commissioner Judson.
''The excise board is charged with ex
fcIse n1atterss Mr.. Shoemaker. ne
board kriowssIhat liquor Is sold In these
houses. and ftas easy to take e. steps %
Whose Is the primary duty! asked
Commissioner Judson.
.~rhe police and the Commissioners
have the first duty to PERFORM, tii'in'
Honesty Not Questioned.
At this point Frank Hogan. attorney
for Mr.. Kalbfus, took the witness, anu as
Mr.. Shoemaker's testimony yesterday
afternoon and this morning had been d.
rected almost entirely against the excise
board as body and not against Mt.
Kalbfus Mr.. Hogan for the while today
assumed the position OF attorney Ior IN. nv.
board The first question propounded by
Mr.. Hogan brought the board room auui-
ence to a complete hush.
Mr.. Hogan's question concerned the
competency and honesty OF the board:
Il have not questioned the honesty
Of Mr. Richards and Mr.. Kalbfus. but
| have questioned their competency.
Mr. Shoemaker said. These two gen.
tiemen do not have the judicial tenn
permanent Mr.. Trimble and Mr.. Nc
permanent. But never have ques-
toned their honesty. IL had ever had
any occasion to question their hon
esty. or IL ] had ever had evidence
that any Of them had accented graft
or had done anything crooked, ! would
not have waited for Horstmann to
well" said Mr.. Hogan, would you
bring to the attention of the authori-
ties any violation OF the law which
a
that part of your duty as a good citi-
zen
Mr. Shoemaker replied that OF course
he would do so. He and .ir. Hogan then
had n colloauy as to whose duty 1t Is to
prosecute the alleged violations Of the
excise law in the case OF the seventy
houses where liquor is sold without all
excise board license Mr.. Shoemaker
seemed to think the matter is one OF
common knowledge. and that mere citi-
zen making report on the matter would
be supertluous. Mr.. Hogan. steering MS
questions to show the excise board had
nothing to do with such cases. ended this
no1tion of his cross Ss-examination with this
query:
Limit on Jurisdiction.
so it is a fact that the excise BOARD
has no Jurisdiction in any liquor cases
except where the consideration of an ap-
plcation is taken up?'
The humor of the board OF Commission
ers was aroused somewhat by IA discus
sion as TO how many saloons there are
at present ON Ith street northwest At
YESTERDAY afternoons session Mr.. Shoe
maker i'm his general line of argument
that there are too many saloons, said
tina, the excise board permits forty places
on Ith street between T. and L. streets.
That was found to be inc rect Mr..
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