The Washington times., 1912-05-15
MEETING "PACKED'
BY FOES Of EXCISE
MEASURE, IS CHARGE
Chamberof Commerce Mem
bers Say Liquor and Labor
Men Forced Action.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
now. It will not conserve the best
interests of this District to have this
thing 20 over. This matter Is i'm
portant to the business interests of
the District and 1 hope we will act
tonight"
Charles J. Evans asserted that the
municipal legislation committee had ta-
ken the matter up Of its own motion
and made a point Of order against con-
Eideration of It's report. He declared the
committee had no jurisdiction and there
fore had no right to take 1t up.
The chair declined to sustain the point
OF order, holding that the committee
had right to take up the work, but he
referred to the Chamber the question of
which committee should continue the
work. Captain oyster blamed himself
and the secretary for not advising the
committee of the work Of the other. The
reference to the Chamber was not made.
p. T. Moran, member Of the sub
committee of the municipal legislation
committee, did not think that Mr.. Sim
clair ought to object to the report being
to vote.
Mr.. Sinclair replied that he was not
prepared to vote. that he wanted ID more or,
were good and others bad.
George Y. Worthington said that he
had no notice from the secretary that
Cne HatIer "Ou10 come uD TOT ueClS1Ou
and he regretted that It had come up.
He regarded the question as dangerous
to the Chambers interests.
He offered substitute resolution
seeking to place the Chamber on record
as being unwilling to consider any
question involving religion or politics. 2
Parliamentary Wrangle.
This got the Chamber into a parlia-
mentary wrangle, which brought a
number of members to their feet seek
ing recognition. Henry H. Classic.
chairman of the subcommittee of the
committee on law and legislation.
finally was recognized.
You could not, II you wished, blind
yourself to the issue or dodge IT," he
said. The attendance is evidence of
III the matter is important enough
to vote upon, 1t is important enough to
think about. I doubt whether 10 per
have read this bill. 1t is an insult to
your intelligence to say that you are
all prepared to vote. -,
'Tf we simply put our backs up and
say to Congress, Put your bill in the
waste basket without considering It..
where would the influence of this Cham
ber be? ., ,.
pass a matter Of this kind.
"Ths issue before you is tAe standing
na 5s 81 Is 10 com m
slider the question.
;. THE bill goes to the bottom OF every
interest in the District Would you like
sS tie Fsf sill9 Up and stand a" s6am'n4''0" o"
"It makes no difference whether you
are for or against the bill, how can YOU
dodge a question so real or so vital?'
Milton J., Smelling said that ne was
ready to stand quiz" and accused
Mr.. Classic of lodging the issue.
THE liquor people and the labor peo-
pie here are ready to vote" he said.
He could not see how the worthngton
substitute would be of any avail
Makes Point of Order.
Harry King then made point of
order against the substitute, and was
sustained.
The original question was called for
and division demanded. Charles c.
Lancaster demanded a roll call The
chair ruled that a majority vote was
necessary for roll call.
The division was made. and the secre-
tary announced that thirty-two were
in favor of referring the matter to the
law and legislative committee and
Browns motion to refer.
Mr.. Brown then called on Albert
schulteis, chairman of the subcommit-
tee, to make his report
ION February 21. 1908, the board of dl.
rectors referred the matter to the com
mittec on municipal legislation" he
said. He added that the subcommittee
acting. He said that his subcommittee
had carefully considered the matter fol
q long time, and presented the follow
ing report:
whereas. Senate bill No. 5461, en-
titled An act to regulate the traffic
1 Intoxicating liquors in the District
Of Columbia, having come before us
Resolved, That we, the Chamber
Of Commerce of the City of Wash
ington, after full discussion and care
" recommend that 1t be not enacted
into law, being of the opinion that 1t
Is against the interests of the citi-
zens of the District OF COLUMBIA
Sinclair Objects.
Mr.. Sinclair made a point of orde
against the report by saying that thu
committee had no Jurisdiction. Th
point was not we'll taken. Presiden
Oyster ruled.
Major T. T. Smith made an appeal TO
harmony. Harmony is worth more t
us than all the liquor in Washington,
he said. Are we to be bound hant
and foot by that old precedent
Let us hear from Schulteis,' cam,
cries from the floor. Put the question
Charles I. Evans, a member of tn
subcommittee, broke in to offer mi
nOrtty report, out was pTeNdlleu dt lhl
juncture to permit Mr.. Schulteis to con
tinue his report.
sion" the latter said. would be ad
versely affected by the enactment of tn
bill in its present form, and we there
fore have brought in our report agains
the bill"
The revenues Of the District OF Co
himbia. Mr. Schulteis pointed out, fror
the liauor dealers and brewers, includ
ing cigar taxes, amounted to nearl
$4,000 a year.
He also said that the real estate ia
on properties owned and used by tn
Nouor interests in the District amount
ed to $3.50 900, making a total revenue I
the District of 81, 10000 In internal rev
enue tax the District liquor interest
contribute H,5Oo0Oo a year. he cor
cluded.
Minority Report.
The minority report of the subcon