Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-27
Would Prohibit Treating.

Legislation that would break up treat
Ing would do more to reform the commu-
nifty or the individual along these lines
than anything else. Men go into drinking
just because they meet and have not any
thing else on hand; and they get OF the
street and stand up against the railing Of
a bar, each treating the other, until
courtesy Is exhausted and oftentimes the
pocketbook. Now, you are fostering that.
places and make 1t difficult and odious for
any except those who frequent clubs and
expensive hotels to drink.
You will eliminate from the laborlng
number who drink today II you will re-
quire them to take out license. some of
them because they will not spend the
money for license and others because
1t would make it available to every other
person in the community to know who
took out the license. wonder how many
senator's here would go on record in the
public records, to stand forever, as
person who needed a drink so bad as to
go and take out license to get 1t.
Regarded as surest Remedy.
II would not make the license high. A
dollar will accomplish the purpose and do
more for the cause OF moderation and
temperance than all these drastic meas
pres.
but 1 go back to that which 1 firmly
believe in. Make the drinker pay his IL
cense, and make 1t a felony to sell him q
drink or give it to him or hand It to him.
except that he purchases 1t on his own
license and not on that of another.
Now, II you are going to strike at this
evil take time enough to do It right. This
bill provides for cheap court, three men
at 81, 400 q year. to sit here as the arbiters
Of the fate Of the people In dealing with
their own thirst
''Of course, there should be no saloons
near the churches or the schools. II you
are going to resort to this legislation the
provisions are generally wise. There
should be no recognition OIL was going
to say swamp lands; 1 have forgotten
the term. It Is where fashionable people
are supposed to get q glimpse Nof the un-
fashionable world under the pretense that
they are doing some good or going to
do it,
Senator Hepburn made q caustic refer
ence to the small attendance In the Sem
ate when the liquor bill was under dis
cussion. He remarked that II he had his
way he would call for a quorum, then
lock the doors and make senator's vote
on the question.
drink, Senator Hepburn remarked, does
not establish his competency. The aver
age will run about the same. he said.
among men who drink and men who do
not OrlNk. SOInoIlmeSs ne SAID, one mas
a man who plumes himself on the fact
that he does not drink, and "he has not
sense enough to cross the street." Anoth-
err man drinks sometimes, but, Mr. Hey
burn added, he may not drink at the
wrong time and is competent.
II will support him against q sober fool
any time" he concluded.
But Little Discussion.
Outside Of Mr.. Heyburn's comment
there was little discussion of the meas
ure. Soon after the reading of the bill
had been concluded Senator MARITIME OF
New Jersey moved to strike out the para
graph Of the bill prohibiting any saloon
within $50 feet of an inhabited alleyway,
within 600 feet Of a school or 500 feet of
q church.
This provision was too drastic and =
prohibition effort, Mr.. MARITIME Urged as
reasons for suggesting the amendment.
II believe the city Of Washington, as 1
have seen it, IL a well governed and well
ordered city" he added. 81 have seen no
conditions on the streets or highways
calling for so drastic q measure as this.
I believe 1t. interferes with vested inter-
ests and rights. and that 1t is to the
dctriment- and against the general well
fare of the community.
Senator Jones replied vigorously. de-
claring that the testimony taken before
the excise subcommittee OF the Senate
committee showed conditions around al
leyways, as regards saloons. az intolera-