Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06
POLICE FOR CHANGE
Maj. Sylvester Urges More
Stringent Excise Laws.
"DRY" ADVOCATES HEARD
Committee Gives Further Hearing on
Proposed Liquor Legislation.
COMPLAINT AGAINST SALOONS
Number at 18th and H Streets
Northeast Is Scored-Central
Labor Union Criticised.
AGAINST SALOONS

| foHce Cnle1 sylvester recommende(
changes in the Districts excise laws, IL
the direction OF more stringent regulation
| Of the sale Of intoxicating liquors BY
clubs and to women and minors. and IL
the direction OF giving the government
more discretion in granting saloon II
censes at today's hearing on excise leg
islation before the subcommittee of thu
Senate District committee.
With the exception Of Maj. Sylvester
the speakers were all on the dry side.
Complaint was made against the num-
Der Of saloons at 14th and n streets
northeast. Rev. Earl Wilfrey replied to
the criticisms OF the Central Labor Union
against his sermon criticizing labor's at
titude toward excise legislation; and a
union carpenter took exception to the
position Of the central body's representa-
tives at tho hearing.
Says Saloons Offend Visitors.
Hugh Thrift, who has been an active
mission worker in Washington, repeated
former complaints against the number of
saloons on Pennsylvania avenue, and
maintained the removal OF the saloons
fensive to visitors to Washington.
Don't you think visitors would still
find offensive the Chinese dens there. II
the saloons were removed?" he was
asked by one Of the liquor represent
atives.
They arc not so prominent as tho sa-
looms" Mr.. Thrift replied.
Rev. Earle Wiley, pastor Of the Yer
mont Avenue Christian Church. who STIR
red up the ire Of members OF the Central
Labor Union by his criticism Of their at
utude toward liquor legislation, spoke as
president Of the Joint conference Of the
Baptist and Disciples ministerial asso-
Citations for tho ministers and members
of the churches Of those denominations.
Referring to st. Louis as the great
Jerusalem Of the liquor interests" he
declared that Washington. beautiful as II
is. is behind St Louis. in some ways, In
its regulation OF the liquor traffic.
"How?' Senator Jones asked.
I'm the number and density OF saloons
in certain localities" he replied: in the
viciousness Of the localities where the
saloons are conferred"
Making reference to the controversy
with the Central Labor Union, he said he
carried q union card. and simply re-
peated what he said before, criticdsing
labors position toward more stringent
liquor legislation.
"It makes my heart sorrowful, this
spectacle of labor's representatives speak
ing in behalf Of one Of the two greatest
foes Of labor" he remarked. Il refer 10
the saloon as one OF the two greatest
foes Of labor. The other greatest zoe 10
the INSCRIPTIONS labor leader"
Police Seek Change in Law.
Police Chief Richard Sylvester was call
ed as a witness by the committee, as ia
vorable to neither the 'wets" or "drys.
The police department. he said. mas
been asking for changes in liquor laws. A
few years ago. he said, the great prob
lem was in dealing with the cheap club.
where the dues are 81 year or about
that There are not SO many now. ne
said but are still some. And they, IN an
excise way, have given the police depart
ment most trouble.
GENT law to prevent minors from buying
or retting liquor and q law prohibiting
women from going into saloons unat-
tended by adults. He thought the DIS
trict government should nave more power
TO annul or reject or cancel license. II
the threat to cancel a license. unless Ger
tain conditions were improved, could De
carried out, he said, conditions would
be greatly bettered.
The co-operation between the police Of
ficials and the excise board was the sub
iect of much discussion MAI. sylvester
said applications for renewals OF licenses
were referred to his department. and re
ports on conditions and opinions as 10
s.In some cases you have made un-
favorable reports" Senator Jones re-
marked. Have your recommendations
been followed?" ;.
Mai. Sylvester replied. Il don't know the
what would you think of a law pro-
hibiting the issuance Of license against
which the chief Of police has made an
THAT is what I recommend" Mai. syl-
vester replied.
To Submit Police Record.
Senator Works asked for a statement
from the police records showing arrests
for drunkenness In certain localities Sat
urday nights, and 1t will be furnished
Don't you think there are too many
saloons on 7th street," A. E. Shoemaker,
attorney for the Anti-Saloon League,
asked.
Mai Sylvester replied, with a smile.
THAT Ia, you have decided opinions re-
earding two or three?" Senator Jones put
yes"
Minors, II they take an order from an
| adult. can get liquor At a saloon under
the Interpretation Of the present law. he
said. The courts have held that the
LIQUOR was not for minors, but for the
adult whose order was presented. Maj.
Sylvester wanted q change In the law to
| remedy the situation.
In answer to questions indicating that
present liquor laws are violated Maj
Sylvester declared that q larger police
force would enable him to enforce the
| liquor laws better. The force 10 now in
sufficient
washington has less crime than any
other city, Maj. Sylvester remarked. In
answer to another question. In proportion
to its size. There are many minor viola
tions OF ordinances. he added.
Services Interfered With, He Says
Rev. Richard p. Williams. former rec
tor Of Trinity Episcopal Church. and now
canon Of the Cathedral Of So. Peter and
Paul, complained Of saloons In the vi.
cinity of Trinity Church.
their population In our street, and the
drunken persons interfered with oul
services he declared.
He wanted larger dry zones around
| churches. and particularly. the schools
/ and he thought saloons should be CLOSED
at II o'clock at night.
Canon Williams urged strtcter regula.
ton Of liquor selling in the clubs II
II do not mean tho cheap club" he
remarked: II mean the well organized
club
.'such as the Metropolitan Club. thu
Cosmos Club. the University Club?" re.
marked Hugh F. Harvey, vino represents
the liquor interests.
YES" Canon Williams said.
When he made some comparisons with
q dry section In which he had lived