Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-07
LIQUOR COST HERE
District Pays $500, 900 a
Year to Maintain Saloons.
PER CAPITA TAX Is GIVEN
Men and Religion Forward Move
ment Workers Compile Figures.
HEARING ON CHANGE OF LAW
subcommittee Of Senate District
Committee Gives tsDrys" An
other Inning Today.

Three million and a half dollars are
spent each year for the maintenance Of
| saloons in the District Of Columbia, or
| more than is spent for the public schools,
according to figures compiled by the
workers OF the men and religion forward
| movement and presented today to the
subcommittee Of the Senate District com
mittee that is conducting hearings on
proposed changes in the excise laws.
Thomas Jesse Jones presented the esti-
| mates to the committee. It was esti-
mated that $1,000 was spent on an aver
age for each saloon in year. On that
basis. he stated, the maintenance OF the
saloons in the District cost $14.1O per
capita In the northwest section, $l2'O
per capita In the southwest, $3.50 in the
northeast and $50 in the southeast.
He also presented a chart to show the
number Of saloons and the number or ar
rests in each police precinct In the Dis
trict. He pointed out that this chart
| shows the greatest number Of arrests are
made in the precincts where there are
the greatest number OF saloons. While
saying that he would not attribute this
condition entirely to the saloons, he main
tanned that there is relation.
Alcohol and the Death Rate.
Prof. Irving Fisher, professor Of po-
litical economy of Yale University, gave
a scientific discussion of the relation Of
alcohol to the death rate. In Sweden,
he said, a determined fight against alco-
hol has been waged for several decades;
and a reduction in the consumption OF
liquors was marked by reduction In the
death rate. In Prussia, he said SINH
lar result was noticed.
The reduction in the death rate in the
city of London, lone of the wonders OF
the world" he said, is due to variety
of causes, but particularly to a reduction
in the consumption Of alcohol.
Harry Robinson, 1910 9th street south
west, was called to tell of conditions
along It'll street. where there are large
number of saloons.
In my experience as "a motorman on
the local street cars for twenty-five
years. he said, Eight out Of the ten &C
cidents have been caused by drunken
| man, running to catch a car or doing
something of that kind.
las I have gone up and down 9TH
street I have thought it was pity that
children going to school have to pass SO
| many saloons"
Tells of Intoxicated Persons.
He complained of intoxicated persons
at It'll and X streets southwest. One
night he said, girl not over eighteen
years old was put on his car at that
point SO drunk she couldn't stand by her.
| SELF
II have a daughter he added, land
| that girls condition went to my heart"
In answer to a question from Hugh +.
| Harvey. Mr.. Robinson said he didn't rep
resent the motOrmen on the street cars
generally or the street car companies.
| Mrs. NJ. c. Rugg of the Associated
| Charities complained of the number of
saloons on II street northeast between
| 18th and 18th streets There are nine sa-
looms and one wholesale liquor store In
the two squares. she said.
Frank A. Kidd. former president OF the
Typographical Union, and newly elected
exalted ruler Of the Washington Lodge OF
Elks, introduced in behalf OF the 'wets,
told the committee that the present
liquor legislation in the District is rea-
liquor traffic in other cities, he said, are
not to be seen here.
You are not here to defend drunken
ness?'' Senator Works asked.
Certainly not" Mr.. Kidd replied.
''You don't mean to imply by that that
any one is here to defend drunkenness?"
Hugh F. Harvey put in.
No, / am dealing only with Mr.. Kidd
now" Senator Works replied.
Some Places Not Licensed.
Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts. superintendent
of the International Reform Bureau,
touched on the unlicensed" liquor places
in Washington. BY examination Of in
ternal revenue bureau records, he said,
he found there were 200 places in Wash
ington with internal revenue licenses, but
without excise board licenses.
He pleaded for a prison term as pun
ishment for the selling OF liquor without
a license.
IAN exemplary blow should be struck
at these un licensed places, in any new
law" he shouted.
There is no greater enemy Of sobriety