The Washington times., 1913-02-25
THE CONTENTION OF THE LIQUOR
DEALERS ASSOCIATION. -


THE Mercantile Association which is the of
the largest organization of local liquor dealers,
various claims and arguments are made some OF
which are true and some of which entirely misrepre-
sent the provisions of and the results of the passage
of the Jones-works excise bill, which is under dis
cusson.
The Times, during the entire period of the excise
agitation, has opened its columns to the arguments
Of the liquor dealers just freely it has to the
contentious of those favoring the regulation and
correction of liquor conditions in the city, and it
reproduces below without cost to the Mercantile As
sociaon the entire xt of the argumentative portion
of its advertisement of today
The people of Washington have made no complaint
against existing conditions in the liquor business.
They have found no fault with the manner in which
t is controlled and regulated.
That these existing laws adequate, and that the
liquor merchants of Washington are abiding ct-
is proved by the police records, which show that
during the past ten less than per cent Of the
engaged in the licensed liquor business have been
arreigned for any infraction Of the laws.
The Jones-Works excise bill is not the result Of
any local agitation any local condition, but purely
the effort of the Anti-Saloon League-an alien body
without interest investment in the District of Coum
ba-to enforce their views upon the people of WASH
ington
But the introduced under the guise of regu
lating the traffic actually means prohibition.
The joker section of the bill, which provides
that mo license shall be granted, allowed, main
tanned within 600 of any public school house, pr-
vate school, university college within 500 feet
of any place of worship"
The average length of city square is 800 feet Ac-
tuaI measurements made by competent engineers show
that the various restrictions under law would a
feet 497 existing places leaving about seven
unaffected
But even these places could be put out of business
should the bill become effective. Because private
school-which need consist of more than a teacher
and couple of puplscould be opened within the pre-
scribed limit and force the liquor store out of bus-
ness no matter how long it had been established
The present law the term .house of worship, .
which a church. The new bill says "any place
of worship" which any room, or even street.
corner meeting, which might be established with the
object of enforcing prohibition within the 5Oo-foot limit
The bill further states licensed druggist is not
required liquor license, yet he may sell in
toxicating liquors Doctors prescription This Is
one of greatest evils in districts where prohibition
in force.
in the bill is that the of adjacent property own
ers or residents is NOT required obtain license to
sell LIQUOR But license CANNOT be granted except
by unanimous action of the excise board, when re-
port approving the granting thereof is made to them by
the chief police This practically places In the power
of member and the chief of police the opportunity OF
saying where saloons shall be, in spite Of the property
owners and residents of a section.
The bill opens a great field for blackmailers in the
clause which states THAT every wife, daughter mother
father guardian, having made the request OF IL
censee not to sell give any person intoxicating
liquors. who shall injured in property or
means of support by any intoxicated concerning
whom such request has been made or in consequence
Of the ntoxication of such person shall have right
of action for all damages actually sustained IN MS or
her name against any person. individual, corporation
bo shall after such request has been made by selling,
arering giving away otherwise furnishing intoxi-
ating liquors such request have caused the
:atoxication of such person
The statement made by the friends Of the Jones'
Works bin that it permits 800 saloons is misleading.
hecarse the various restrictions incorporated in the
will positively leave less than dozen of the
already established barroomsand these can easily be
eliminated. Here are some of the restrictions
No saloon or barroom shall be licensed within 15o
feet of any other saloon or barroom.
No license shall be issued within 300 feet Of any
aleyway occupied by residences Almost every square
in Washington has an alleyway in which one or two
families reside.
M license shall be granted any resident portion
OF the city.
The excise board to determine what is a business
street or section.
No saloon or barroom shall be licensed on any side
Of any square block tract OF land where less than
% per cent of the houses and buildings, not including
saloons hotels and clubs thereon are used for busi-
tness purposes.
No license shall be issued WITHIN looo teet OF the
sro,nd. of the Marine Barracks the War College. and
the NAVY Yard