Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-12
Seven Saloons for District.

Seven Saloons for District.
The bill is drastic in its limitations. Ac-
cording to those who oppose it, 1t would
limit the saloons in the District of Column
bia to seven. 1t specifies that the number
must be reduced in the first place to 300,
and then places limitations on their dis
tances from schools, churches, govern
ment reservations, etc, which, it is said,
would make more than seven saloons i'm
possible, which is too much like prohibi-
ton to suit Mr.. Cary.
Il think this is freak BILL he said
today, and l don't propose to vote for it
and will oppose it In every way possible.
believe that If the prohibition party
ton legislation. but I do not think the
prohibition party should look to the demo-
Gratis and republicans to enact prohibition
laws. | believe also that much of this
prohibition legislation and activity is fos-
tered by the distillers of whisky, because
1t is notable fact that there is more
whisky bootlegged and sold in blind tigers
in the alleged dry districts than there was
in the same territory when it was wet
In dry state a bootlegger can carry
fifty pint bottles of whisky concealed
on him. but he couldn't carry fifty barrels
of beer, SO you see the distillers win
Not Prohibition Measure.
A. E. Shoemaker, attorney for the Anti
Saloon League, argues that Mr.. Cary's at
titude is lacking in logic, inasmuch as the
Jones-Works bill is not prohibition
measure. THE league wants to see this
bill enacted into law, and the Anti-Saloon
League is not part of the prohibition
party. but is omni-partisan and non-par-
tiSan.
The prohibition party is against all
Ifnnnr
and this bill carefully outlines the method
by which We want the saloons regulated
by license. The Anti-Saloon League is
so far from prohibition party organiza-
ton that 1t Is even held to be antagonistic
to that party by some of the leaders.
This cleanup work In the saloon and
liquor situation must be done by the
parties i'm power, anyhow. 1t is being
done by democrats and republicans alike"
Passed Senate Last April.
The Jones-Works excise bill passed the
Senate April &c. 1912, and during the nine
months intervening has lain inactive in
the House District committee. Strong eff
forts have been made by temperance
forces to have the bill reported, feeling
sure the House would pass it if it could
be placed before the members. For that
matter, the liquor men feel that it would
get the bill on the floor, as the temper
of the House now is such that almost
any temperance measure would get a
heavy following.
The most recent attempt came from the
local W. c. T. T., which has sent a COM
mittee to the rules committee OF the House
asking for a special rule to bring the bill
to the floor Of the House. Members or
the House have announced their inten-
ton to make motions to discharge the
ft1,-th <,Y ,Si6 IL
GRAFTON of the bill, but there are a dozen
such motions on other bills now before
the House, and these must be disposed of
before the motion respecting the Jones'
W orks bill is reached, unless the bill
could be taken up by unanimous consent,
and that is practically impossible. Some
one would be sure to object.
While the Commissioners want to regu-
late the excise situation and the general
liquor traffic, they are not heartily in ia
yor of the Jones-Works measure.
For New Excise Board.
The bill abolishes the present excise
board and provides for board appointed
by the President, taking it's members en-
tirely from outside the District govern
ment. 1t specifies what is a hotel. re-
quiring fifty rooms for guests. which Is
double the present requirement, and the
board would be allowed to take into con-
sideration the character of the owner OF
the place. Saloons would have to be at
least 80 feet apart. There is now no
restriction of that sort, and as high as
eight or nine saloons are maintained on
one side of. one square.
No saloon would be permitted within
300 feet Of residential alley or OF places
commonly called slums.
The distance within which saloons are
prohibited from schools is increased from
400 to COO feet. Saloons and drinking
places in railroad stations would not be
allowed. No saloons would be allowed in
residence districts, and the excise board
would be required to cut down the sa-
looms to 800 by November, 1914. License
fees would be increased and there are
several other Paragraphs in the bill to