Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-08
CRT|C|SES THE ACTS
Of THEEXC|SE BOARD
Anti.saloon League Directo1 Alege
Disregard Of Law-Urgs Alb.
soluts Prohibition.

Legislation for absolute prohibition OF
the liquor traffic In the District OF Co.
lumbia will be sought from Congress
by the local anti-saloon forces.
This was decided last night at q
meeting Of the directors Of the Wash
inEton branch Of the league in the as
sembly hall Of the Y. M. c. A. building.
The decision to go after a prohioitive
measure Is the result of belief Of mem
bers Of the league that the existing law
governing the sale Of liquor In the
District has been inefficiently admin
istered by tho excise board. it was
stated today.
Senator Works, co-author of the
Jones-Works law, now in force, al
ready has introduced a bill for prohi-
bftion in the District, but whether the
league will support this measure OF
some other has not been determined.
Criticism of Excise Board.
At last nights meeting of the direct.
| ors of the league resolutions CRITICS
ing the actions of the excise board
! were adopted. These recite that:
Congress by enacting the Jones'
Works excise law endeavored to re.
lieve the deplorable saloon conditions
III tHC DlStTlCI OF NSClumDla.
And as the excise board, charged
with the administration of said law
has apparently ignored every prohibi-
tive SECTION, in part at least, In the
granting of licenses, excepting the one
limiting the number of saloons to 300
and certain other sections fixing GER
tain prohibition zones. such as the
1,OO0-foot zone around the navy YARD
and marine barracks grounds;
And as wholesale licenses are being
Irrr-o ,f1<l Ia
And such actions of the excise board
bid fair to lead to a great public scan
dial;
And as the liquor traffic neither here
nor elsewhere obeys the law;
BE it resolved, That the Anti-Saloon
League of the District of Columbia
this 9TH day of December, 1914, ex-
presses it's indignation at the existing
conditions of excise affairs, and hereby
announces it's determination to work
from now on for absolute prohibition
as the only effective solution of the
liquor problem in this District"
Date of Annual Meeting.
1t was decided to hold the annual
meeting of the league in the assembly
hall of the Y. NJ. C. A. building De-
cember Is. At this meeting steps prob
ably will be taken looking toward the
petitioning of Congress for prohibition
in the District.
The excise board today considered the
application of P. ]. Barron for a whole
sale license at 3275 NJ street north
west. Previously the board had re-
fused a renewal Of license to Mr.. Bar
ron at the same place, and today's ap-
plication was for the purpose of OBJ
tanning reconsideration of the former
action. 1t was urged against the ap-
plication by A. E. Shoemaker, attor-
ney for the Anti-Saloon League, that
there already are five wholesale liquor
places on the block in question, be-
sides three or four barrooms and other
liquor places nearby. Inasmuch. as
there was no new evidence produced
and apparently no need for the grant
ing of the license, Mr. Shoemaker
urged that the application be denied
This afternoon the board considered
the applications of S. w. Henry for a
Wholesale license at 1917 Pennsylvania
avenue northwest, who also recently
was denied a renewal of his license;
James Enright, for a transfer of the
barroom license held by John H.
Trant at 629 Az street southwest. and
William Morris, for the transfer of the
barroom license held by J. F. Ruper-
tus at 141S p street northwest.