Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-01

over with him the letter which he PLAN
ned to send to President Wilson. Mr..
Wilson said that he had asked Mr..
Bride II he would go with him to see
Secretary Bryan.
Mr.. Bride said that perhaps he had
better not"
Mr. Wilson then told the committee
that Mr.. Bride had told him that W. F.
Columbus and a son of Commissioner
Baker were collecting money for Mr..
Baker.
II understood him to mean with ref
erence to getting money for the issue
of a license" said Mr. Wilson,
Mr.. Wilson said that he had called on
Mr.. Bride and told him of his interview
with Secretary Bryan in regard to the
letter he planned to send to the Presi-
dent.
Il called In Mr. Shoemaker at the
same time" said Mr.. Wilson. 'Mr
Bride said that he would not send the
letter at this time. He said that things
not be necessary to send the letter"
Wants His 81, 1000 Back.
Mr.. Wilson. referring to case in
which Mr.. Madden is said to have
paid $1,000 to an attorney to aid in
getting liquor license. said that it
had been reported that Mr.. Madden was
not doing well and would give up seek
Ing the issue Of the license and try to
get his money back.
And" said Mr.. Wilson, Mr. Bride
said And Gen. Smith has spent it and
he can't pay it back.'"
MIR. Wilson said that he had mailed
the letter eventually to President Will
son, and that he had received a reply
from the Presidents secretary
II was told by an attorney. Robert I.
Miller. said Mr.. Wilson. that Gen.
Smith was staying at the United States
Hotel at Saratoga last summer, and
that he frequented the race track in
company with NJ J. Kean and Mr..
Sheehy. lawyer appearing before the
excise board for applicants for liquor
yer, Harry H. Hoilinder. that he saw
one or more members of the excise
board at the race track at Laurel, Md,
in company with Mr.. Sheehy.
Believes Excise Board Influenced.
I'm view of the large sums of money
which it is known have been expended
by applicants for licenses; in view Of
the statements by Mr.. Bride; in view
of the statements about the race track,
1 have been forced to believe that the
excise board was unduly influenced in
the issue of licenses
Mr.. Wilson told the committee that
he had been told by Mr.. Bride that
Gen. Smith and Mr.. Baker, another
member of the board. had had great
deal of money lately.
Mr.. Bride said to me that he told
them he didn't see where they got it."
said Mr.. Wilson.
Referring to the testimony given be-
fore the excise board in the applica-
tion for license in the Evans build
ing, Mr.. Wilson said that Mr.. Bride
had told him that Commissioners Smith
and Baker had suffered from stomach
trouble for two days after the expo
sure In the Evans building case and
| that he knew why. They were afraid"
Mr.. Wilson testified that Mr.. Bride
had told him that unless some restraint
was put upon the board he believed
that Baker and Smith would clean up
100000
1t was then that Gen. Smith took the
stand and declared to the committee
that he had never benefited in any way
through the issue of liquor licenses.
Always Visited Race Courses.
For forty years 1 have visited the
race courses of the country and en-
joyed my time off from business in
that way. 1t has cost me money, but
| will go on paying for the enjoyment
until 1 die. 1t Is difficult to be out Of
company when you visit race course
with other persons who are attending
the races.
My wife was my companion in Sara
toga and no one else. There are only
two places to stay in Saratoga when
you visit the races. the United States
not strange that l should be at the
hotel where Mr.. Sheehy was stopping"
The Senate committee yesterday in
vestigated in person some of the
charges made to the effect that the
excise board has violated the law in
regard to issuing licenses within pre-
scribed distances of churches and
schools. and in resident districts.
Gen. Smith was questioned about the
measurements of the distance be-
tween McDonlad's saloon and Wallace
School Senator Jones suggested that
the decision was in favor of the saloon
Notwithstanding the proximity of the
school.
was outside of the 400-foot limit
Other Alleged Evasions
Gen. Smith was also asked about the
saloon of Thomas F. Raftery. at 18th
and C streets northeast, where, Senator
Jones said, the entrance on C street
Was closed and the saloon was granted
a license on 18th street. which Senator
Jones characterized as an evasion of
the law. Gen. Smith said the change
was made to allow the saloon to do
business where business could be done.
Senator Jones alleged this action to
he in line with many other cases where
the board had decided in favor of the
Gen. Smith controverted this assertion
and said that the board had rejected
ll2 licenses.
because you could not grant more
than $780," suggested Senator Jones.
Senator Jones criticised the license at
1916 1st street northeast. at the en-
trance of Fenton place. and said the
hoard should have used its discretion
and rejected this license.
Gen. Smith replied the board was
called upon to take into consideration
the claims of all citizens and to decide
according to it's judgment.
The senator cited the case of the Ii
cense granted to the Tyson Hotel.
which he said was within 200 feet Of
a school. 1t was evident that the hotel
had recently made additions to its
rooms so as to conform to the law. he