The Washington times., 1915-03-02

subject Of the legal interpretation OF
the excise law. The request was taken
under advisement by the committee.
able point has favored the saloon men,
declared Fred l., F'ishback, WHO told
the committee that the saloons OF Gcyer
and O'Hanlon and O'Connor In Four
teantS street northwest, were two bars
operated under one license He pro-
tested the presence of saloons In ,he
vicinity Of Mckinley Manual Training
School and the Polk School.
F. II. Geyer. in refuting the testi-
monv. of Mr. Fishback. declared he
operates only one bar. and that his
building is officially known as 1877
Fourteenth street northwest and the
license Ts i for 1. that place; place ro,,,,,, hin,
SsRss isss's asy sas he ,Ss taS msaf
John q. Lewis, who formerly conducted
saloon at iO9 PENNSYLVANIA avenue
northwest. He said his place was 372
feet from Spurgis' alley
General Smith Recalled.
General Smith. when called to the
stand yesterday. was questioned by Sem
ator Jones regarding conditions found
existing at certain of the saloons visit
ed by members OF the committee Sunday
afternoon.
In a number Of instances the commit
tee noticed that entrances had been
changed. It was stated; In others par
titons had been erected SO as to make
the distance one would have TO walk
from the entrance to the saloon to tho
nearest school or church come within
the requirements Of the law, and in
others saloons were found in the en-
frances of Inhabited alleys. it was
stated.
officially regarding each case. and in
every instance stated that the board
thought 1t was acting within the moan
ing Of the law In gre nting he licenses. :,
Referring to the saloon situated at
Fenton place and First street. where
the entrance had been changed from
Fcnton place to First street. Senator
Jones asked:
do you think that where the indica-
tions are as plain as they are there
trance and opened 1t on another street
in order to make himself apply to the
law that the board should grant the
license under these conditions?"
''If the board finds that the business
complies with the law, yes" replied
II want TO ask whether or not there
Is room there for the exercise OF dis
cretlon BY the board In the interest Of
wv DOdIu eAeTClSSS lls ulSCTctlOu "
the benefit Of the greatest number. It
believes replied General Smith.
Who Got Benefit.
well. Id like to know where you
benefited anybody there except saloon
men," Senator Jones remarked.
There is a slum element there that
ought to be protected against this place
and yet you have left this saloon as the
very mouth Of 1t to prey upon those
people. now who was benefited? What
benefit comes from It except to the sa-
loonman. Please tell me that" asked
the Senator.
Every one has dema nds on the boa rd
for its attention and consideration and
in giving such it tries to be fair to all
concerned. conditions considered" re-
piled General Smith.
We'll: want to know whom YOU
would be unfair to to refuse that H.
cense there. except possibly the saloon
man." asked the Senator.
General Smith seemed somewhat puz-
zlad, and replied that the location OF
this particular saloon was not alto
gether clear In his memory, and added.
" will go down there and look it over. -
II wish you would go and look II
over" replied Senator Jones.
Lieut.. James A Duvall. Of the Sixth
precinct. told the committee late yester-
day that jeremiah O'Connors ga
loon was conducted properly. but 80 to
Is pc cent OF the patrons are disreput.
able" He could not say whether or not
Cinnamon frequented the place.
DO women enter the OConnoT
store?' asked the chairman.
Not now. Formerly there were wom-
en- patrons. ] have never seen women
drink there
Policeman James +. Beckett said the
manner He said O'Connor person
ally was far above the average
Similar testimony WIS given with
reference to the saloon and to Mr..
O'ronnOr pc! sonally by Sergt. Edward
Curry.
F.. A. sullivan. saloonkeeper at
1915 First street northeast. decla ed
that during the thirteen years he ha g
been in the building there has been
no entrance on Tenton street.