The Washington times., 1915-02-27
FIND EXCISE BOARD
NEGLIGENT Of DUTY
Majority Of Senate Committee
Will Make Scathing Denun.
citation in Report.

The special committee of the Senate In
charge of the investigation into the ex-
else board Of the District expects to
wind up the taking Of testimony Monday
and to make its report to the Senate be-
fore the end of the present session.
The report will be a scathing denuncia-
ton of the methods Of the excise board.
What recommendations the committee
will make has not yet been determined:
II is known that q majority OF the
committee is convinced from the evidence
thus far taken that the board has beer,
grossly negligent Of its duties. and that
II has failed to enforce the excise law
as Congress intended 1t should be en-
forced.
This conviction as to the nature Of the
course taken by the board will be strong
ly reflected In the report.
President To Get Report.
What will be the consequences Of the
inquiry it is impossible as yet to say.
The special committee of the Senate.
headed by Senator Sheppard. has no
authority in itself to do more than re-
port the facts as it finds them and make
recommendations The President Is the
legal authority. as a matter OF fact'
to whom the board ia responsible.
The probabilities are that the Senate
will send the report of the special COM
mittee to the President to take such
action as he deems advisable under the
circumstances. The special committee
may recommend that this be done IN
its report.
But whether the Senate orders the re-
port sent to the President or not, 1t un-
Senator or any individual can do this.
Whether the result of the inquiry will
be a shakc-up in the board It Is too
early to predict. But it is not unlikely
Strengthens "Dry" Movement.
A member of the Senate conmittec
said one important effect Of the inquiry
would be to strengthen greatly in .on-
gress the movement for prohibition in
the District.
The excise law is a good one, he said.
Under 1t. Washington might have been
made well-nigh n model city so far as
the conduct of tn, saloon business is
have no question that rs a result the
movement for prohibition here will be
much strengthened"
The committee did not meet today:
the committee will take automobiles and
visit number OF places where the law
is said to have been violated with re-
spect to the granting Of licenses.
Chairman Sheppard announced at the
conclusion Of yesterdays hearing that
an opportunity would be given any per-
son to rebut any evidence thus far on
Monday morning. when the committee
will reconvcne at 1890 o'clock. osten-
sibly to near the answer of the Excise
Board.
Smith Replies.
A sharp response from General Smith
president Of the Excise Board. to an
opinion expressed by the Rev. DR.. ]. X
MacMurray. pastor Of the Union NJ. E.
Church, enlivened the close Of the hear
inc yesterday. In protesting against
the action of the board in granting sa-
loon licenses to places in the vicinity OF
his church, near Twentieth street and
PENNSYLVANIA Avenue northwest Or.
MacMurray vigorously criticised the
board during lengthy statement at
DR.. MacMurray referred to the board
as set of puppets in the hands OF
interests stronger than we (anti-saioon
advocates) were, such as political IN
fuences and liquor and brewery inter-
ests." He declared that he respected
the members Of the board personally.
despite the fact that he felt they were
not able to do the things that they de-
sired to do
Sheppard Rebukes Smith.
TO this General Smith, following a
brief statement on the question Of IL
censees having bars for white and COL
ored patrons. replied:
Il am an unfortunate culprit before
Your august body. and 1t does not seem
fair for a gentleman. particularly cne
Of the cloth. to come here and lnalisn.
abuse and scandalize. ! am surprised
that man Of his cloth would DO SUCH
a thing and aftcrward meagerly apoio-
gize. What were they-puppets?'
Senator Thompson replied that Dr.
MacMurray was merely stating an
opinion.
mo. he was referring to members OF
the board" retorted General smith.
land I thought l might have had one
champion on the committee that would
ask that the word be taken back
"You said anout AS much as he did
interposed Senator Sheppard, $50 you've
got no kick coming.
Defends Marks Hotel.
At the outset of the late afternoon
hearing. Chairman Sheppard placed into
The record letter from Attorney James
A. O'Shea. dated yesterday. in which