The Washington times., 1915-02-25
EXCISE CHAIRMAN
DEFENDS HIS BOARD
Tells Senate Committee Body
Has Always Trie dto Do No
J Harm.
Continued from First Page.)


get the license. When questioned by
Senator Jones, witness said the board
did not go into the history Of all pro-
posed saloons.
Change Not Subtcrfugc.
The matter of change in doors by
Miller Brothers saloon. at Fourteenth
and E streets northwest was referred
to by General Smith as legitimate, and
he declared that the changed entrance
was not regarded by the board os a
subterfuge to procure the license. He
said he did not consider 1t an evasion
OF the law.
Asked to explain the change In sue
cessful applicants in T. street between
Bush to Engel General Smith said II
came to the attention of the board that
Engel was involved financially. while
Bush had another paying business
the least harm to all parties. ana
elected to change the license from Bush
10 Engel." The witness could not ex-
plain who brought to the attention of
the two applicants
General Smith, in response to a uues-
,'on by senator Jones, said 1t had come
.nort 70 the ,,rS beard that mr. EnEel had
wss seriously involved financialy.'
Questioned by Senator Thompson as
to the boards Interpretation Of the
salvation Army. General Smith said
the board did not regard 1t as "a house
"f religious Worship" The witness said
congress itself had distinguished be-
and house Of Of rc1Eos r1iSSus worship
ruling in favor of the latter He said the
hoard had decided that the Salvation
Army was not "house Of Worship"
Had Unpleasant Duty.
Touching Oh the necessity of schools
and churches. General Smith said the
board had an unpleasant duty to per-
form frequently. but also 1t had a
duty to perform to the saloon men as
we'll az to the churchmen. He added
mat nc WAS glad that there were no
more than 800 saloons permitted In the
The Temple Business Colleee was said
o.! General Smith to be not regarded as a
~ the case OF the Drillery BusIness
Cole se. tie said the Central union
Mlssion' q Jewish synagogue. and the
Socock school in one ,nsishborhood.
granted, were considered by the board
as not churches and schools in tho
m."annS OF the law.
touching on the matter of hotel and
restaurant licenses General Smith said
the Excise Soard regarded establish
ments having less than titty rooms rou
guests as restaurants. despite tn,
TACT that the places were licensed as
hoicls by tho District license clerk
,iouching again on the Central Union
MISSION. General Smith said it was
clearly a place for other purposes than
purely religious, mentioning that board
ing and rooms are available there.
rho matter Of hotels and clubs out :
side of the business districts was taken
who asked General Smith IL tho Excise
RuArd did not deliberately lesislate on
the subject. Tho witness held that Con-
srrss did not comprehend excluding bars
IN clubs and hotels in residence districts.
Evidence Found Different.
i"aln: with the licensing OF the
Grand Hotel bar. General Smith said
that Captai in Sprinkle's adverse report
OF the place was vastly different from
evidence adduCed at the hearing on
the license and the board felt justi-
fed in granting the license.
General Smith said the evidence OPP
osins the renewal of the Ebbitt
House license was given by dis.
charged employe and therefore not to
be regarded with serious thought. He
cid not know Of any so-called "orgy'
the last GeorGetoNn-Nirsin foot bal
game.
Explaining the hcard's knowledge OF
large fees paid attorneys by clients
smith said ii was not the duty OF tn
beard to inquire about the fee of any
LAWYER.
Asked by Chairman Sheppard abou,
the court record of the Columbus-S -Sheeh,
case, and of Justice Stafford's ruling
the witness said he did not inquir.
into it. He said that Joseph sheeh;
asked the board if they objected t'
him appcarin" for clients and that nc
opposition swould be raised.
When asked if Sheehy's influence "A:
a former member of the hoard. NIGH
have been looked npon with questio,
xarded Mr.. Sheehy as manly. fear.
less. and conscientious man and lawye,
who would be employed for his ability.
Senator Dillingham; tluchcb at lengtl
on the Sheehy fee of 5000 in the Nc.
Carthy case. but General Smith helc
that the board was not responsible fol
tees He said. however, that he re-
sarded a 5000 fee Successive
Defends Alley Ruling.
The visit OF General Smith to the
Philadelphia House was referred to. anc
th" various alleys said by attorna,
Shoemaker TO be prohibited district!
we're said by the witness to be regarde,
10y the board as within the law as place
near which saloons cou'd be granted
General Smith told the committe,
there had, been evidence adduced in tn,
nently unfair" to the board We hav,
heen classed as culprIts' he said "ant
not having been invited to appear be
tore the committee. we have been ab
sent until called by subpoena. We hav
CndeaVored to perio onr duty AS tebr
Iessly and consccntiously as possible.
Senator Sheppard assured Genera
Smith that the board would be Sivel
al opportuAitl to answer fully. an
that q copy OF all testimony would b
furnished the board to reply to.
AS the charges amount to so muc
in my life or what remains OF It,,
General Smith replied. but did no
continue when chairman Sheppard in
terrrpted to explain that he had /
answer roll call
John J. Madden, a saloon keeper @
I01 Four-a nd IA half street nOrthwcs
who WAS sad by .Nnlrew Wilson. q
the Auti-Saloon League. to have tol
Thad Sergeant that ne bought til
excise board" denied that he ha
ever made any such remark to SCI
2eant. Mr.. Madden said he paid At
tornry \. II. Sell 5000 and Attorne
Joseph Shcchy sl.'oo for services /
procuring his present license. lie de
clared that he was not influenced I
employing SheehN by tn" fact tha
he formerly was connected with tn
excise board.
Tale .,C TT, -o,s pl,,,,