The Washington herald., 1915-08-28

interesting items:
Number of persons employed. $40;
total salaries paid annually. $3s1.671
Here we have an annual loss to the
employees of the five breweries OF
nearly 100000. These employees spend
that money in this city. Therefore
the merchants of the city would also
be losers if prohibition came to Wash
ington and put the breweries out OF
business.
Human Side of the Proposition.
An average of four persons are de-
pendent on the $40 employees of the
breweries. Therefore the living ex-
penses of 1.iS0 people. or nearly $500
men, women and children. would be
directly affected by any Congressional
act which served to confiscate the
nearly 100000 worth of properties
owned by the breweries.
Those employed in the breweries, as
a rule, know no other method Of max
ing a living. If they couldn't make
living in Washington at the only
work in which they are skilled. 1t IS
reasonable to presume that the ma
jority of them would go where they
could follow their trade.
What would be the effect of this
migration? Why. it would simply
mean scores of additional vacant
residences in the District and con-
sequent loss of rentals to landlords
and property owners.
These are a few of the effects that
would follow the closing of the brew
cries alone if Washington went dry"
AS presentation of the economic
phase of the proposition it should GER
tainly be Illuminating to the taxpayer.
who would eventually foot the bill.
Great object Lesson.
Some idea of the general conditions
that would prevail to a more or less
extent throughout the city and the
District, if Washington was made
dry" may be gained by an observa-
ton visit to that territory contiguous
to the Navy Yard and the Marine
Barracks from which the saloons
were barred by Congressional enact
ment the 31st of last October. The
law requires that no license be grant,
ed for a saloon within 1000 feet Of
the Navy Yard or the Marine Bar
racks.
The effect of the law has been to
paralyze many lines of business in
the vicinity and put number of es-
adjustments other than saloons en-
tirely out of business, thus depriving
many ptTSOnS OIL lHc OHly llcs
had of making a living.
Calls 1t "a Graveyard"
An Illuminating article on this
phase OF the subject, describing con-
ditions in the Navy Yard section, ap-
peared in the National Issue. "a week.
ly paper devoted to good government"
in its Washington issue of Saturday.
August 81. Speaking of the effect of
the law the issue gave some startling
facts, of which a few are quoted be-
low:
This Act of Congress has had the
effect of Transforming what had here
tofore been a live, thrifty and very
neighborhood into what is
now very properly termed "a grave
yard" And it is in truth a grave
yard. There is on all sides evidence
of stagnation. lack of thrift, lack of
business. and profound stupefaction.
Stores that were at one time, and
had been for many years in operation
and doing a good business, are now
DIV, llings that were once oc-
cupied are now vacant and produce
no revenue to their owners. Men who
were. once busy day and night now
remain in idleness. Where thousands
of customers were making purchases
at one time only few months ago
you will now find only an occasional
customer buying some small articles
of absolute necessity.
Great Decrease in Business.
"In the small period of eight months
per cent, due entirely to prohibition
in that section of the city. Eight
months ago every store and dwelling
was occupied and under good rental
but today within a radius of two
squares on either side of Eighth street
and Eleventh street fifty stores and
upward of 200 dwelling houses are va
cant and for rent. And this is all
true in face of the fact that rents
have been reduced from % to so per
cent Stores that were rented at $40
per month are now offered at $50.
with no takers. Dwellings that were
rented at SIS and $50 per month are
now vacant and offered at Sc, 81. IS
and 50 per month. with no takers. We
av no pretenSe at telling the whole |
story IN this short article, our only
phJcCt being to give taxpayers an idea
~ to what is going on here and TO /
point the way so they may go and
see for themselves. Owners Of oc-
.upied houses and stores are great
;ufferers as they have been compelled
o reduce the rent charged their ten |,
ants in order to prevent them from
moving out and going into vacant
property in the immediate vicinity |
hat is offered at a low rental The |
oss from this source is large and
,omes as 4 heavy blow to innocent |
owners"
Merchants Are Hard Hit.
From these facts. the Issue says: |
1t is easy to see what would happen
o the city of Washington in the event
congress should pass an act making |
he District of Columbia dry"
Showing that merchants have SUI
cred in that section the Issue cites
specific instances. In regard to thar
,hase of the situation. the Issue says: !,
"Falkncr, the druggist at Eleventh
md streets. was forced to close up
lis business on account of prohibition.
He had been in business on that
'orner for about twenty-five years,
nd of course had an established bust
less which he gave up a short time
Ifter the LIST of last November. His
equipment throughout and uses Ameri-