Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-31
National Capital Topics
BdgaF q. snyder.
The Bes's washington Correspondent.


Barkeys bills make II unlawful 70 manufacture or
sell intoxicating liquors in the District Of Columbia
after the date mentioned. The measure also prohibits
express companies from delivering liquor In the dis
trict
For twenty years / have lived in the city OF
Washington. have It grow from good sized
town into a city OF metropolitan proportion have
also great change come over the nations capi-
tai through a strieter regulation OF license and
reduction In OF places where liquor IL sold
/ have the red light" district completely wiped
out here and there business house take the place
OF those that were once the of rivalry and
dissipation. whether the elimination OF the so-caled
red light district has been blessing failure
depends upon how you look at st. The inhabitants Of
that district have been scattered hther and yon but
vice Just the the police court records
Indicate
Washington is a city OF nearly $4,000 Inhabitants,
little less than third OF that number being colored
which accounts in large measure. for the number of
cases In police during the year and the number
Of sentences the work house and to the jail Under
form OF government OF the District OF Columbia
which IL the enthusiastically FORM directly
egsstes for the district the laws being executed by
the commissioners In my Judgment a crime will be
committed II the people Of the District OF Columbia
are permitted to express themselves by ballot
upon the question whether Washington should be
wet" or dry. Many OF the representatives in con-
sress have but a superficial knowledge OF the city.
Many OF them from districts in which there
large cities and consequently have hazy idea of
what is necessary to the orderly city the
size OF the capital Of the United States.
There IL no city In the United States. far its
government IL concerned just like Washington and IL
has parallel in the world so far it's autonomy
IL concerned. The free cities I'm Europe, that are
practically supported by the government, preserve
their franchise in Warrington there is fran
chise and there r. way provided by the congress
Of United States to ascertain the wishes of its
citizens. would therefore wholly logical that
the congress should provide the machinery for
xroto Of
s provided in every city in the union. The constitu-
tioh provided that there be confiscation of
property without due process OF law" and whether
due process OF law is in the electorate In the
courts the rgts OF all the citizens safe-guarded.
Here in Washington It In wholly different The dis
trict committees OF the two houses correspond to thS
councils cities while the commissioners. before
stated execute the laws and adopt such regulations as
the needs Of the city warrant.
washington is a cosmopolitan city in a very much
larger than city of it's size in the country.
Here reside the ambassadors, the ministers and the
representatives OF foreign governments. 1t lie the
sho city OF the United States in which the people
OF the whole nation take very pardonable pride. 1t
il visited by thousands Of tourists It is becoming The
winter home OF the wealthy attracted here for
berless II is the home Of culture and refine
and II the representative city of the great
republic. II prohibition were fastened upon the dis
trict, Washington would TO be the attractive
place Il now ID and would become almost wayplace
on the map The traveller and the business would
avoid possible and II business should call them
here they would not tarry long after their business
had been concluded.
washington under the present excise law. III
saloons or one saloon every 1894 OF population.
The saloon In this case includes hotels and clubs
some thirtythree in number and therefore there
actually only 80 saloons.
have no quarrel with the prohibItionsfs per re-
but this do know that prohibition is responsible
the introduction OF larger quantity OF habitfcring
drugs those states whore prohibition exists than
in those states where license exists and when the
friends of prohibition endeavorng fasten upon
| a state or community. absolute ''dryness" they
should fail TO also legislate against the OF
drugs that dull the senses sap the mind and create
unhoy desires.
A condition confronts Washington and not theory
and the representatives in congress from the great
commonwealth of Nebraska when legislating the
subject OF prohibition should be at least fair enough
TO tho citizens of the District OF Columbia to give them
a chance 20 say whether they want prohibition
Surround such legislation with the strictest safe.
guards. make such election absolutely Clean by max
ing the marshal and the district attorney responsible
for the fairness OF the election ana let only those vote
| who have both property and educational quail
fcaton II the majority Of this electorate should
dry then has the voice OF the people 20
guide It. But congress should vote the district dry
| without ascertaaning the wishes OF the people a
grievous wrong win be done community that has
| no voice whatsoever in It's government
4 The senate banking ana currency committee has
favorably reported a bill authorizing national banks
10 avail themselves OF state laws for the guarantee
| OF bank deposits.
been held that It would require congressional
action in order that national banks would have the
| right to guarantee deposits.
That the measure has the approval of the senate
committee does not mean that II will become a law
Many national bankers bitterly opposed 10 the
| Oklahoma Nebraska idea OF guaranteeing deposits
They call attention to the record OF loss through
failure OF banks in the national system since its
| Ruguration. less than cent evidence that
It Is these bankers also contend that with
the double liability law and the searching efforts
the controller OF the currency bank deposits
now than before IN the history OF the nation.
| But II national bank in one city advertises de
posits guaranteed by such and such fiduciary bond
ing corporation II IL believed that others in the
| city will have to follow suit.
| One banker, when questioned the proposition
declared that IL would be nothing than
enormous boost for the fiducary bonding companies
The measure would have direct effect Wash
ington there local laws here. but II eouls
be extended 20 permit banks in the district guar
antee.
Senator owen OF Oklahoma Is the chairman OF tn
banking and currency committee In the senate. ant
Oklahoma and then Nebraska were the original advo