Evening star., 1916-07-31
ONCE AGAIN SEEKS
|. PROHIBITION IN D. c.
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CConunued from First Page.)
done all these things.
What will the board do now7 II
Henry s. Baker Is confirmed the SEN
ate should apologize TO Gen. Smith and
Cummings name and again appoint
Gen. Smith. in order that the inexcusa-
BILE and perverted administration of
the excise law. which seems to meet
with his approval. for which he has
been condemned by the Senate COM
mittee and the Senate itself. may be
continued.
There is no interest so corrupt in It's
influence as the liquor traffic. Its insidf-
Gus agents delve the deepest and rise the
highest to serve its ends and accomplish
its purposes. No one has good word
for ii, and yet its power is almost with
out limit. 1t prevents legislation and
nullifes II when enacted. 1t controls pub
lie officials directly or indirectly and de-
fes public sentiment openly and brazenly.
Powerful in High Places.
TITS power and influence were never 20
plainly manifested and never reached
higher sources than here in the capital
Of the nation. The time has come for a
plain statement of the facts in order that
the people of the country may know what
has been done here in the highest places
Of trust, honor and responsibility.
"The conditions in the District OF CO.
lumbia were such few years ago as to
arouse a public sentiment for a more
stringent regulation of the liquor traffic
here. Five or six hundred saloons were
doing business. They were massed about
the public schools. confronted public in
stitutions. were in close proximity TO
houses of religious worship. and were
scattered all through the residential Sec
ton of the capital of the nation.
ITO remedy these and many other de-
plorable conditions the excise law of
1913 was passed after overcoming the
power and extreme methods followed
and used by the liquor elements to
prevent its enactment.
The act placed the enforcement of
the law in the hands of an excise
board OF three members to be appoint
ed by tia President He was not
restricted to any section of the coun-
try or in partisan way in the selec-
tion of the members of this board 1t
was thought that the President In the
selection of men to administer law
in the interest of temperance and good
morals in the capital of this great
nation would be beyond the reach of
the baneful influence of the liquor in
terests
Expectations Not Fulfilled.
TT was believed that the President
of the United States would consider
carefully the character of the law to
be enforced. the purpose to be accom-
plished and the moral sentiment of
the community to be regarded. 1t
was thought that the President would
seek to appoint men upon the excise
board who would administer the law
in the interest of temperance, morality
and the welfare of the community.
This has not thus far been done.
The law was not, and was not intend
ed to be, a prohibition measure. Those
interested in its passage did not desire
any fanatical enforcement of its pro-
visions. They simply asked for a fair.
reasonable and sincere administration
of the spirit and letter of a law under
saloons might be permitted in the Dis
trict of Columbia. They did not urge
the selection of any particular individu-
al. but they did urge the President to
appoint men who would be in favor
Of the enforcement of the spirit and
letter of the law. and suggested a list
Of names, any OF whom would be sat
isfactory to them. None Of these men
was selected.
Three men were named without any
consultation with the friends of the
law. Upon the presentation to the
President of certain facts with refer
ence to two of the nominees, which
would have been called TO his atten-
tfon II any inquiry had been made, their
names were recalled by the President
The third appointee was from New
Jersey. He was not considered very
satisfactory, but 1t was understood that
he was the personal selection of the
President, and no objection was made
and he was confirmed. Two others were
nominated without consultation with
friends of the law. Their attitude was
rot known. There was no special rea-
son to warrant serious objection and
they wsre confirmed.
Notification Of the Law.
"One of these two was an attorney
Largely through his influence. rules
were adopted which in some instances
nullified the plain provisions of the
law, and in every case the saloon in
terest was favored and all doubts re-
solved for it's benefit.
"Afterward this attorney resigned and
became a regular practitioner before
the board of which he had been a MEM
ber The facts warrant the assump-
tion that he had special influence with
the board In securing licenses and
transfers which should have been acted
upon by the board without the inter-
vention Of any attorney.
"It was shown in court that he had
entered into a contract to secure a IL
cense for which he and another party
were to be paid $500. This contract
was held by the court to be against
public policy. This attorney continued
to appear before the board, and, from
general rumor, has been able to secure
licenses and transfers from the board
when others have failed.
Senator Jones said that the malad-
ministration of the board was SO ma
grant that charges We're made against
it on the floor of the Senate, and that
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey. who
proclaimed himself no prohfbitionist,
ofrered a resolution on the moor OF the
Senate providing for an investigation
Of the charges by q special committee
of the Senate. The Senate adopted the
resolution and the investigation was
made. Senator Jones detailed the re-
mort Of the committee, with Its findings
Of evasions and perversions OF the law
on the part of the board.
MEETT0 DISCUSS COST