Evening star., 1916-10-16
WANTS EXCISE LAW
ENFORCED FAIRLY
Anti-SaIoon League Attorney
Foresees Absolute Prohibi-
ton if Statutes Ignored.
CLUB LICENSES AN ISSUE

What he termed Willingness on the
part of the liquor interests to see the
excise law emascuiated" caused A. E.
Shoemaker, attorney for the Anti-Sa-
loon League. to predict before the ex-
else board today that regulation of the
liquor business in the District will give
way to absolute prohibition of tie
traffic.
Mr.. Shoemaker made an extended ar
gument in behalf of his contention
that the provision in the law prohibit
ing the issuance of licenses to estab-
lishments on squares having less than
so per cent business frontage applies
to hotels and clubs as well as saloons.
He declared that efforts to prove that
this law does not apply to hotels ana
clubs are in line with the general at,
titude of the liquor interests toward
the law. which, If continued to be ex-
pressed in such manner. would leao 10
prohibition legislation here.
Club Representatives Heard.
Representatives of several large clubs
spoke on the other side of the ques-
ton. claiming that 1t was not the In
Establishments of barroom privileges un-
der the so per cent frontage rule. The
hearing was a special one given by the
board in order to get the views of both
sides as to the meaning OF the law.
Mr.. Shoemaker claimed that the view
taken by the club representatives. could
be derived only through twisting the
meaning of the law, as the language
was not involved. and there could be
~ oa nj
He asked that the law be enforced fair
ly. hit whom 1t might.
THE anti-Saioon League plays no IA
vorites." he said. Tn principle the
sale of liquor in clubs Is no better than
that in the lowest saloons. It's the
the same business. Let the liquor peo-
pie break down more of our excise laws
and I'll promise them that Congress
soon will put an end to the trafrc Alto
gether."
Maj. A. s. Lanier presented the case
of the Army and Navy Club He re-
ferred to paragraph of the act. That
after November 1, 1914. there shall not
be granted licenses to more than TWEEN
ty-five clubs, including those now in
existence" and claimed that the pro-
vision regarding foot frontage must be
construed in connection with and sub
ordination to this paragraph.
Attorney Shoemaker Responds.
Replying to this point. Attorney
Shoemaker stated that il there were
any force to the contention then it
also must be contended that 1t is man.
datory upon the excise board to grant
licenses to all clubs that were in ex-
istence at the time the law was pass
ed.
Z SpH,Il I'D
Clarence r. Wilson spoke for the Com
mercial and Metropolitan Clubs, re-
spectively. The former reviewed con-
ditions which caused the passage of
the excise law, and stated that none
of the evils which the law was de-
signed to correct existed in clubs. From
that he deduced that Congress did not
intend that the 30 per cent frontage
rule should apply to clubs.
Attorney Wilson stated that estab-
lishments which sell liquor at retail
must have saloon licenses, but it does
not follow that they are saloons be-
cause they possess such license. He
argued. therefore, that clubs are not
saloons, and are not subject to the
provision Of the law in controversy.
Views of Col. Parker.
Col. Myron NJ. Parker. speaking for the
University Club. at 18th and / streets,
stated that both squares have more than
so per cent frontage devoted to business
purposes. If boarding houses are to be
considered business property. and that
they have been so held in a court de-
cision. Alexander Wolf spoke for the
Continental Hotel. which. he said, was
the only building in the block
The board reserved decision, and, in
the meantime. will consider the hotel
and club applications on their merits
1t expects to wind up the hearings with
ing week or ten days.