The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-18
JONES DENOUNCES
REFERENDUM HERE
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Senator Jones But no policy has as
yet been cancelled.
He also told OF a real estate com
to a referendum petition was request
ed by saloonkeeper. II was refused.
Thereupon the saloon man. according
TO Senator Jones, remarked that he
would have to give his business to
some friend OF the liquor business.
There are among the business men
OF this city" said Senator Jones,
many strong men who will not bend
to the Will of the pro-liQuor power"
Every opponent of prohibition Is now
for a referendum In the District OF CO.
lumbia." SAID Senator Jones. "A refer
endum I'm the District OF Columbia ~
especially favorable to the liquor in
terests.
There IL a large class which II most
susceptible 20 the influence and methods
Uf the traffic and those who look after
it, interests The great mass of people
here has had but little. II any. expert
I'm the District OF Columbia for such an
election. There are no safeguards
againts fraud Intimidation. and corrup-
ton, and there are 1000 or 1000 of the
best citizens OF the District who. IL
they voted AT such a referendum e.ec-
ton. will irun the risk OF DISTINGUISHING
themselves at their legal residence In
the States from which they came"
Speaks at Length.
Senator Jones Denounced the ref
crcndun proposal in other respects
at length. lie said among other
things:
Some will ask why the temperance
people are asking for referendum
TO the states on the question OF Ma
tional prohibition and are opposing
referendum to the people In the city
for District prohibition.
The reason plain TO anY one who
lnent. The one is clearly Constitu-
iional and the other iS OF doubtful
validity. A refo rendum to the States
through their legislatures TO amend
the National Constitution Is the meth
cd provided by that instrument A
referendum direct TO the people OF
the District of proposed legislation
is not provided for in tho Constitu-
tion and is of more than doubtful
validity.
tification In singing out one subject
for a referendum when such pro
ceediny is wholly contrary to the pol
icy of the government OF the Dis
trict and especially so where there IL
neither a system of determining any
electorate nor any machinery to re-
cord the will OF any who might be
cnfranchised.
Hit Excise Board.
In the course of his speech Senator
Jones criticised the Excise Board al
having "maladministered the law"
fle recounted the results OF the in
vestlgation of the Excise Board by 9
committee of Congress and told what
the investigation disclosed.
Senator Jones then paid his respect,
to General Robert q. Smith, who has
been reappointed to the board. lie said
Notwithstanding this report, tho
President Of the United States reap
pointed Robert q. Smith president OF
the board when his term expired. There
Is nothing in any of the hearings show,
ing that Mr.. Smith ever opposed am
action taken by the board, and he MIN,
self states that he never opposed tn,
granting of any license which wal
granted. His nomination has boen re,
ported adversely to the Senate, and tn,
people of the country will watch witt
much interest to see whether or not tn,
Senate OF the United State will APPROX,
the reappointment of a man who has 50
siRnally failed to respect the law anC
safeguard the welfare OF the people
| Tho issue involved Is a higher one thar
that of prohibition itself The real tssu,
Is whether laws passed by Congress
shall be executed or not,