Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-23

League said that heretofore attempts
to get vote on the dry District matter
had been blocked and that the people
have, the right to know where the
House stands. He pointed out the
spread of prohibition. "a
During the presentation Of the dry
side of the argument, members OF the
committee learned by questions that
the drys do not want to see any par
liamentary situation arise through the
adopting of amendments by the House
so that the bill might fail in confer
ence.
Charles Scanlon. representing the
temperance board of the Presbyterian
Church. and Clarence Wilson. general
secretary of the board of temperance
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
made one-minute speeches favoring a
quick vote on the Sheppard-Barkley
bill.
Representative Henry asked Mr. Din
widdie:
why should not the people of the
District of Columbia vote on this ques-
tom
Because there is no machinery for a
vote and no opportunity to provide it,
But Congress can provide it.
We'll. any amendment to the Sheppard
Barklev bill is tantamount to defeat"
1T can be taken up next session. sug-
gested Representative Henry.
ooh, yes" answered the Anti-Saloon
man. land a lot of people want to see the
delay"
Originated With Liquor People,"
Mr.. Dinwiddie said, further:
This referendum matter originated with
the liquor people, and I want to say /
believe that if there should be a referen-
dunn and the people voted dry the liquor
dealers would be the first to go to the
courts to claim referendum here is un-
constitutional"
Henry E. Davis. speaking for a
referendum, outlined much of his his
torical analysis of the presidents for
referendum as presented to the Dis
trict committee a few days ago. He
showed there had been three matters
left to referendum in the past. namely.
the law code of 1857. the retrocession
of the Virginia portion of the old Dis
trict of Columbia and the matter of
1855 bonds. He declared the social
structure of the city would be changed
suddenly by a dry law, inasmuch as
Washington is "a hospitable city, TAX
ing it's favor more from the southern
side of the river than from the north"
As to a referendum, he said:
81 agree with the gentlemen that
much of the country is dry. but why?
Because the people in that portion of
the country have agreed to make
themselves dry
Approves Bill With Vote.
In response to question from Rep
resentative Harrison, he said:
81 willingly support the Barkley bill
if it carries the opportunity to submit
it to a referendum vote here"
He continued:
THE District committee has mass
of information on this important sub
ject and is capable of making n report
to the House. In effect this is what
the rules committee is asked to do-to
mpugn your friends on that committee
and to order this bill to the floor with
the distinct imputation of dishonor''
Mr.. Davis refreshed the minds of the
committee with a reference to Presi-
dent Wilson's stand on the liquor ques-
ton, as written in letters during the
campaign--that the matter is one for
local option.
Recess Follows Close of Hearings.
Hearings before the District commit
tee of the House on the Sheppard bill
providing for prohibition in the Dis
trict of Columbia were brought to a
close this morning after taking testi-
mony from u number of witnesses
favoring the bill. The committee took
a recess until o'clock this afternoon,
when, it was announced. they would
meet in executive session. presumably
for a discussion of what the committee
should report to the House.
Among those who appeared before the
committee during the course of the morn
ings hearings were E. W. Oyster repre-
senitng certain labor organizations in the
District James H Kelley, traveller and
lecturer; Adam Dixon Warner, lawyer
and lecturer from Los Angeles. Cal s.
q. Lamphins. colored pastor Of the Nc
Kinley Memorial Baptist Church, and
John D. Bradley. president Of the WASH
inrton Secular League.
Four Witnesses Favor Bill.
Each Of the witnesses except Mr.. Brad