The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-04

hibition has Increased crime III
Washington" today declared Wayne
b. Wheeler, general counsel Of the
Anti-Saloon League of America,
when told that Congressman Tink-
ham of Massachusetts, would call the
attention of Congress to the report
compiled by Frank A. Sebring, chief
clerk Of the police court showing
that crime has increased in Wash
ingtOn.
CALLS CLAIM SILLY.
Both Mr.. Tinkham and MIR. Sebring
are irreconciliable opponents TO pro-
hibition, but il is silly for them TO
attempt TO show that the increase OF
crime in Washington liz due to prohi-
bition," said Mr.. Wheeler.
Wheeler declared that the increase
I'm fines In the District from $685. in
1917 to $272,500 in 1920, was due in a
large measure to the enforcement OF
the prohibition laws, and to the In
crease in the city's population since
1917.
In 1917 when the saloons flour
ished il must be remembered that
| the fine for ordinary drunkennesS was
usually not more than So. but after
| the passage OF the Nolstead Act. fines
for drunkenness in the District of
Columbia were usually S25.
SAYS BOOTLEGGERs HELPED.
1T will be found that this increased
! fine, together with the large number
of arrests and fines imposed for
Transporting liquor and bootlegging,'
| had much to do with the increased
money collected, in fines over 1917"
| he said
WHEELER pointed out that the city
has increased greatly in population
since November 1917. when prohibi-
ton went into effect, and also stated
that after every war there has been
wave of crime. Present business
conditions and lack of employment
also tend to increase crime under
any conditions, he said.
CITES NEW COMPARISON.
"A real comparison of figures,
which would show Mr.. Tinkham
whether prohibition is success in
Washington, are those of 1914 and 1915,
and those of the past year" he said.
AT the end of the fiscal year 1914,
the commitments to Occoquan were
$500; at the end OF June 30, 1920,
there were only 1913, or a decrease OF
81 per cent The arrests for assault
sent to Occoquan for the same period
were 551 in 1914 and - in 1920. Com
mitments for disorderiy conduct lib
in l91 and only 35 in 1920, q decrease
OF nearly 81 per cent
The report OF the Associated Char
tiles is equally convincing IL is
shown that 527 families were sup
ported in 1916 as q result of the al
coholic problem. while In 1920 there
were only thirty-five such families in
d,of aid for the same reason.
WHAT CAPITAL NEEDS.
What Washington needs is less
prohibition and more policemen to
keep down the alarming increase in
crime" said Congressman Tinkham,
of Massachusetts today, citing police
court records to refute the claims of
dry leaders that conditions in the
National Capital have improved since
the overthrow Of John Barleycorn.
Prohibition is responsible for an
increase of(20 per cent in the number
of criminal cases coming before the
police court during the past year as
compared with 1917" Mr.. Tinkham
said.
As member Of the House sub
committee in charge of District ap-
preparations, Congressman Tinkham
intends to "show up" prohibition
records in Washington on the floor
of the House.
DRY PREDICTIONS FAIL.
ut Is surprising to read the ef-
fects OF prohibition in the criminal
records of the District" declared
Mr.. Tinkham. 1T goes to show,
49,
good things that prohibition leaders
predicted would be accomplished,
have been brought about under the
dry regime"
When the question Of increasing
the police force came up before tho
appropriation sub committee tho
other day, Mr.. Tinkham was sur
prised to learn through Frank II.
Sebring chief clerk of the Police
Court, that prohibition has proved
that Washington is getting "wetter"
instead Of dryer"
Compared with the number Of ar
rests for 1917, which totaled 35.49s"
said Mr.. Tinkham, the records for
1920 will show more than $4,000 per-
sons arrested for crimes varying
from petit larcency to first degree
murder. This will show about 30
went into effect"
WILL QUOTE FIGURES.
Congressman Tinkham expressed
surprise that prohibition did not
bring about a decrease in the more
serious crimes committed in the Dis
trict, declaring il to be his belief
that police court records will prove
the faliacy of prohibition claims.
When the legislative bill comes be-
fore the House Mr.. Tinkham will spill
these Police Court figures in an at
tempt to show tina Washington is
going backwards uno,- prohibition
instead Of going forward "long the
lines predicted by the dry 49, 'ers.
eft Is an excellent argumct, for
those who favor increasing the n-:~.
Der Of policemen in Washington" h.
said.
KUTZ Is RENAMED HEAD
0F r PITRIIC' Utilities