The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-10
CITED
AS RUM
CEN TER
Lunchroom in Governments
Owned Building Threatened
With Termination of Lease.

s -a 3. as1
The Western Lunch, located on
Government-owned property at
14O6 Pennsylvania avenue north
west, will be shut down unless
patrons of the place discontinue
their alleged bootleggipg activi-
ties in the restaurant.
This ultimatum, sent to the pro-
prietors of the lunch room by w.
G. Plat, Chief Clerk Of the Treas.
ury Department, marks the
launching Of a campaign by the
Federal Government and local
police to clean up situation at
Fourteenth street and PennsyI-
vania avenue which is admittedly
bad"
Owners Deny knowledge.
McHugh and Brown. owners of the
lunchroom, deny knowledge Of boot
Logging in their establishment. They
say If such a condition exists. it Is
up to the proper authorities to take
the necessary steps to remedy It.
Police have been watching alleged
bootleggers at this corner for many
months. Apparently unable to cope
with the situation, the police lodged
complaint with the Treasury De-
partment regarding alleged bootleg.
ging in the restaurant.
l. 1T
ers of the restaurant have received
the following letter:
Text Of Letter.
November 8, 1923.
'Messrs. McHugh and Brown, West.
ern Lunch, 1406 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Washington, d. C.
Gentlemen: On October 8, 1928,
addressed a letter to your Mr.. D.
r. McHugh calling his attention to
a report that had been made to me
confidentially with reference to men
lettering in your lunchroom from
O'Clock in the evening till o'clock
in the morning, who were undoubt.
eddy carrying on a bOotlegging bust
ness. In this letter I asked your
cooperation in breaking up any
questionable practice that might be
carried on from your place of bust.
ness
"A formal complaint now comeG
to me from the police department,
saying that there is no doubt but
what bootleggers are transacting
business in your lunchroom; that
orders for liquor are received over
your telephones; that 1t is well
known on the outside that liquor
can be obtained from men who
frequent your place and that you
know who these men are; that it Is
not an uncommon thing for calls
to be received over your telephone;
that your employees will go uot
on the street and request the per-
son called for to come to the tele-
phone. and that 1t is well known
that the conversation carried en-
Is with reference to securing liquor
NOn-CO-OperatiOn Charged.
There is no objection, of course,
TO your having telephone services
Tor the proper conduct of your
business, but this department can
not afford to be even under the
suspicion OF permitting a business
10 De carried on in one Of the
buildings where an order for liquor
can ne placed over a telephone in
that building.
am also advised by the police
department that this matter has
peen taken up with you personally
and that you have been requested
TO cooperate in trying to break up
the practice, but that such co.
operation has not been secured.
your attention is called to the
ilrst and second paragraphs of the
lease OF Max Aronstein, from whom
you suitcase this property, and II
further complaint from the police
department or from any other re-
liable source comes to me that boot
leggers are in the habit of fire.
quenting and lettering in your place
ana receiving orders for liquor
over your telephone in your room,
the lease with Max Aronstein, from
whom you subrent, will be imme-
diately terminated.
Respectfully,
w. G. PLATT,