Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-11
DEFENDS CAPITAL
ON CRIME QUESTION
Schafer Finds Parliamentary
LoophoIe to CenSure.
Critics.

Vigorous declaration Ito the people
of the Nation" that 1.-The District of
Columbia, ti1e seat of their Govern
ment, is much freer from crime than
many other cities throughout America"
was made in the House late yesterday
by Representative John Schafer, wet
Republican, of Wisconsin, who squeezed
through a parliamentary loophole to
censure bitterly unjust critics in Con-
greSs of the Capital City. a.,
The lusty wet from Wisconsin had
failed to obtain unanimous consent 70
make his remarks, so during debate on
the Interior Department appropriation
bill he made some references TO treat
ment of the Indians by way OF Leading
up to a charge that the dry laws had
caused an increase in the Incorporate
usa of alcoholic beverages"
Schafer Opens Speech.
Debate on the supply bill was on
under 1.-THE five-minute rule" under
which a representative can mention the
subject at issue and expound his views
on any question for the allotted period.
Schafer did just that, and his dragging
in of 1.-The Indians" as vehicle for his
speech brought laughter from his col
leagues.
The Wisconsin Republican failed
members of Congress who have recent
" attacked prohibition enforcement in
the District of Columbia. He said that
President Hoover was absolutely cor
rect when he stated in his message to
Congress that the law enforcement con-
ditions in Washington are much better
than in many other cities. Citizens OF
America" Mr. Schafer continued, read
ing the Congressional Record and eX-
cerpts from Washington newspapers in
cluSion that the Nations Capital is a
cesSpool of crime and unsafe for them
and their loved ones to visit, including
the Indians.
Notes Official Statistics.
ct have been assembling official data
and statistics obtained from every State
in the Union, which expect in the
near future to present to the Congress
and the American people, indicating
almost unbelievable and unwholesome
conditions existing at the present time,
clearly showing that the Sumptuary pro-
hibition laws have failed from a tenn
perance standpoint and have caused an
increase in the Incorporate use of alco-
holic beverages and liquors by our citi-
zens, including the Indians.
Statesmen in the national legisla-
tive body would be rendering better
service to the country if they would
cease their crusading for the Anti
Saloon League policies and spend a
portion of their time which they devote
to attacking the Nations Capital in
considering the effects of prohibition
generally throughout the country, and
particularly in their own States"
After quoting statistics which he said
showed that in Atlanta, Ca; Omaha,
Nebr., and Charleston, S. c., there were
larger increases in arrests of intoxicated
drivers of automobiles during the 10
years Of prohibition, and that as COM
pared with Washington they were
greater per capita, the wisconsin wet"
cited that the Supreme Court in South
Carolina is considering case in which
the jury drank the evidence in a pro-
hibition trial. Out at Bend, Greg, he
continued, gallon jug of evidence was
only half full when the jury returned
from its deliberations.
Cites Increase in Arrests.
Referring to the figures on the in
crease in arrests for drunkenness,
Schafer said the life of IAN American
citizen traversing the highways of the
Capital City is in less danger of being
Snuffed out by an intoxicated automo-
bile driver than it would be in Atlanta,
Omaha or Charleston"
IF District of Columbia grand jury
had been guilty of this reprehensible
conduct" protested Mr.. Schafer, "doZ-
ems of pages of the Congressional Rec
ord would be filled with newspaper
articles, costing taxpayers many thou
sands of dollars. ! would suggest that
the dry crusaders turn their oratorical
guns from the District of Columbia to
the State of South Carolina, and re-
quest such State to make it a felony
ho
law penalties in the case of jurors who
hijack and consume the evidence
brought before them in prohibition
cases.
General Situation Outlined.
1.-THE population estimated by the
Bureau of the Census for the District
of Columbia as of July /, 1928, is 552.-
000," he pointed out. There were q
distilleries and AZ stills confiscated dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80, 1929
by Federal prohibition agents. who
made 342 arrests during said year for
violation of the prohibition laws in the
District of Columbia.
do not forget" he reminded his
colleagues, that these seizures and ar
rests in the report of the United States
commissioner of prohibition do not in
clude those made by State and local
law-enforcement officers.
THE country is viewing with alarm
the increase in crime and disrespect OF
law, ard ! feel confident that the crime
commission appointed by President Hoo
yer, after a careful survey and study
of the existing conditions, will almost
unanimously reach a conclusion that
the existing sumptuary prohibition laws
are responsible for the general law vio-
lation and disrespect of law through
out the Nation, and recommend liber-
alizafinYn Of the Ynrnlninifinrn LAM .