Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-26
HOWELL BILL FOES
ATTACK FEATURES
3-HOUR HEARING
Tydings and Author of Meas
ure Question Witnesses Be-
fore District Committee.
WARRANT PROVISION
HIT BY CRUSADERS
Women's Prohibition Reform and
Association Against Amend
ment Heard.

Opponents of the Howell dry enforce
ment bill for Washington had their
inning before the Senate District COM
mittee yesterday afternoon, debating
the search warrant feature, the penalty
for furnishing liquor to minors and the
sections relating especially to physicians,
pharmacists and owners of buildings.
With Senator Tydings, Democrat, Of
Maryland, examining the witnesses to
bring out the arguments in opposition
to the bill, and Senator Howell, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska, cross-examining
them in defense of his measure, the
session continued for approximately
three hours.
The witnesses included Miss Elizabeth
C. Harris and Mrs. Frederick II. Brooke
of the Women's Organization for Pro-
hibition Reform, Lee p. Warren Of
the Crusaders, another anti-prohibition
group; Capt. William H. Stayton of the
Association Against the Prohibition
Amendment; DR.. H. c. Macatee of the
District of Columbia Medical Society,
Rufus S. Lusk of the Operative Build
ers' Association and j. r. O'Neal, woo
spoke as an individual citizen.
Mr.. Warren centered his attack on
the search warrant provision, under
which warrants could be issued for
dwelling property on information OF the
pTGSSuCG VI n Sb1il VI AiAOWACAeC bAAuu
liquor had been taken to or from a
place. Under the national law evidence
of a sale is required to obtain war
rant for a dwelling. The speaker also
protested against the special penalties
for furnishing liquor to minors and the
clause applying to physicians.
Test Made of Public.
While discussing the latter feature of
he 20 turned IN the CROWD
which filled the committee room and
inquired If there was a man or woman
present who would not break the law
for a loved one who might be i'll. He
invited any who would not do so to
stand.
-Four men stood up Immediately, one
of them telling the speaker, You may
take my picture if you like"
Those who stood up were AnoreW
Wilson and Albert E. Shoemaker of the
District Anti-Saloon League; E. B.
Dunford, general counsel of the Anti
Saloon League, and Albert Stabler.
"You have your criminals in this
room. with the exception of four" said
Mr.. Warren. What sad commentary
on a proposed law"
Dr. Macatee of the Medical Society
objected only to the clause under which
a physician or pharmacist would have
his license to practice suspended for
one year following second violation
of those sections of the national pro-
hibitin law applying to physicians and
druggists.
DR.. Macatee took the position that
o doctor should not be deprived OF his
paid the penalty prescribed by law
for a violation. Miss Harris said the
District Council of the Women's Organ
ization for Prohibition Reform was
started recently and has local MEM
bership of 1900.
Miss Harris said the organization
stands for temperance and holds no
brief for bootleggers, but favors all
proper means to restrict their activities.
She took the view, however, that the
end, in this case, would not justify
the means proposed. Referring to the
search and seizure provision, she said:
Theory and Practice.
"In theory 1t Is aimed at the boot
logger, but in practice it will be aimed
at the sanctity of homes of law-abiding
citizens"
Referring to the desirability of MAX
ing Washington a model city, Miss
Harris said her definition of such a
community would be "that city in which
1.-THE laws of the country were most
thoroughly administered, with q just
balancing of all the guarantees in the
Constitution, rather than the stressing
of one law"
In cross-examining the witnesses,
Senator Howell commended that 26
States have laws for the issuance OF
search warrants on evidence of possess
sion, and declared that his I'LL Is less
drastic than the Sheppard law, which
made Washington dry Is years ago oe-
fore national prohibition.
Mr.. Lusk appeared to protest against
a section of the bill which would make
the owners and lessees Of buildings
liable if they failed to take all reason.
able measures to prevent the use OF
their properties as common nulsanceS,
under the Volstead law.
"I take it this section is intended to
make every owner and agent prohibi-
ton agent" said Mr.. Lusk. III 1t isn't
for that, what is the purpose?"
He declared that local realtors are
already cooperating with. the District
attorneys Office in seeking to get rid OF
nuisances.
Senator Howell contended his bill is
only a rewriting of the Sheppard law
and he did not believe the conditions
referred to by witnesses had occurred
under that law This was the second
hearing on the Howell bill. At the first
meeting several weeks ago police Of
ficials in charge of prohibition enforce
ment testified in support OF the meas
mt HYnH a