Evening star., 1935-12-12
GUYER BILL WINS
IN HEATED SET-TO
Rhode Island Avenue Speak
er Charges IntoIerabIe
D. c. Conditions.

In a stormy session. the Rhode
Island Avenue Citizens Association,
one Of the largest civic groups in the
city, last night went on record as
favoring the return of prohibition to
the District. The approval was in
the form of Endorsement OF the Guyer
bill, scheduled for introduction in the
next session of Congress and backed
by the United Dry Forces.
The measure had been referred to
the Legislative Committee Of the Asso-
citation at its last meeting. and this
group presented a favorable report
through Chairman Charles o. Pierce.
Pierce attempted to preface the
reading of the report with statistics
and other data relative to 1.-The liquor
situation in Washington" but was
restrained by the presiding officer, DR..
z. M. Nelson, first vice president.
The resolution offered by Pierce re-
ferred to the intolerable conditions
which have obtained here since the
repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment."
Authority for Facts"
In reply to challenges by II. S.
Higgins, secretary Of the association,
and w. S. Torbert, treasurer, Pierce
gave Representative Guyer, Repub-
lican, of Kansas, as authority for
facts" contained in the resolution.
The statements complained of were
in regard to the alleged prevalence
of drunkenness and the number of
establishments in Washington selling
liquor legally and illegally.
Motions to table the report and
to postpone action until the next
meeting were shouted down by sup
porters of the resolution.
The action of the Legislative Com
mittee was termed biased and
prejudiciar' by one member, while
another accused the drys of horn
swoggling tactics"
After the resolution had been ap-
proved by a viva voce vote, Torbert
called for a standing count, in order,
he stated, Ito record the sentiment
of the old wheel horses of the aSSo-
citation" Higgins challenged the
"ayes" as to whether their dues had
been paid. All signif1ed in the affirm
ative.
William P. Thomas, chairman of
the Membership Committee, declared
that the vote could not be interpreted
as indicating the feeling of the asso-
citation as a whole, the members hav-
ing no previous notice of the questions
coming before the group. "AS result
of what has happened here tonight"
he added, latter the next meeting, I
intend to leave the association"
Called Quick Deal.
It was stated after the meeting by
some members that they considered
the drys had put over quick
deal" References were made to the
presence at the meeting of people
who hadn't been around in years."
Richard Ledger, chairman of the
Public Utilities Committee, announced
Endorsement by his group of the slid
ing scale gas rate settlement spon-
sored by Peoples Counsel William A.
Roberts.
Ledger also reported progress In
the compilation of data on complaints
alAd suggested changes in street car
aid bus service for presentation at
fhe public hearing before the Public
utilities Commission beginning Mon
n day. The association authorized
Ledger to expend $25 in organizing
the material collected by the COM
mittee.
A request that the commission con-
slider remedies for the inequality Of
gas volumes in the mains of the area
has been transmitted to the utilities
body, Ledger further stated. The pos
Sibility Of a connection with the Prince
Georges County gas holder" was
suggested.
Among the matters referred to
committee at last nights meeting
were: Request for lights on Twenty
fourth street. northeast, north Of
Bunker Hill road; plea for continued
agitation toward securing the install
lation of traffic lights on Bladensburg
road northeast at the intersections
Of Thirtieth street and South Dakota
avenue; complaint against excessive
Use VI Wi1lSIleS py Id4lIodu eueuleS LII
the territory, and protest against
the dumping of trash on the north
east corner of Twenty-sixth and
Evarts street northeast.
Two committees were elected: The
first, to audit the accounts of the
association, is composed of J. A.
Duerksen, chairman; H. Hurlinger and
o. A. Haines; the second, Nominat-
ing Committee, consists of w. S. Tor
bert, George F. Gee, E. G. Sievers,
Fred M. Grant and j. p May. Thirty
new members were admitted to the