Evening star., 1935-12-31
CAPITAL PLANNING
GAY GREETING FOR
NEW YEAR TONIGHT
Hotels and Night Clubs to
Offer Special Shows for
Capacity Crowds.
ROOSEVELT AND FAMILY
WILL REMAIN AT HOME
2 AM. Deadline on Drinking Will
Be Strictly Enforced-Extra
Police to Be on Duty.

LII LAAC OlCA4d11IS VI I've" ear CuS~
toms of many nations and times,
Washington is planning a gay and
noisy greeting tonight for 1896 Hotels
and night clubs are anticipating
capacity crowds and have planned spe-
cial entertainment and floor shows to
put celebrators in a proper frame Of
mind to welcome the New Year.
Though all signs point to one of the
gayeSt New Year eve celebrations in
history here. the President and lead
ers of official Washington are plan
ming to stick close to home fires to.
night. President Roosevelt will re-
main in the now-banked White House
with his family and expects TO put in
the greater part of New Year day
completing his messages to Congress,
which will convene Friday.
When the President was asked for
an expression of his hopes for the
New Year and for comments on the
year now coming to a close, he sug-
gested newspaper men wait for his
message to Congress. Mrs. Roosevelt
said earlier she has taken New Year
resolution to allow herself more time
to think"
Enforce 2 AM Deadline.
Although most of the hotels and
midnight, the managements have in
dicated the 2 am. deadline on drink
ing will be strictly enforced. George
w. Offutt. chairman of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board. said he antic-
ipates no trouble as a result of the
celebration and does not plan to have
any special deputies on duty.
Celebrators drinking in public places
after 2 am. will be subject to arrest
if they refuse the request of the man.
agement to cease, the A. B. C. Board
declared.
II the management fails to call a
policeman and the drinker continues
to drink, the management is subject
to heavy fine. according to the board.
At some time during the night A B. c.
deputies will frequent most Of the
clubs to keep tab on the observance
of the closing hour law.
Cover charges in hotels and night
clubs will range from $3.50 to nearly
81 per person, and there will be spe-
cial suppers and even breakfasts dur
ing the early hours of the New Year.
as part Of their programs.
New Year eve revelers who overin-
dulge and make nuiSances of them
selves, however. probably will meet
up sooner or later with an unsym-
pathetic policeman who will be bear
ing in mind special orders issued to-
day by Maj. Ernest w. Brown. super
intendent of police governing local
conduct tonight.
All police commanding officers have
been instructed to remain on duty to-
night and extra policemen will be on
duty during the hours at which the
celebration will reach its height.
shift will remain on duty late and
men due on watch at midnight will
report at 1890 tonight. The force
further will be amplified by rear
rangementS Of days of and by addi-
ton of personnel of the Police School.
Instructions were issued to all police
precincts to attempt, wherever possi-
BILE, to prevent intoxicated persons
from driving automobiles. Those
who, through too close observance OF
the old English feature of the nights
celebration, become unable to navi-
gate under their own power, will find
policemen to steer them TO cells for
harbor, according to the Instructions
to all precinct commanders.
Demands on liquor shops indi-
cate the ancient custom of greet
ing the new year over the wassail-bowl
will not be neglected. 1t also was IN
dicated types of beverages which would
put wrinkles of surprise in the brow
of the hardest old waSSailer are to be
consumed.
Parts of the local celebration are
traceable to the golden days of the
Roman empire. New Year day was
sacred to the god Janus. 'Old Double
face" and the ancient Romans were
careful about their conduct lest 1t
should rise to plague them later in
the year. They suspended all strife
and litigation and differences between
friends were reconciled. Romans and
Washingtonians alike indulged in the
exchange of visits and gifts and in
masquerading and feasting. Even SO
will it be tonight and tomorrow.
Many Customs Borrowed.
Washington. however, will not stick
to the ancient Roman model. 1t will
absorb some features Of its celebra-
ton from the French, with whom the
new year celebration is one of the
outstanding annual holidays. 1t VIII
borrow the wassail bowl from merrie
England and its new year toast from
the old Dutch burghers. One of the
few customs which probably will be
omitted is the old Persian custom of
exchanging eggs in symbolism of the
new year. Almost everything else is
expected to go.
Following the, lead of the President,
the Chief Justice and Mrs. Hughes
will spend the evening in their home.
The question Of resolutions was dis.
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