Evening star., 1936-01-16
LIQUOR LAW EVILS
HIT BY SHEPPARD
Senator, in Address on
Floor, Cites Failure Of
Prohibition Repeal.

The record Of arrests for intoxica-
ton and driving while drunk In
Washington, as well as elsewhere, dur
ing the last few years, was cited in
the Senate this afternoon by Senator
Sheppard, democrat, Of Texas as one
illustration Of conditions described as
showing the failure Of repeal of pro-
hibition.
Following his custom Of addressing
the Senate on the anniversary Of the
eighteenth amendment, which he
sponsored, the Texan called beverage
alcohol public enemy No. l." and
declared restoring it to legal status
has not brought the results its advo-
Gates predicted.
Cites Conditions Here.
Referring to conditions here, Sena-
tor Sheppard said:
"Police records for Washington
show arrests Of women over 21 for
intoxication to have risen from 993
for the dry year ending June 80, 1882,
and from 98e for the dry year ending
June 80, 1888, to 1924 for the
partially-wet year ending June 80,
1884, and 1925 for the wet year end
ing June 80, 1885.
These records show similar arrests
for males from II to Fl to have risen
from $50 to 308, respectively, for the
same dry years, to $40 and 346 for
the same partially-wet and wet years.
They show similar arrests OF females
between II and 81 of 4s and 53, re-
spectively, for the same dry years to
have risen to SO and 76 for the same
partially-wet and wet years.
Arrests and Jail commitments for
driving while drunk and for intoxica-
ton showed increases in 1884 and 1885
over 1882 and 1888 for persons of all
ages in the District"
He pictured conditions throughout
the country since repeal as showing
that the dangers of the liquor traf-
fic to the Nation have multiplied with
the disappearance of national prohibi-
tiOn."
I'VE can repeal legislative and con-
stitutional enactments, but We cannot
repeal the nature of q physical poi
son." he continued. Developments
since the repeal Of the eighteenth
amendment continue to demonstrate
the value of prohibition In Nation and
in State. These developments show
that such Is the nature and power OF
the liquor traffic that no unit, nation
al. State or otherwise, is able to
handle it with any substantial degree
Of success, once the legal and con-
stitutional barriers are broken down.
Hits Feminine Bar Fly"
The Senator declared that women
have become patrons of drinking
places in such numbers that the
words feminine bar fly already have
become a shameful addition to oul
language"
He said that already there are more
licensed places for the sale of liquor
where prohibition had been abolished
than there were in the entire country
at the time Of adoption of the eight.
| zenith amendment.
| Speaking nationally. he said. since
repeal the number of deaths and acci
dents due to drinking drivers ane
drinking pedestrians has reached tn
highest point ever known.
| Despite all safety campaigns ant
public discussions" he said, the in
dications are that the number Of &C
cidents and fatalities In 1895 vii
equal or almost equal those of 1884
an all-time high" he said.
I'VE were told repeal would pro-
mote temperance" he continued
How completely the records repudiat,
that assertion. They show that tax
paid withdrawal OF distilled spirits
including alcohol for consumption
rose from a little more than 5000 ,00'
gallons in 1888, the last year of ma
tional prohibition, to nearly 42.500. .00I
in 1884 and to nearly 81, 500, 900 gal
Ions in 1885. They show tax-pail
Withdrawals Of fermented malt liquo
for consumption rose from about 6,
10000 barrels in 1888 to a little NOR
than 32,000,000 barrels in 1884 AM
10 nearly 100000 barrels in 1885.
Remember. that liquors withdraw