Evening star., 1940-01-21
Churchmen Hit
Private License
Liquor System
Federation Charges
Sale in Places Thut
Children Frequent


Charging that consumption of
liquor in the Nations Capital has
become "alarmingly large" under
the private licensee distribution
system and that whisky is sold in
places frequented by children, the
Board of Directors Of the Washing
ton Federation of Churches late
yesterday urged the District Com
missioners to recommend new con-
gressional legislation that would as
sure radical improvement in existing
conditions.
The church group, in letter ad-
dressed to the Commissioners, main-
tanned that under the dispensary
system, municipality controlled,
there would be no reason why the
number of liquor stores should ex-
ceed 20, as compared with the 400
at the present time"
Then the federation directors
who represent some 40 churches
with an approximate membership
of 10000, added "While the
churches feel that liquor should not
be sold. either publicly or privately,
they believe that the present sit
uation is such as to demand aboli-
ton of the private license system"
Figures Based on Stamps.
Basing their calculations on stamp
tax sales, the churchmen said that
consumption of hard liquor in
Washington is nearly four gallons
year for every man, woman and
child. In the year ending June 80,
1889, it was pointed out, about g.
351 900 gallons of liquor were con-
sumed in Washington And in the
same period, consumption of beer
was figured at 10,178,544 gallons,
'or nearly 16 gallons for every man,
woman and child"
The federations assault on the
liquor control system "is not pro-
hibition issue in any sense, but
simply question of civic decency,'
according to Wilbur La Roe, jr.,
chairman of the body's Civic At
fairs Committee. Thousands who
are not church members vii, join
in demanding an improvement in
existing conditions" ne added.
Mr. La Roe asserted that the fed
eration's action "is not a mere ges-
ture, but rather the first gun in a
real attack on the Siegfried line of
the liquor interests"
Both vets and drys," he con-
tinued. "are offended by the care
less and promiscuous distribution of
liquor and especially it's availability
at places frequented by young peo-
pie. Our citizens ought not to be
required to appear as supplants be-
fore a regulatory body To protect
their residential areas and their
children from this menace.
Sorry Example for Nation.
Even in the old days of the sa-
loon there were only 1,100 licenses
here. whereas today the total of all
licenses, including beer, is nearly
1900. There is no public interest
that requires this number of Ii
censes in the Nations Capital 1t
is a sorry example we are setting for
the Nation"
The federation directors letter,
signed by w. l.. Darby, executive
secretary, said that "it is dis
heartening fact that the annual
sales of liquor in the District of Co.
lumbia are approximately double
the total cost of our public school
system. The amount appropriated
by Congress for our public school
system for the current year was
$13,364,258. The sales of liquor here
for the year ended June 80, 1899,
amounted to SIG, ,328,932."
Retail value of the products was
calculated on an average retail value
rating of $2.35 a quart for alcohol
So a gallon for hard liquor, SIS for
each 26-ounce bottle of champagne
$3.50 a fifth for imported wine, $1.1O
a quart for domestic wine and $14
a 31-gallon barrel for beer.
Consumption Figures.
Consumption in gallons and ap-
proximate retail value in the District
in the year ended June 80, 1889, ac-
cording to the federation directors
estimate, was:
Approximate
Classification. Gallons. retail value.
Alcohol - 4,246.90 $39, ,92O.8e
Spirits --- 2,351, ,35766 18,810.861. "a
Champ'ne 16,578.75 07,83725
Wine -- 299,82440 2,473, 3,551 sc
Beer -- 10,178,54496 1896, 1924
It was explained that the stamp
tax sales figures, on which these
estimates we're based, do not take
into account the possibility of lay
over in any given year due to stamps
bought but not used during the year
Intoxication, the federation letter
stated, was the cause of 81 per cent
of male commitments and 50 pei
cent of female commitments to the
District Jail in 1899. Arrests fol
drunkenness in public places in 1895
were 1892 for men and 1921 fol
women.
An objectionable feature of the
present system, the letter declared