Evening star., 1943-07-25
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Scientific Tests for Drunk Suspects;
Farm for Cure of Inebriates
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

BY C.. SUTER
1t is not known whether widely published
charges per beverage consumption
the District of Columbia
week the persons suspected
driving automobiles while drunk and also the revival of the kindred
proposal for the establishment
and OF ebriate These proposals follow
sensational attempted explanations apologies
to suggest that there may be possible connection.
Proposed Scientific Tests Determine Intoxication
Council at meeting on Monday night
at the District Building favored support legislation
requiring scientific chemical driving
while intoxicated. similar proposal support
number of years.
Bills have from time to time been introduced in both the
Senate and the House of Representatives
These bills have had the District
the Federation Citizens Associations the Washington Federation
of Churches and other organizations.
The opposition to such legislation slight but
despite its merit the proposal beyond hearing
or subcommittee approval.
In connection with the consideration of this eg
aon safety brought
that pedestrians injured
been suspected of intoxicated
gested that legislation for determine
ocation should apply pedestrians involved well drivers
Reports of autopsies killed in traffic accidents
claimed emphasized the need for such tests
the drivers motor vehicles and the pedestrian victims have been
found acoozed is claimed to make them irresponsible
either drivers walkers.
scientific tests to determine the degree of oxca
ton traffic violators
existence of need police
supposed reported the
from time to time of the police
ferng from serious head injuries They
supposed ntoxcaton Proper tests would have determined
condition medical
not known at this time just what organization
proposes to undertake the drafting of the required legislation
making these scientific support
and is believed to be urgently needed reform.
Revive Idea of D. c.. Farm for Cure of Inebriates
of the Washington Federation
of Churches revived the proposal which supported
the establishment of for
time OF its former Commissioners
the Commissioners appointed committee consisting
of the PRISONS
Judge Gus schud presiding judge of the Police Evood
Street. director of public welfare; Maj supern
endent police
Beverage Control Board study report the proposal
the study committee
the Commissioners headed the late the
habual District Workhouse Occoquan
mates the operating about $4,000 including
allowance daily of 200 The estimates
EWood Street. then director public
welfare, Assistant Engineer Commissioner Clark
proposal hearty support King
chairman the Senate Committee judges
required legislation drafted by the
on appropriation sought by the AS
in the case of manv other widely District
Budget report stated that the
carried the for the construction
alcoholics not accord with the
Commissioner Hazen continued internationally to advocate the
Office ended by his death The
Affairs Committee of the Washington Fedora
Churches is submitted by Wilbur La Roe its chairman
who is very strong his advocacy Of the
L. welfare director, is quoted believing that it
involved in large expenditure Of
public specialized service for alcoholics until there is
being than experimental proposition He
indicated belief that additional legislation and perhaps
would permit adequate treatment CAL
Hospital District Workhouse at
objections which raised from time
against the of such farm has been the additional
District taxpayers which would be involved This objection
with the suggestion that in the long
District considerable
having support the alcoholic
the wokouse almost Immediately being
that not only would it be this respect
the time of the the police through
number of drunks handled
The financing of the establishment
farm has been suggested might
derived from the licenses in alcoholic
Columbia and be eamarked for that suggestion
advanced that special tax be levied
factre of alcoholic beverages the the
establishing and maintaining this
stuion for the of the victims Of the drink
declared by such advocates that to fix this
derive prot from the alcoholic
logical solution Of the financial aspect this problem