Smyrna times., 1932-12-28
BEER BILL ACTION
SPURS THE VETS
Delaware Folks Already Talk
of Klair and Loose Law Re-
peal By Legislature
BITTER FIGHT SEEN

Passage by the U. S. House of
the Collier 80 per cent beer bill,
aroused interest in what action
the coming General Assembly of
Delaware will take on the Klair
and Loose laws, if the national
beer bill is finally made law.
Even though the Federal Govern
ment passes a law amending the
Volstead Act to allow the manu-
facture and sale of 80 beer, Della
ware, in order to have beer, must
repeal the Klair law, which pre-
vents the sale of any so-called in
toxicating beverage containing
over one-half Of l per cent content
of alcohol. Leaders in the move
ment to repeal the Klair Law at
the next Assembly, starting Janu-
ary 3, are most optimistic. It is
said the repeater will receive over
Whelming support in the Senate.
While opposition is expected in the
House, that body, too, in view Of
the persistent demand on all sides
for modification of the Volstead
Act, will join in, it is predicted. In
addition a measure will undOubted-
/ Iy be introduced to repeal the
/ Loose Law of the State, which pro-
/ hibits transportation of more than
IL pints of beer from any one of
the four political subdivisions Of
/ the State. If the Volstead Act is
amended, and the Klair Law re-
peaIed, Wilmington could have 30
pepr cent beer, but shipments of
more than II pints of beer would
not be permitted from Wilmington
into rural New Castle county, Kent
or Sussex. Therefore proponents
of the national amendment Of the
Volstead Act here, led by the Del
aware Division of the Association
Against the Prohibition Amend
nlent, are planning not only the re-
peal of the Klair Law, but also the
Loose Law. According to reports
in political circles, there are suff1c-
lent votes in the General Assembly
to repeal both the Klair and
Loose laws, unless unexpected op-
position develops. In view Of the
strong support by both major part
les in their platform for repeal and
modification of the Eighteenth
Amendment, it is not considered
likely either bill will be defeated
Other bills, which undoubtedly the
Legislature will get to act upon
include abolition of the present
Levy Court system of management
in the counties; control of the
county road system by the State
Highway Department with savings
of thousands of dollars to real es-
tate owners, particularly in Will
; mington; increase of the gasoline
tax from three to four cents to en-
able the State to take over the
county road management; i'm
; provements in the penal code Of
the State; amendments to the in
surance code, particularly to allow
the writing of higher rate of life
/ insurance on children under l.
) years of age; liberalization of the
State boxing law to allow 1.
rounds instead of 8; reduction o,
gas rates to meet those of Phila
delphia and elsewhere through ap
pointment of a State Utility Com
mission; passage of State law t.
allow horse-racing in order to in
crease rapidly diminishing revenue
and to retain revenue now beinl
received by nearby states through
legalization of horse-racing. Their
is also contemplated a bill to pro
vide for the extension of the waite
service of Wilmington to suburban
sections; final passage of tn
amendment to the State Constitu
tion to provide for the appointment
$ of a Supreme Court, and laws t
: provide for unemployment insuI
ance.
TNTT C6TTATTD