Evening star., 1933-03-26

the Commissioners might not be able
to determine IN advance the whole
number Of licenses to be issued in the
District, before any license is issued
under this act" the Commissioners
ought to have specific authority to fix
such a total when experience in en-
forcing the Law enables them to Judge
what constitutes D reasonable number
Of licenses.
The House bill permits the issuance
Of ION sale" licenses to incorporated
clubs with annual dues OF at least SIS,
payable In one sum or installments Of
merely says incorporated clubs The
provision relating to the incorporated
clubs with annual dues of SIS was in
serted as an amendment by the House
as an additional safeguard against the
establishment of clubs for the sole rur-
pose Of selling beer. This additional
safeguard, it Is believed, will be con-
tanned in the final form Of the bill
The House bill provides merely that
mo brewer, manufacturer, wholesaler
or distributor shall have any direct or
indirect financial interest in the busi-
ness of any licensee" The rewritten
draft OF the bill goes further than this
and provides that mo brewer, manu-
facturer wholesaler or distributor of
beverages shall rent, lend or give to any
on sale or of sale license or own
er of the premises on which the licensed
business Is to be conducted, any equip
nent, furniture, fixtures or property
with which the business of said licensee
is conducted"
This additional safeguard against a
brewery having financial interest in
the business Of the retailer Is said to
have been inserted because the brew
ers in some places are already Offering
to furnish the equipment for draught
beer to the retailers who buy their
beer.
The penalty section, Section is Of the
criticized on the ground that it pro-
vides G. heavy penalty for violation Of
the law, but merely Furnishes the
hcensee who wilfully violates the reg
ulations made by the Commissioners, by
revoking his license for a year.
In the draft of the rewritten bill,
this anomaly is removed by providing
like penalties for the licensee who vio-
lates the terms of the act or the rules
and regulations promulgated by the
Commissioners. This is regarded as a
distinct improvement over the old bill.
May Meet Tomorrow.
Senator Tydings said yesterday that
he may call the subcommittee consid-
ering the beer bill In executive session
tomorrow, or as soon as he can whip
the material before him into shape for
consideration. The other members of
the subcommittee are Senators Lewis
Of Illinois, and Carey of Wyoming
Senator King, Democrat, of Utah.
chairman of the District Committee,
said yesterday he would call meeting
Of the entire committee to consider the
beer bill as soon as the subcommittee
Is ready to make its recommends tions.
The House bill clause prohibiting Gale
of beer to minors under l8 years Of age
was commended last night by Senator
Borah, Republican Of Idaho, one OF the
leading defenders Of prohibition. who
tried without success to have similar
ban placed in the national beer bill.
II am glad to have the principal
recognized in the District bill, even If
we could not get 1t in the national meas
ure," Senator Borah said.
The bill as whole, however, is as
Objectionable to Senator Borah as the
national bill was, since 1t contains the
same alcoholic content, namely, 32 per
cent by weight. which he attacked in
opposing the national bill.
If the District Committee reports the
local measure to the Senate by We'd
nesday or Thursday it probably will be
taken up this week. the exact day de-
pending on the progress Of other emer-
gency legislation.
Senator Tyoings expressed the opinion
Yesterday that one day would be suf-
flcient for Senate consideration of the
local beer measure. If it passes the
Senate with amendments. or with the
proposed revised text substituted for the
House language, the measure then would
go back to the House, which could
either concur in the Senate changes or
send the bill to conference.