Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
CAUCUS IS CALLED
|. TODRAFT PROGRAM
G. o. P. of Maryland Assem-
bly, to Determine Stand
on Liquor Laws.
By a stan Correspondent Of The star.

By STAFF Correspondent Of The Star
ANNAPOLIS. Md. November ia
With the administrator program
rapidly being whipped into shape for
the special session Of the Legislature
which convenes Thursday, Republican
members Of the House and Senate we're
notified today to attend joint caucus
to formulate their legislative program.
Meanwhile Prince Georges County
legislators planned to devote the week
end to a study of the liquor question.
so that they as well as the Montgom-
cry County delegates, will have def
mite program ready when the session
convenes.
The call for the Republican caucus
was issued by Delegate Oliver Metzerott
of Prince Georges County chairman of
the joint caucus of the minority. and
Galen L. TAFT, chairman of the Repub-
lican State Central Committee. 1t will
be held in the House minority room Of
the State Capitol Wednesday night.
Caucus Is Customary.
While a formal call has not been is
sued, it is customary also for Demo-
Gratis to hold caucus on the night be-
fore the Legislature convenes to select
presiding officers. No change in the
officiating members of the House and
Senate are contemplated at the coming
session, however.
Delegate Metzerott explained that the
Republican caucus would probably con-
slider the attitude of the party on liquor
legislation and on the question of limit
ing the type of bills to be introduced.
Prince Georges County may convert
its Board of Beer License Commission
ers into a Liquor License Board and
repeal its county beer bill entirely let
ting the sale of beer in the county be
handled under the State law, Delegate
Charles c. Marbury. one Of the authors
Of the beer bill, said today
In view of the prospective revenue
which the county expects to receive
from the comparatively high license
from the sale of liquor, Delegate Mar
bury believes the county beer license
fees should be reduced.
Along with the rest of the delegation
he also favors repeal of the ban on
Sunday beer sale in Prince Georges.
If it is decided to reduce the beer
fees in Prince Georges County to the
CbdLE lChElg kllC GlAblAE CUuAlgy OCCI law
may be repealed, which would leave the
licensing to the clerk of the Circuit
Court, under the State law, as is done
in Montgomery County.
May End DRY Spot" Laws.
While they are repeating laws, the
county delegation expects definitely to
repeal the dry spot" laws which caused
so much contention after the beer law
went into effect. Although the attor-
ney general ruled that the laws were
repealed, as far as beer was concerned,
the matter is still potential source Of
litigation, and the delegates feel that
they should be definitely repealed to
permit the sale Of beer.
With regard to the sale Of liquor in
places which were dry by local option
prior to the countrywide dry law Of
1917, some of the delegates believe ref
erendums should be held. This is an
important point which county leaders
hope to settle before the Legislature
convenes.
Under Gov. Ritchie's liquor control
plan, counties which expect to issue ION
sale" liquor licenses, are to establish
county licensing boards Prince
Georges delegates do not believe there
should be two licensing boards in the
county, and favor letting the present
beer board handle liquor licenses, II the
county is placed under the State liquor
law.
Montgomery County's liquor law. pro-
viding for county dispensaries in the
suburban area and dry districts in the
rural area, as well as liquor plans
for several other jurisdictions, are be-
ing carefully studied by the Prince
Georges lawmakers.
Dispensaries Held Impractical.
Some have voiced the opinion that
dispensaries would not be practical in
Prince Georges because the wet and
dry sentiment is not so sharply divi-
ded- geographically in Montgomery.
As the session approaches the legis-
latorS Of the county are specializing
on the status of Delegate William F.
Keys acting postmaster of Mount
Rainier, and others who have received
Federal appointments since the last
session.
1t will be up to the Senate and
House to decide whether Federal ap-
pointees can retain their seats in the
General Assembly,