Evening star., 1933-01-03
DISTRICT BEER BILL
IS FILED IN HOUSE
FOR EARLY ACTION
Black Presents Tax Measure
for Control in Case OF
Modification.
CONFERS WITH LEADER
OF CRUSADERS ON ACTION
New York Democrat Explains Reg
ulations for Capital Should Not
Be Confused With National Plan.

The District beer bill was introduced
in the House today by Representative
Joring M. Black. jr, Democrat, New
York, after a conference with Rufus
S. Lusk, executive officer of the Cru
saders. 1t is to be taken up for con-
sideration in the House District Com
mittee tomorrow. Representative Black
said that he will press persistently Tor
enactment of this legislation at the
earliest possible date.
A summary of the provisions of the
bill, as contained in a report by Mr..
Lusk to Representative Black, was
made public by the latter.
He explained that the bill was pre-
pared by the Crusaders to regulate
tax on the sale Of beer in the District.
The purpose of this bill is to pro-
vide a form of control in the event that
the sale of beer is made legal, as it
probably will, before the eighteenth
amendment is repealed
Study National Plan.
THE simple regulations provided in
this bill are not the Crusaders idea OF
the liquor act that will be
needed for this country when the
eighteenth amendment is repealed. We
are working on such law and 1t will
be ready for presentation to Congress
when the extra session meets in the
Spring 1t should also be understood
that any liauor- control plan which We
shall present will provide for the regu-
lation and control of the sale Of beer
as well as all other liquors.
THE progress of repeal of the eight
eenth amendment is now in the second
phase. The first was the arousing of
public opinion to the point where our
lawmakers realized that our people
wanted no more of the noble expert
ment. This job was done at least two
years ago. The second task is the
translating of this public opinion into
legislative action. This is now moving
forward rapidly. Our third objective
and it is a most important one. too-is
this: To provide for the setting up of
liquor control plans that will fit the
needs Of the people of our different
States. After such plans are adopted,
we intend to see that they are carried
out in the interest of the public and for
the promotion of real temperance. This
proposed beer-control plan for the Dis
trict of Columbia is our first step in
this direction in the National Capital"
Holds to Simple Draft.
The draft of the District beer bill as
introduced by Representative Black is
simple He explains that beer is called
the poor mans drink; In these times
perhaps then 1t will be everybody's
drink. We have endeavored to provide
enough regulation to prevent the re-
turn of the old-time saloon and the
old-time saloon system, but at the same
time to permit the drinking and pur-
chasing of beer without undue hardship
and expense. The drining of beer
should be encouraged to take the place
of our prohibitionally-acquired taste
for GIN.
A brief outline of the bill introduced
today is as follows
/. Repeal of the Sheppard act, except
the provisions applying to drinking in
public, etc.
g. Beer is to be taxed by the District
of Columbia at the rate of $3.50 bar
rel Of 81 gallons.
g. A license fee of $lc0 is to be
levied on establishments selling beer by
the glass; license fee of SIS on stores
and so forth selling beer by the bottle
4. Where beer is sold by the glass,
1t cannot be sold by the bottle and
where it is sold by the bottle it cannot
be sold by the glass. Beer may be sold
and consumed by the glass at tables
only where food Is served in hotels
cafes, restaurants, lunch rooms and
eating houses.
Age Limit Set al Is. !.
S. Beer may not be sold to persons
under Is years of age.
s. Where beer is sold by the glass the
hours of sale are limited to from II
noon to ] am.
7. No brewer or wholesaler may have
any interest, direct or indirect, in the
business Of the licensee or premises
licensed.
8. Penalty for violation Of the act,
besides fine and Imprisonment, pro-
vides forfeiture of the license for one
Jear.
I'VE fully realize, said Representa-
tive Black and Mr. Lusk, many Of the
provisions of this bill will be the sub
ject Of considerable difference Of opin-
ion. The amount of tax, the method
of its imposition, license fees, and so
forth, are matters concerning which we
do not wish to be understood as set
ting down any hard-and-fast rules
But we shall urge with whatever infiu-
ence we may possess the adoption Of all
provisions of this bill, or any other
which may be suggested that has for
its purpose the prevention of the re-
turn OF the saloon or the saloon sys-