Evening star., 1933-01-19
BLACK BEER BILL
/ SCORED IN HEARING
Attorney for D. C. Church
Federation Sees Lack of
Ban on Saloons.
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by people who have violated the exist
ing law.
THE Crusaders call this a model bill,
yet it would authorize the sale of liquor
in the best residential sections Of the
District. This so-called model bill does
not limit the number Of saloons in any
one block Even under the old law
there was a maximum of four saloons
to one block
This bill contains no language what
ever to prevent the return of the
saloon. 1t provides for licenses to res
taurants, clubs or hotels, but does not
define the conditions under which
liquor may be sold. It may be sold at
bar in a restaurant, or in a saloon
adjoining the restaurant. There are
eating places in Chevy Chase adjoin-
ing the best residential section, where
not believe that either vets or drys who
live IN Chevy Chase want saloons in
that district.
"Gives Public No Protection"
it model bill, and say it was drafted
by some of the best lawyers in the
District of Columbia. AS a matter of
fact it is about as loose and carelessly
drawn as bill could be, and affords no
protection to the public Except for
the taxation feature, AL Capone could
hardly have drawn bill more to his
liking"
Mr. La Roe said his organization
agreed with an editorial published in
The Evening Star of January 4, which
pointed out there would be very few
establishments that could not qualify to
sell beer under this law.
Concluding his attack on the bill, the
witness said:
Il submit that is not setting a high
standard for the Nation to pass law
which does not prohibit the sale OF
liquor to minors, which does not pro-
hibit saloons. which permits saloons
next door to schools and churches, and
which. by the admissions Of it's sponsors,
may convert every eating place into a
saloon. and authorize the sale Of liquor
therein, which they are not prepared
to say is not intoxicating in fact"
Silent On COnStitutiOnallty.
During a discussion as to whether the
constitutionality of the bill should be
examined at this hearing. Representa-
tive Patman. Democrat. of Texas,
pointed out that although the Ways
and Means Committee of the House
has approved the Collier beer bill, the
House Judiciary Committee has failed
and refused to pass upon the constltu-
tionality of the beer it would legalize." !"
Turning to Representative Palmisano,
Mr. Patman said:
Il believe, Mr. Chairman. that you
used to be bartender and that you are
qualified to pass upon this question.
Do you think the beverage proposed in
this bill is intoxicating"
The Maryland Representative said
he knew of very few instances in the
old days of any one becoming intoxi-
Gated on beer, and that he did not be-
lieve anybody could get drunk under
this act.
Col. William O. Tufts, president of
the Washington Federation of Churches,
told the committee 100 churches in
Washington, representing about $4,000
citizens. were affiliated with his Or
ganization. He also said that the op-
ponents of the bill had no personal in
terest to advance in pressing their case,
whereas some of the proponents did
have financial interests at stake.
Attorney Is introduced.
Andrew Wilson. Washington attorney,
was introduced by Canon William S.
Chase as the next dry witness. Mr..
Wilson declared Congress was. in effect,
trying to say that per cent beer is
the same as beer containing p of l
per cent of alcohol. He also discussed
at some length the activities of the
brewers in pre-prohibition days, de-
claring they succeeded to some extent
in subsidizing the press and corrupt
ing politicians.
He also read into the record an ac-
count of beer party in Berlin. during
which 5000 students sat for II hours
drinking beer AT the conclusion of
this party" he said. "35 per cent of
them were drunk. Knowing as we do
the reputation of German students as
beer drinkers, does this not show that
beer is in fact an intoxicating beverage?"
Mr.. Palmisano asked the witness
what he thought would have happened
to the students if they had spent IL
hours drinking water or ginger ale. Mr.
Wilson replied that he was not a
to answer that question.
The witness cited number OF de-
cisions in which various courts had
taken judicial notice of beer as an in
toxicating beverage. He also said sclen-
tiflc research had shown beer contains
no food elements. but is in reality moth
ing more than poisoned water.
Asks Unfavorable Report.
"Let us beware" he concluded, "lest,
as the Greeks smeared their arrows
with death dealing toxicon, that We dc
not smear our souls and the souls that
are to be with the deadly poison, for
dote, and prescribe none, unless it be
through the blood of everlasting
covenant I request an unfavorable
report on the BILL
Louis B. Nichols, representing the
Organized Bible Glass Association OF
the District of Columbia, submitted a
statement protesting against q favor
able report on the bill. The statement
said the association opposed the meas
ure because our primary interest is the
moral and social welfare of the people
of the District, which we believe to be
seriously threatened by the proposed
return of legaliZed beer"
Chairman PalmiSanO announced that
the opponents of the bill would conclude
their case at a hearing beginning at 10
am. Tuesday. The hearings will close
with the presentation of rebuttal evil
dence on Thursday by proponents of
the measure.