Evening star., 1933-03-28
SENATE D. c. GROUP
TO ACT ON BEER At
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Measure Has Been ReWrit-
ten by Tydings Subcommit-
tee Since House 0. K.
FOUR KINDS OF LICENSES
INSTEAD OF THREE ASKED
Maryland Senator Still Hoping for
Enactment to Make Beverage
Available by April Z.

The Senate District Committee has
been called for an executive session this
afternoon to act on the local beer bill,
which has been rewritten under the
supervision of the Tydings subcommittee
since it passed the House Thursday.
Senator Tydings tried to get unani-
nous consent in the Senate to file a
report on the new bill this evening in
the event the committee should approve
it, but Senators McNary of Oregon. Re-
publican leader, and Borah. Republican,
of Idaho, objected. The purpose of the
request was to avoid the necessity Of
having the bill go over for one day
under the rules.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of Mary
land, who has spent the past few days
going over the measure with legislative
drafting experts, Assistant Corporation
Counsel West and others. said today the
committee would be asked to provide
for four kinds of licenses, instead of
three, as in the House bill. The fourth
type of license would be issued to whole
salerS and distributors. The three al
ready in the bill are: on sale"
licenses, for places where beer would be
served on the premises; 'of sale
licenses, for establishments to sell the
beverage in package form but not con-
sumed on the premises, and brew
ers' license"
At the hearing last week proposal
was made that barbecue stands be
allowed to obtain licenses to serve Gus
toners in automobiles if parking space
is available off the street. Another
suggestion made at the hearing was
that restaurants be allowed to have cut
door tables. 1t is not known what
action the District Committee will take
on these suggestions.
Good Form Most Important.
Senator Tydings said he still hoped
the bill could be enacted in time. to
take effect when the national beer
law goes into operation April 7, but
he emphasized it is more important to
have the bill written in the best form
possible, even though it takes few
days longer. He said this is particularly
true because of the belief that the rest
CT the country will be watching to see
what kind of regulatory law is passed
for Washington.
The Commissioners at noon received
q copy of the new bill ard made study
Of lis provisions at the board session
today.
A report favoring enactment of the
measure, possibly with minor change
or two, is expected to be forwarded to
Congress later in the day. according to
indications at the District Building.
Meanwhile Representative Black,
Democrat. Of New York, announced that
if any radical changes are made in the
bill he would vigorously oppose them
when the measure is reconsidered in
the House.
lie Ri
Black charged that scme of the pro-
posed amendments were designed to
give the breweries control of the places
where beer is to be sold. He also de-
clared that Corporation Counsel Will
liam w. Bride who recommended GER
tain changes in the bill when it was
called up in the House was apparently
in league with the brewers
Black was one of the trainers of the
original District beer bill and assisted
Chairman Norton of the House District
Committee in pushing the bill through
the House last week.
Representative Blacks statement fol-
lows:
Bride apparently is in league with
the brewers He called me in the day
before the bill came up for passage in
the House and asked me to agree to
whole sheaf of amendments that un-
questionably were inspired by the
brewers
Il want it distinctly understood that
will not stand for the old vicious
system-brewery control of the places
where beer is sold, and if the Senate
accepts those amendments I for one
will stand up and fight against them
when the measure comes back to the
House.
LET Little Fellow Have Profit"
THAT was the principal trouble in the
old days-the brewers held the control.
think now We should let the little
fellow have some part of the profits to
be derived. In fact. I'm ready to support
a provision that the grocers be permit
ted to handle beer in case lots or by
the bottle, with the understanding that
the beverage be taken from the prem
ises."
1t was stated today that Corporation
Counsel Brides revision of the local
beer bill was made at the request of
members of Congress and that the
changes he suggested were for the most
part made to remove contradictory or
inconsistent provisions of the bill as
passed by the House. Where changes
In policy were suggested, then adoption
was specifically left to Congress.
Disclaims Charges.
Mr.. Bride vigorously disclaimed any
intention on his part or on the part
OF the District Commissioners to sup
port the brewers.
He further explained that in drafting
conditions for the proposed beer bill
for the consideration of the Senate, all
matters of policy had been left for de-
cislon by Congress. He declared the
provision regarding sale by brewers di-
rect to consumers was drafted in two
ways, one permitting such sale and
the other prohibiting it, thus leaving
decision in the hands of Congress.
Furthermore" said Bride, Il have
no opinions on matters of policy re-
garding beer legislation. I have con-
and, in fact, do not know any brewer,
or the agent of a brewer Our work
consisted merely of preparation of
drafts of alternative legislative pro-
posals.''
The amendments to which Mr. Black
referred, apparently, were prepared BY
the legislative counse, Of the House
and not by the Office of the Corpora
ton Counsel, Mr.. Bride said He added
that he was not present at the con-
ference to which Mr.. Black referred
at which certain amendments were
prepared and that he did not know
what decision had been reached in that
conference.
Mr.. Bride also explained that draft
Of legislation in which he had engaged
provided that brewers would not be
permitted to sell direct to consumers
He said that he had appended to this
provision statement that if it were
to be the policy of Congress to permit
such brewer consumer transactions,
that sentence of the proposed draft
could be eliminated.