Evening star., 1933-02-26

patches credited to 1t or not otherwise cred
published herein. All rights Of publication Of
Special dispatches herein are also reserved.
The Objective of Beer Legislation.
The fate of a local beer bill at this
session of Congress is tied up with what
Congress does regarding the legaliza-
lion of beer for the Nation. The House
has passed the Collier bill and the
Blaine bill is pending in the Senate.
The bills differ as to allowable alcoholic
content and in their method Of ap-
proach to the problem Of making beer
legal while the eighteenth amendment
remains in the Constitution. And
should Congress next week decide on
one of these measures and reconcile
their differences, there Is still the mat
Ter of presidential approval. The gen.
eral opinion seems to be that the Pres
ident would veto a beer bill.
The House District Committee
dropped the Black bill, regulating the
sale of beer in the District, on which
extensive hearings were held earlier IN
the session, and reported, with two
slight changes, the Tydings bill, which
Is now in the Senate District Commit
tee. Indications are that nothing fur
ther will be done either In House or
Senate with the local beer bill unless
the national beer legislation should be
enacted. Then, the leaders feel, local
beer legislation must perforce be ex-
pedited.-
Should beer legislation fail at this
session Of Congress the special session
in April will probably pass measure
of some sort and Mr.. Roosevelt Will
probably sign it. The interval should
provide opportunity for all Washing
tonians to devote further thought and
study to the sort of local regulation that
Is most desirable for this city, II and
when such regulation becomes necessary
Through national legalization of beer.
In this connection The Star has at
tempted, elsewhere in these columns
today, to compare in general terms the
Tydings bill with the broad principles
for regulation of beer as laid down re-
Gently In the first report Of the New
York State Liquor Commission, a body
appointed by the. Governor to study and
draft such principles. It is interesting
TO note that the New York commission
concludes that education in temperance
Is q more vital objective than the mere
raising Of revenue. The New York plan
recommends, in fact, that part OF the
sevenue derived from beer taxation be
used in temperance education. The
purpose Of the local beer bill, however,
is succinctly stated in the bill itself:
ITO provide revenue for the District Of
Columbia by the taxation of beer, and
for other purposes"
Here, 1t would seem. wet New York
sets for the Nation fine example,
common starting point that should ap-
peal to all good citizens who will take
part in the next great experiment In
Tic Coutiol VI GA d&AS4cAs CouASS Va
evil. If at the outset our legislators
everywhere, and especially in our Ma
tional Congress, set themselves to the
business of emphasizing the benefits OF
temperance rather than the mere cap
atalization Of appetite for revenue rails
ing, the resulting legislation will in
the end prove far more effective in the
prevention Of old abuses and far more
generally accepted by those who must
live under such legislation. If beer
bill has for its chief aim the raising Of
revenue, it logically follows that other
things are to be subordinated. Regu-
lation will be framed with an eye to
the tax collector, with obviously COM
placent regard of other things not
strictly productive Of revenue
There is another thought that might
be derived with benefit from the report
of the New York commission. The aim
Of the commission is to make possess
sion of license - both for sale and
manufactured such value that it will
be regarded in the light of franchise
by the State, and will be guarded
vigilantly by the licensee against being
placed in jeopardy by violation Of the
prescribed regulations. To give mean
ing to such a conception the boards
or commissions set up to license those
who manufacture or sell beer must be
composed of those who have the objec-
tive of temperance, and not revenue
raising. in mind.
The Tydings bill is better bill than
the Black bill. 1t should be strength
ened, and doubtless will be when the
time comes for closer consideration OF
its provisions. There should be regu-
lations regarding the sale Of beer to
minors, as in the national bill pro-
posed by Senator Blaine Consideration
should be given to the propriety OF
making effective sort Of local option
in the District, by at least providing
Der Of neighboring property holders-iI
some sections at least-before license;
are granted. 1t is difficult to under
stand why local license fees and stand
ards should not be set for manufac
turers as well as for sellers Of beer
And it is illogical to establish stiff
penalties, such as fine or imprison
ment, for breaking the beer law an,
provide merely for license suspen
sion in the case of those who violat.