Evening star., 1933-01-10
SHIFT Of HEARINGS
| ON D. c. BEER BILL
IS SOUGHT ANEW
Patman to Press Transfer to
House Subcommittee on
Fiscal Affairs.
VIEWS DIFFER ON CHANCE
FOR FAVORABLE ACTION
Seventh-Day Adventist Temperance
Society Urges Veto of Black
and Collier Measures.

Representative Patman, Democrat, OF
Texas, announced today he would renew
his move to transfer hearings on the
District beer bill from the Judiciary
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee to the Subcommittee on
Fiscal Affairs at the scheduled meeting
of the District Committee tomorrow.
1t was believed Mr. Patman, dry
hopes to delay action on the measure
by taking this step. The hearings on
the bill are scheduled to start before
the Judiciary Subcommittee at 1890
O'Clock Thursday morning.
Mr.. Patman said the proper reference
is to the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
because the Black beer bill proposes a
local tax Of $3.50 per barrel on beer
estimated to produce about 100000
revenue for the District, in addition to
the Federal tax of SIS per barrel.
Opinion on Motive Differs.
Friends of the bill, however, said
Patman feels the Fiscal Affairs Sub
committee is not so wet" as the Judi
ciary Subcommittee, and would be less
apt to take favorable action on the
proposed legislation.
Others, however, intimated the Fiscal
Affairs Subcommittee is "wetter" than
the Judiciary Subcommittee, thus max
ing Mr.. Patman's fight to have the bill
referred to this group appear in the
nature of one-man f1libuSter.
Mr.. Patman is a member Of the
Judiciary Subcommittee, but not of the
fiscal affairs group. Representative
Black. Democrat, of New York, spon-
sor of the bill, is member of both
committees, however. Representative
Gilbert, Democrat, of Kentucky, q
lame duck" is chairman of the Fiscal
Affairs Committee, on whom Patman
would have to depend to delay IA
vorable report. MIR. Gilbert is out OF
the city and is not expected back in
time for the committee meeting tomor-
row, but it was pointed out he voted
for the repeal resolution in the House
All other members of the committee
will vote for the bill, it was said.
OF the five members Of the Judiciary
Subcommittee, Representative Bowman,
Republican, of West Virginia, lame
duck, is the only one who might line up
with Mr.. Patman against the bill If it
is considered there.
Ready to Entertain Motion.
Chairman Norton of the House Dis
trict Committee said that II Mr.. Pat
man wants vote in the committee on
the reference or disposal of the beer
bill, she will be ready to entertain his
motion and will do nothing to obstruct
free expression Of the will of the
committee.
Meanwhile the American Temperance
Society of Seventh-day Adventists to-
day urged President Hoover to veto both
the Collier beer bill and the Black beer
bill If they should be passed by Con-
gress.
The society met yesterday in Takoma
Park and decided to write the Presi-
dent, requesting him to veto the meas
ures.
The letter follows in part:
we sincerely appreciate the efforts
you have put forth to minimize the
evils of the liquor traffic by govern
mental regulations, and while prohibi-
ton has not accomplished all that was
intended, yet we believe this noble ex-
pertinent has been sufficient success
to warrant its continuance.
Eve. therefore, earnestly entreat you
to veto the Collier beer bill authorizing
per cent alcohol by volume. in case
Congress passes it, and the Black beer
bill for the District, or any similar beer
bill, as we believe such legislation is
unconstitutional and inimical to the
best interests Of the people"