Evening star., 1933-12-31

thought en- the question Of how best to
control the liquor problem since repeal,
Mr.. Smith declared. They are: First,
the system OF private sale and private
profit which. understand is proposed
in the bill approved by the District
Commissioners The second Is the dis
pensary system or sale by Government
agencies eliminating all elements Of
private profit from the retail sale Of
whisky.
The first proposal is subject to seri-
Gus and inherent objection to the sale
Of whisky by the drink TO be consumed
on the premises where sold.
Fears Old Evils.
Il am confident large number OF
the members Of Congress, myself In
cluded, will wish to record their opposi-
and will wish for the further opportllr-
ity of voting for some form of dispen-
Sary system such as the well conceived
plan recently recommended by the
Liquor Control Commission Of Virginia
| hope the opportunity will be accorded
the membership to vote for such an al
tentative plan in place of the proposed
bill, which latter, l fear, Will be subject
to perverSlonS and eyaSions that will
lead TO many Of the evils inherent in
the old system that brought about the
adoption Of the eighteenth amendment u
The proposed Smith bill would re-
strict the sale of whisky and other So
called hard liquors to dispensaries or
stores, established and operated under
the direction Of a board OF alcoholic
control Of three members appointed by
the Commissioners Hotels. restaurants
and clubs would be permitted to sell
Cnly beer and wine for consumption on
the premises. Off-sale permits would
De issued, however, to privately owned
stores for the sale of beer and wine.
The alcohol control board would be
given broad powers to make all neces-
sary regulations and fix prices of liquor
sold in the dispensaries. Net profits OF
these stores would be deposited in the
Treasury to the credit of the District
The board also would issue all licen-
ses 10 distilleries, wineries, breweries
and bottlerS, as well as permits TO no.
tells. restaurants and CLUBS selling beer
and wine, and to stores handling beer
and wine for consumption of the prem
iseS.
Scale of Fees.
License fees per year as set up in the
bill follow:
Distilleries,, wineries, and breweries
$1,000; bottlers, $780, wholesale beer
$3.50; on-sale wine and beer, 5000: beer
alone, 500, and off-sale wine and beer,
$50 The tax per gallon on liquor sold
IS left blank in the bill.
One feature Of Mr.. Smiths bill would
create a new type of license, knowa as
a banquet license. to be issued to per-
sons in charge of banquets. This would
authorize the licensee to sell wine and
beer in designated rooms for consump-
tion on the premises.
Special precautions are taken in the
bill to prevent liquor interests from en-
gaging in the retail beer and wine busi-
ness with a provision forbidding che
issuance of license to any manufac-
turer, bother or wholesaler of alcoholic
beverages, or to any officer or director
Of any such manufacturer. bother or
wholesaler, or to any partnership. asso-
citation or corporation, any partner,
member or stockholder of which is an
officer or director Of any such manu-
facturer. bother or wholesaler.
Druggists, under the bill, would be
allowed to sell liquor for medicinal
purposes, and then only on prescrip-
tion issued by physician
Drunk Driver Provision.
Persons convicted of operating We
hicle under the influence of liquor
would be prevented by the Smith bill
from purchasing liquor. The court is
given authority to make an order of
interdiction prohibiting the sale Of al
coholic beverages to such persons, and
file copy with the control board.
Other provisions of the bill make it
a misdemeanor for a person to purchase
liquor from any place other than a
Government dispensary, or to take or
offer a drink to another in a public
piace