Evening star., 1933-03-17
maryland BEER
BILL CONSIDERED
Gov. Ritchie Confers With
City, State and Legislative
Leaders at Annapolis.
BY a staff Correspondent of The Star.

BY staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 17.-Fol-
lowing passage Of the national act
leeslizing the sale of beer, Maryland's
legislators gave their attention today to
t,le question of how the beverage shall
be handled within their State and ex-
amined with new interest several pend
ing liquor bills.
The beer problem was the principal
subject discussed at a conference be-
tween Gov. Ritchie and group of
State, city and legislative leaders last
night.
While no official announcement was
forthcoming at the conclusion Of the
conference it was indicated a State
wide law providing for tax on beer of
about 81 a barrel would be proposed
and the various counties allowed to
exempt themselves from its regulatory
features.
Such exemptions might prohibit the
sale Of beer entirely within the tndi-
vidual counties. might impose more
stringent regulations on its distribution,
or might place additional local license
tees on the distributor.
Draft Prince Georges Bill.
Two Prince Georges County legis-
,ators are now engaged in drafting
local law which would permit the
county to derive revenue from the sale
of beer within its borders and set up
an excise board that would regulate the
handling of the beverage.
Delegate George l.. Edmo onds, chair
man of the Montgomery County dele
cation, has announced that no change
1aka tr1 &14tV
law. which profits the sale OF beer or
liquor.
Although bill authorizing the calling
OF a constitutional convention to vote
on repeal Of the eighteenth amendment
was introduced in the House in January,
and another presented in the Senate
yesterday, a committee to draft an ad-
ministrative measure on this matter
was appointed at the Governors con-
ference last night.
1t consists of Attorney General Will
liam Preston Lane, jr.; Senators Ridgely
P. Melvin of Anne Arundel County and
John H. Bouse of Baltimore and Dele
gate George Hofferbert of Baltimore.
Discuss Tax Relief Plan.
In addition to discussing the beer and
convention problems, the convention
considered the plan to be followed in
the enactment of the administrations
program for local tax relief.
Among those attending the confer
ence were E. Brooke Lee, Senator Lans-
dale G. Sasscer of Prince Georges Coun-
ty, Mayor Jackson of Baltimore, Speaker
T Barton Harrington and Budget Di-
rector Walter N. Kirkman.
Senator E. Milton Altfeld of Balti-
more introduced the bill yesterday,
which calls for a constitutional con-
vention to act on repeal of the eight
eenth amendment.
It proposes the election Of delegates
to the convention by legislative dis
triets, with each county and Baltimore
City having representative equal to
that In the General Assembly.
The actual convention would be a
mere formality, similff to the meeting
of the Electoral Cold e., at which the
majority sentiment, a. recorded In the
balloting for delegates, would be Off
cially registered.
Aroused by the action Of Congress
q group of Baltimore City Delegates
announced they would clamor for action
on the poor mans beer bill,'' intro
duced last January, which sets up a
licensing system in the city for the sale
of beer and wines. It has been called
the poor mans bill because it re-
duces the license fee for establishments
which sell beer from 81 200 a year to
$780,