Evening star., 1933-03-26
BEER BILL LIKELY
T0PASS THIS WEEK
Thorough Revision Expected
in Subcommittee Before
Senate Acts.
Continued From First Page.)

principles of the House bill, there are
few important changes that will bring
debate. 1t has been emphasized, how
ever, that the changes have not been
suggested as representing the Commis-
sioners' stand as to policy, but merely
reflects suggestions which have been
made. In some cases the suggestions
have been placed in alternative form,
so that the Senators may adopt one
and discard the other.
Minors Clause Lacking.
One of the changes in the draft over
the House bill is that there is no pro-
vision against sale Of beer to minors
The House placed such a provision in
its bill in the form of an amendment
and this amendment was adopted by q
large majority. The Senate included
the same provision in the national beer
bill, but for reasons Of policy this was
stricken out in conference with the
House. Some Of those who voted against
a provision forbidding sale of beer to
minors in the national beer bill pointed
out that they did not have the same
objections to the inclusion of such q
provision in the local beer bill, inasmuch
as this sort of provision is similar to
the safeguards that ordinarily would be
set up by State Legislature and Con-
gress Is in effect now acting as State
Legislature for the District.
1t was said last night that the pro-
vision against sale of beer to minors
would probably be retained by the
Senate
Another important change which ap-
pears in the draft of the bill allows the
sale Of beverages for consumption Ion
the premises at tables or in vehicles
parked on the premises Of the licensee.' u
The provision allowing sale of the
beverages for consumption in vehicles
parked on the premises of an 'on sale
license was inserted, it Is understood
at the instance Of proprietors of So
called barbecue stands. Such q pro-
posal was embodied in an amendment
to the House bill while the House bill
was under discussion on the floor, but
was voted down.
Should this be retained in the Senate
bill, it will doubtless cause q fight on
the Senate floor and might lead to a
sharp disagreement with the House. 1t
Is not believed that the Senators will
allow any controversial matters to
creep into the Senate bill inasmuch as
1t Is hoped to avoi dany conflict with
the House which would hold I'D or
seriously delay final enactment of the
bill.
Differ Mainly in Wording.
As shown by the comparison between
the bill as 1t passed the House and the
bill as drafted by the corporation
counsel's office (this comparison ap-
psaring in adjacent columns on this
page) the chief differences are in
phraSeology and exact wording. Section
i OF the House bill, for instance does
not specifically permit the sale OF
wine" or fruit juices" in the District,
although these, providing they do not
exceed 80 per cent Of alcohol by
weight. are permitted in the national
beer bill. Section of the revised draft
provides for such sale
Section of the House bill provided
only for ION SALE and "off sale"
licenses, although that bill provided
elsewhere for the licensing of brewers.
Section 5. of the rewritten bill pro-
vides specifically for brewers or manu-
facturers' licenses and wholesalers or
distributors licenses. in addition to ION
sale" and "off sale" licenses. Brewers
and wholesalers would also be permitted
under the rewritten draft to sell direct
to the consumer; in other words they
would be permitted to sell beer in bar
rels or bottles to the home owner.
This latter section contradicts a pro-
vision in the House bill and may pro-
woke difference of opinion as to whether
it would enable a purchaser to evadc
the law by buying direct from the
brewer and reselling without a license.
Under the House bill brewers are al
lowed to sell only to licensee.
The House bills provisions regarding
the reports on the beer sold. to be
used by the District authorities in
checking up on the taxes paid, were
felt to be unsound. The rewritten bill
seeks to tighten the law in this respect,
and provides additional safeguards
which will assure the collection of all
the taxes and lessen the chances for
its evasion.
While the House bill provides that
the Commissioners shall determine in
advance the whole number Of licenses
to be issued within the District. which
number may be increased or diminished
at any time in the discretion of the
Commissioners the rewritten draft of
the bill does not impose any limitation
on the total number of licenses to be
issued. although the Commissioners
are supposed to take into consideration
"the number of similar licenses already
issued in the neighborhood where the
applicants business Is to be conducted" !"
1t has been pointed out that while