Evening star., 1933-12-27
Senate Hearings Expected to
Develop Thorough Dis.
CusSion of Issue,
C0MMITTEE MEMBERS =
STUDY FEDERAL STORES
King to Hold Session Early So
D. c. Residents Can Express
Opinions.

With a score of requests from civic
and trade organizations to be heard by
the Senate District Committee on the
local liquor control problem, indica-
tions today were that the Senate hear
ings would develop a thorough dis
cuSsiOn OF various methods OF sale and
regulation before any committee action
Is taken.
While the House District Committee
probably will be the first to act on a
local liquor bill, the Senate Committee
may start public hearings prior to House
action. The House program is to have
the District Committee meet the day
Congress convenes. January 3, with a
view to getting local control measure
before the House the next day. Chair.
man King Of the Senate Committee in
tends, however to hold public hearings
in time to enable local civic groups to
make known their views to Congress-.
The Senate hearings will be held
within week and the date will be an
nounced by Senator King as soon as 4
ma jority of the committee members are
available.
Consider Federal Stores.
Although the bill drafted by the Com
missioners is based on the private L.
cense system for both wholesale and
retail, several members of the Senate
Committee are studying some form Of
Government store distribution, either in
whole or in combination with retail
licenses.
These alternative proposals will be
inquired into at the Senate hearing.
Senator Couzens, Republican, of
Michigan, District Committee member.
received q letter today from Wilbur La
Roe. jr, chairman of the Civic Affairs
Committee of the Washington Fedora
ton Of Churches, expressing gratifica-
ton over the Senator's recent announce
ment that he favors having the Munich
pal Government handle the distribution
OF bottled liquor at limited number OF
Government stores. The letter reads:
II am much pleased to note In the
public press that you favor a limited
number Of Government stores or dis
pensaries for the sale Of bottled liquor.
It looks as If the House will try to jam
this bill through without hearings. or at
best with very inadequate hearings. and
the bill as drafted does not protect the
public interest. 1t permits sale Of liquor
even in grocery stores and drug stores.
Can you see that we are protected, at
least to the extent Of having reasonable
hearings on the r1atter?"
Senator Couzens, who last week made
known that he would favor national
legislation to make the buyer OF boot
leg liquor guilty as we'll as the seller,
now that legal liquor is being made
available, said If Congress should adopt
such a provision nationally it would
apply to the District Of Columbia as
well as elsewhere. The Michigan Sem
ator said he Is trying to work out the
idea for incorporation in some proposed
legislation, but that he has not drafted
a specific amendment for inclusion in
any particular bill.
Senator Couzens expressed the belief
that some of the opposition to such
proposal is based on misunderstand-
ing Of what he has in mind. He en-
had no desire or intention to bring
about the searching of private homes
to enforce such a provision He also
reiterated that there is difference
between imposing such a rule after
repeal as compared with during the
prohibition period Senator Couzens
stressed the fact tax evasion is involved
in the sale of bootleg liquor after legal
sale is authorized, and that a person
who buys bootleg liquor is conspiring
with the seller to aid in evading the
tax. The Government, he pointed out.
Is constantly prosecuting persons for
other kinds of tax evasion.
The District Commissioners took
final action yesterday on the proposed
license plan of liquor control and
copies of the bill are expected to be
received some time today by the chair
men Of the House and Senate District
Committees.