Evening star., 1934-01-14
LIQUOR BILL 0. K.
IS DUE THIS WEEK
D. c. License Plan Likely to
Win, but Dispensary Meas
ure. Is Ready.
Continued From First Page.)


hberations Senators King and Capper
took the lead in support Of the dis
pensary principle. Senator King indi-
Gated last night that he does not ex-
pect to present the dispensary substi-
tute in the Senate. It was learned
definitely, however, that the Senate
will be asked by some one of the dis
pensary advocates to vote on the sub
stitute in order to obtain a test OF
sentiment on the two plans. Once this
basic issue Is disposed of. the detailed
provisions of the bill are expected to
be acted on quickly.
There is one factor in the situation
however. that may produce consider
able debate In various parts OF the
country, State and municipal authorl-
ties are now wrestling with the liquor
control problem, and the District meas
ure gives members of the Senate the
first opportunity they have had since
repeal to express their views on the
various methods of control that have
Of legal liquor.
VARYING forms of Government dis
pensaries already have been adopted in
Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and
Virginia is considering the same
method. Other places have adopted
the licensing method. 1t will not be
surprising therefore. If members OF
the Senate take this opportunity to
express their views on how different
Jurisdictions throughout the country
are approaching the problem.
Committee Amendments.
II, as seems probable, the private
license bill is adopted by the Senate
Tuesday or Wednesday. 1t will go back
to the House. which may either concur
in Senate amendments. or seek con-
ference. A conference is likely. since
the Senate committee while approving
the House license plan. made more
than a score Of changes in House pro-
visions Here are the important SEN
ate committee amendments. which may
be augmented by others offered on the
floor:
The ban against drinking on the
streets or other public places. which
the House knocked out. has been re-
stored.
The number of rooms hotel must
have to get a liquor license has been
put back to so. The House reduced 1t
to 80.
Salaries of the three members of the
Liquor Control Board are reduced from
subject to removal by the Commis-
sioners at any time. The requirement
that one member of the board must be
woman was eliminated by the Senate
committee
The power of the Commissioners to
limit the number of licenses of each
class and the number in any locality
was restored. The House cut this from
the original bill
The Senate committee raised the
license fee for solicitors from 50 to
Sl00. Under both the House and SEN
ate bills no door-to-door soliciting
would be permitted. Agents of liquor
establishments could solicit orders only
from licensed establishments. =
Under the House bill person who
had ever been convicted of felony
could not get liquor license. The
Senate committee limited this restric-
tion to felonies committed within 10
years preceding the application for
license, but broadened the same sec
ton to prevent the granting of licenses
to persons convicted of misdemeanors
under the national prohibition act.
Difference Over Bonds.
Under the Senate bill, bonds to be
filed by applicants would have to be
obtained from surety companies, where
as the House bill allowed individuals
to go surety for an applicant. District
officials favored the Senate provision on
the theory that surety companies would
inquire into the standing of applicants
for whom they go bond.
The Senate committee wrote in an
amendment intended to repeal within
the District Federal laws, which pre-
~f1 1ir,1o vail &
tary reservations and restrict its use
by military personnel
The Senate committee added saving
clause to enable officials to proceed
with prosecutions growing out of the
national prohibition act. or other laws
which would be repealed by this bill, If
the alleged offenseS occurred prior to
the effective date of the new bill.
Members of the Senate committee are
considering a further change in the
section relating to restricted zones, near
schools, churches and public institu
tions which would be slightly more
liberal than the House bill. The House
bill provided that business places estab-
lished prior to April S. 1888, the date
when the beer bill passed. would be
eligible for licenses, within these re-
stricted zones. A suggested amendment
taken under consideration yesterday,
would change this date from April S.
1888. to that of the approval of the
pending bill.
A number Of other minor amend
mentS were made, some of which were
merely to clarity language.
The Commissioners are authorized by
the bill to establish restricted zones
near churches. schools and other public
institutions, but this power is greatly
curtailed by the proviso that this re-
striction would not prevent issuance of
licenses where the business places were
established prior to April S, 1888. This
provision was inserted by the House and
not changed by the Senate committee.
Hearings Are Provided.
II the two branches Of Congress agree
on the private license bill and 1t be-
comes law by the end of this week. the
issuance of licenses might start about
the second week Of February. the exact
date depending on number OF cond1-
tions that must be carried out after the
law is enacted. The control board prob
ably would be named within day or
two after passage. and the Commission
ers probably would have their detailed
regulations to govern the operations OF
the board ready to be promulgated.
These regulations would have to be ad-
vertised for five days, however, and two
weeks notice would have to be given on
all applications before any are granted
Congress also would have to appropriate
sufficient money to cover salaries and
expenses Of the control board.
The bill prohibits granting OF licenses
II owners Of majority of the property
within 600 feet object. Provision also
is made for holding hearings on any
applications in respect to which remon-
strances are flied.
The vote by which the dispensary
plan was beaten in the Senate Com
mittee yesterday follows:
For the dispensary substitute-Sena-
tors Glass of Virginia, Gore Of Okla
f1oma, Bankhead of Alabama, Capper OF
Kansas Couzens Of Michigan and King
of Utah-six.
Against dispensaries-Senators Cope
erH-. - Er,rx