Evening star., 1934-03-14
A. B, c. UNIT DENIES
LICENSE TO FIRM
NEAR HIGH SCHOOL
Ruling Is Regarded as
Precedent for Other
Applications.
HEARINGS TO CONTINUE
NEXT WEEK FOR SCORE
Twenty or More Expected to
Ask Permits to Sell Rum
Near Institutions.
In a ruling regarding as establish.

In q ruling regarding as establish.
ing precedent, the Alcohol Beverage
Control Board today denied an appli-
cation for an off-sale liquor license
for the Petworth Pharmacy, 42o1
Georgia avenue, near the Roosevelt
High School and the Mcfarland
Junior High School. The application
had been vigorously protested by
number of civic groups in the Pet
worth section.
1t was rejected on the basis Of the
boards desire to SCI UP protection for
the large number of school children
who frequent the area. There was
no complaint against the character Of
the applicant or the manner in which
the drug store has been conducted.
The Petworth Pharmacy is TOO feet
from the nearest entrance of the
Roosevelt School, but is located within
$50 feet of the nearest point of ths
school grounds. This was one of the
most vigorously contested cases on
which the board has held hearings.
The granting of the license was op-
posed by H. P. Stafford, principal Of
Macfarland representatives of the
PetWorth Citizens Association. the
Petworth Woman's Club and church
leaders Of the section.
Formal Opinion.
A formal opinion issued by Chair
man George w Ofutt, declared, in
part: That every safeguard should
be thrown about so large a collection
Of those who are in the formative
state, there can be no question" He
added that it was the opinion of these
groups who had opposed the license
that the issuance of the permit would
be harmful to the children.
The opinion concluded with the
statement: Granted that the issu-
ance of this license will have any
effect upon so large a body of chill
dren, our duty is plain and If We
should make a mistake it should be
In favor of the children rather than
in favor of mercantile concern. We
| feel that we are obliged to accept as
| being true the statements of those
who are Immediately in charge of
these large educational establishments,
and we feel, therefore. that in view of
all of the circumstances in this case,
the place for which the license Is
| sought is not an appropriate one,
| considering the surroundings"
Hearings will be held beginning next
week on more applications for liquor
licenses for establishments close to
public schools. or which are patronized
largely by school children, it was an
nounced today by Chairman Offutt.
There are approximately a score of
applications affected by the new poll
cies adopted yesterday by the A. B. C.
Board at the instance of the District
Commissioners, designed to protect
school children.
Each of these will be subject to
separate hearings. Definite dates for
the sessions will be announced later.
General Policy"
Chairman Offutt said all interested
parties. including the applicants. pro-
testants and school officials would be
given an opportunity to appear.
The board decided yesterday on a
general policy not to grant licenses to
places within 400 feet CT any portion
of school grounds. At the same time
it established general policy against
the granting of licenses to places be-
yond the 400-foot distance in cases
where stores are patronized regularly
by large numbers of school children,
and where 1t is found issuance of such
licenses would not be in public in
terest.
The board stated, however, that ex-
ceptions may be made from the gen.
eral policies in cases where the appli-
cant was able to show to the satisfac-
ton of the board that because of spe-
cial conditions the granting of licenses
to places near schools would not be
against public interest. Chairman Of
futt said in such cases the burden Of
proof would be placed on the appli-
cant.
The 20 or so applications for places
near schools had been held up pend
ing adoption of . general policy and
none is to be issued until after pub
lie hearing in each case.
Quinn Satisfied.
Henry I. Quinn, member Of the
Board of Education, one of the prin-
cipal leaders of group protesting
granting Of licenses to places near
schools, has informed the A. B. G.
Board he Is satisfied with the policies
adopted by the board. Chairman Of
futt said.
The A. B. C. Board has been In
formed 1t may expect court action
contesting its decision Of yesterday In
refusing to grant q license to the
Temple Luncheonette & Drug Co. for
premises at Tenth and. U streets.
where a drug store. luncheonette and
are operated by the concern.
The board denied the license, say.
ing it was convinced the establish
ment does not fulfill the definition Of
restaurant" as set forth in the
liquor laws.
A hearing on the application, the
board stated, brought "deluge" Of
complaints from people living In the
neighborhood. The board added, how
ever. that the applicant had submit
ted signed petition indicating that
many persons were in favor Of the
granting Of the license.
Licenses Issued.
Additional retail liquor licenses IS
sued by the Alcoholic Beverage Con-
troll Board yesterday include the fol-
lowing:
Concord Delicatessen and Restau-
rant, 304 Kennedy street; Barry's
Beverage Liquor Store, 2016 Four
teenth street; Sulgrave Club, 1901
Massachusetts, avenue; Si1ver's Phar-
macy, 2341 Pennsylvania avenue
southeast; Courembis, Inc, S203