Evening star., 1934-03-10
|EDUCAT|0NB0ARD
ALLS0NA. B. c. TO
CURBL|QUOR SALES
Representative Says Group
Has Right to Outlaw Rum
Near Schools.
THREE GIVEN PERMITS
DESPITE PROTESTS
Connecticut Avenue and Abe
marie Street Place, Near Wilson
High Site, Approved.

4Al6A OltC, 0PPloSSu'
Too much attention has been given
to the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Boards power to grant liquor licenses,
and mot enough to it's authority to
refuse them" Henry I. Quinn charged
today in appealing to the board to
accede to the protests of the Board
of Education. ParentTeacher Associa-
tions and citizens groups against
liquor sale near schools.
Quinn, who Is chairman of the
School Boards Liquor Protest Com
mittee, contended the burden Of
responsibility for license applicants
character and general fitness rests
upon the Liquor Board. He said it is
up to the board to prove to its own
satisfaction that an establishment is
appropriate, rather than requiring
protestants to prove otherwise.
Quinn was the first spokesman for
the school authorities TO testify at the
special hearing in the District Build
ing board room on the question of
granting liquor licenses to establish
ments near schools and libraries.
Urgent requests that the interests
of school children be given prime
consideration in license matters also
were laid before the board by DR..
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent Of
schools; DR.. George F. Bowerman,
public librarian; Harry N. Stull, rep
resenting the District Congress Of
Parent Teacher Associations; Dr.
George c. Havenner, speaking for the
Education Committee of the Washing
ton Chamber Of Commerce and the
Anacostia Citizens Association, and
Robert j. Cottrell, executive secre-
tary Washington Board Of Trade.
Hints at Amendment.
DR.. Ballou declared that if the ABC
board finds it has not power to refuse
licenses near schools on the basis
of protection for school children, a
move should be made at once to
amend the liquor law.
Other school board members present
included DR.. Hayden johnson, presi-
dent of the board; Henry Gilligan,
chairman of the boards Legislative
Committee, and Charles Houston, all
attorneys.
Scattered throughout the crowded
room were numerous other school
officials, including DR.. Stephen E.
Kramer, first assistant superintendent
in charge of high schools; Robert l..
Haycock, assistant superintendent in
charge of elementary schools, and
principals of the various senior and
junior high schools
This whole business is one of pub
lie interest" Quinn declared, and it
is incumbent upon this board to sat-
isfy itself that the public interest
and what public interest could pos
sibly be greater than the interest of
our school children-will be protected
in the granting of any licenses for
the sale of liquor which it chooses to
issue.
Provisions Cited.
1.-THE act authorizing the sale of
alcoholic beverages here says very
clearly that you must consider
whether the place for which the IL
cense is to be issued is an appro-
pirate one, considering the character
of the premises, the surroundings and
the wishes of the persons residing or
owning property in the neighborhood
of the said place.
Near the end of his argument, Mrs.
George Beverley Mason, woman men,
Der of the A. B. C. Board, asked Quinn
if the applicant, as a taxpayer, doesn't
have his rights" Quinn raised his
hand for emphasis and said
The applicant has no rights"
At this, the crowded auditorium re-
sounded with muff1ed smokers, and
Mrs. Mason herself smiled. Quinn
then continued:
Has no rights as an applicant to a
license He has a right to apply for
a license, and the question of paying
taxes, large or small, has nothing to
do with it."
Law Is Explained.
Before Quinn spoke, Andrew Hows-
ley, an assistant corporation counsel,
was introduced by George Ofutt,
chairman of the A. B. c. Board.
Sll ulJ SduCu Oll l1OWSlCy W OutAA1iS
for the board and the audience the
features of the liquor law itself.
Howsley prefaced his statement
with the remark that he would speak
unoficially." He read excerpts from
the liquor law and said: my per-
sonal opinion-I realize you may not
want it's that Congress made the
exception to businesses established
prior to January "a, 1884, in its refer
ence to the granting of licenses within
400 feet of schools and churches, and
I include in those businesses res
taurants, 32 beer places and hotels" /"
He said it was a "close question"
whether the board could refuse a
license, and added it was a question
that won't be answered until the
courts act on it." He said he believed
that the weight is with the places
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