Evening star., 1934-01-02
D. C. RUM SECOND
ON SENATE'S LIST
FOR NEW SESSION
Continued From First Pase)

tCOnLHu6C from fdRe.D
support regulations designed to keep
liquor establishments out of neighbor-
hoods where sentiment Is against the
sale of liquor. He also stressed the
need of giving careful attention to the
character of license fees.
Chairman King revealed he has
reached the conclusion that the local
liquor control bill cannot be taken up
in the Senate until after 1t Is acted
on in the House because it involves
questions Of taxation and revenue.
There is Constitutional provision re-
quiring revenue legislation to originate
in the House.
AS a precedent for his conclusion, he
recalled that about 10 years ago it was
decided that the local gasoline tax bill
had to originate in the House. He said,
however, this would not prevent the
Senate Committee from holding hear
ings or joining the House Committee
on hearings to get the bill in shape.
To Ask Views.
Senator King has not yet received
the formal invitation from the House
Committee for joint hearings, but will
ask his Senate colleagues tomorrow for
their views on the proposal. He will
try to get the Senate Committee to-
gether for this informal meeting i'm
mediately after the Senate completes
the routine business of the opening
session tomorrow afternoon.
Advance discussion among individual
committee members indicates the main
issue on the local liquor control ques-
tion will be whether to adopt the pri-
Vate license system, as provided for in
the Commissioners bill; the Govern
ment dispensary method, as favored by
some of the members of both commit
tees, or a combination Of the two plans.
A few members have suggested Govern
ment diSpensarieS for the sale Of bot
tied liquor with the possibility Of per-
mitting private licenses for hotels and
restaurants to serve liquor at tables.
Meanwhile Representative Carl Wei
derman, Democrat, of Michigan, one
Of the most active new members of the
House District Committee. urged that
the joint hearings be held.
Mr.. Weiderman is as yet undecided
whether he will favor a private license
control bill as recommended by the
District Commissioners or whether he
will support legislation to establish mu-
nicipal dispensaries. What he feels is
more important is that now we nave
got rid Of prohibition to prevent its
evils from being continued"
Educated on Evils.
He said he wants to have good liquor
cheap for those who desire it without a
saloon in every corner grocery store.
Mr.. Weiderman pointed out that all
members Of the District Committee and
Of Congress have had thorough educa-
ton in the evils of prohibition and Of the
liquor traffic and that at whatever hear
ings are held this subject need not be
thoroughly discussed. but only an op-
portunity for residents of the District
to express their preference regarding
the method of liquor control.
Coming from Detroit" said Mr.
Weiderman. 81 have had abundant op-
portunity to observe the Canadian dis
pensary system which has not proved
perfect in eliminating the bootlegger.
but it may be that We can devise some
law for the District which would adopt
the dispensary system and which I
could support"
Mr.. Weiderman expressed his convic-
ton that the hearings should be short
and the control legislation passed as
quickly as possible in order that the
District of Columbia might get revenue
intended under repeal legislation.