Evening star., 1934-01-09
rum LICENSE PLAN
|ISSCORED NHOUSE.
Passage Today Expected in
/: Spite of Assault by Three
: Opponents.
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:
(Continued From First Page)
report out a measure providing for dis
pensary system of liquor control.
He asserted that any licensing system
would be tantamount to the return OF
the saloon. He said the District should
have a dispensary system SO rigidly
controlled that liquor could not be sold
until its quality had been approved by
a board of chemists. He also said wet
organizations are opposed to the bill
in its present form and that the meas
are repudiates the platform pledges OF
the two major parties.
Hotels Given Advantages.
:. When Patman was allotted his time,
he began by reminding the House that
this is the first opportunity members
of Congress have had to vote on this
question since repeal and that the bill
should be considered carefully because
some OF its supporters have referred to
1t as a model bill.
: Patman said hotels are given greater
advantages than any other group in the
committee bill and that IF the hotel
people of the District had been privi-
teged to elect committee to give them
a monopoly, it could not have improved
ON this bill, except possibly by leaving
put restaurants"
!. He contended that while restaurants
could sell only by the glass at tables
hnd other stores could sell only by the
package to be taken home. hotels could
sell either by the drink or in bottles.
Representative O'Connor of New York
.contended that if this is the case, the
bill should be amended to make sure
that liquor bought in hotels could not
be taken of the premises.
Patman Joined in the plea of Stalker
for return of the bill to the District
Committee with instructions to report
out measure embodying a dispensary
plan. He concluded by declaring:
There is nothing in this bill to pro-
mote temperance; it does not prevent
the return of the saloon and 1t does
not bring the liquor traffic out into the
open"
Harlan Hits DiSpensaries.
Representative Harlan, Democrat. OF
Ohio defended the bill and declared
that as long as men drink for So
liability, they would always find some
place to do it. He said it would be "a
foolish thing" to put a lot Of restric-
lions on drinking.
= Harlan also voiced vigorous oppo-
sition to the dispensary plan and said
it had never worked out to the salts
faction of its sponsors.
Representative Dirksen, Republican,
of Illinois member of the District
COMMITTEE. also defended the bill and
registered his opposition to the dis
'pensary system. He said he was op-
posed to this plan because 1t had not
worked out satisfactorily in places
where it had been tried and in addi-
.tion it would put the Government in
the liquor business.
The bill as reported to the House,
Dirksen explained, would make it rea-
sonably easy for man or woman OF
legal age to get drink when they
want it.
An this talk about restoring the
old saloon" he declared, lis a lot OF
hooey."
Dirksen cited the testimony during
hearings on the liquor control bill OF
DR.. Frank w. Buck Of the Federal
.Dispensary League to support a pro pro.
seated at tables instead of standing,
as was done in the old-time saloon.
Defends Advertising.
He said DR.. Buck testified study
revealed that a man standing at bar
would consume three drinks in Is min
utes, whereas a man sitting down would
take an hour to consume the same
number of drinks.
Dirksen also defended provision In
the bill which would permit newspapers
in Washington to carry liquor adver-
tising. He declared it would take q
e., oh nf thu orip q tim IN Gee
how liquor advertising would encour-
age drinking.
Turning to the drys on the Demo-
cratic side who had advocated the dis
pensary system, Dirkson declared: ITO
that little militant minority, let me say
to them that they don't have to go
into dining room and take drink
unless they want to-
Dirksen explained that there are ade-
ouate provisions in the bill for the pro-
lection of the District. its people gen.
orally and its schools and colleges.
Prevents Producer Control.
While Dirksen was explaining that
the committee bill prohibits restaurants
from selling hard liquor on credit, one
OF his colleagues in the House humor-
ously inquired:
What does the bill do in the case
OF a man who goes in and gets drink
and then announces afterward that he
is broke?"
Dirksen cited as one of the desirable
features of the committee bill the fact
it will prevent brewers and distillers
from controlling the retail outlets by
owning or having a financial interest
in the places to be leased for retail
sale.
Representative O'Connor of New
York wanted to know If the bill will
prevent brewers and distillers from ad-
Vancing funds to storekeepers to pay
the required license fees to go into the
liquor business. Difksen said he be-
lieved that was safeguarded against in
the bill
mo Hurry About Bill"
OConnor. the next speaker, argued
against placing too many detailed re-
strictions and regulations around the
places where liquor may be sold, con-
tending that the more regulations there
are the more opportunities or avenues
there will be for the possibility of cor
ruption Although advocating a con-
troll bill with liberal requirements as to
sale, O'Connor renewed attacks he has
made on the quality of liquor and the
prices being charged since repeal.
II said the other day." OConnor be-
gan, there was no great hurry about
this bill, because after you get this
liquor it will be dangerous to drink it
and you probably will not have money
enough to pay the prices the distillers
will ask
O'Connor said he would favor letting
any number of places that could pay
the license fee sell liquor and that he
thought the pending measure was a
good bill if amended in certain respects.
He said he would require druggists to
sell as whisky only such spirits as would
conform to the definition laid down in
the pharmacopeia.
O'Connor announced he was against
the Government dispensary method, de-
claring that is the last method that
should be resorted to.