Evening star., 1934-03-04
URGES
RIGID rum LAWS
Citizens Seek to Ban Sale
of TWo-0unce
Bottles.

The Federation of Citizens , 'soci-
ations, expressing great dis int
ment at the turn Of affairs - the
District following the legalization OF
liquor, adopted three resolutions last
night, all intended to tighten up re-
strictions on the sale of liquor here.
One of the resolutions held the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board had
been enormously advised that 1t was
constrained to issue off-sale permits
to applicants within 400 feet OF
schools who were established In busi-
ness prior to the passage Of the liquor
act; in connection with this a sec
ond resolution demanded prohibition
Of the sale Of liquor in any container
Of less than a half a pint, since
speakers declared the 2-ounce bottles
now on sale In stores near schools
were simply a subterfuge to sell liquor
by the drink to school children;
third resolution called on the Com
missioners to establish dry areas in
the territories Of those citizens asso-
Citations who had asked this action,
and to stay the issuance Of any
licenses in such areas until they had
been set up.
The resolution relating to the
school zones said the federation
hereby expresses its protest at the
recently manifested attitude of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
toward granting liquor licenses near
churches and schools without regard
to protests by the Board of Educa-
ton. the District Public School Asso-
citation and by representative men,
bers of the immediate community
concerned. said board evidently as
suming (though erroneously) that
the law requires the issuance Of such
licenses as a matter of course where
the store existed at all before the pas
sage Of the law"
Introduced by Sullivan.
This was introduced by George E.
Sullivan. under suspension of the
rules, after the matter was brought
up by Charles I. Stengel, president
Of the Public School Association.
The half-pint bottle resolution was
introduced by Raymond L. Gilbert,
president of the Burroughs Citizens
Association, and was passed without
a record vote after an attempt to
amend it to read one pint had failed
by vote of to 49,
The local option resolution, pre-
sented by Mr. Sullivan was:
The Commissioners be requested
promptly to hold hearings of the
representatives of the various neigh
borhoods, which desire the protection
Of such regulations under section 7.
Of the act and that following such
hearing the Commissioners promul-
gate suitable regulations as contem-
plated under section 7. -
THAT pending definite determina-
ton of the policy Of the Commits
sioners upon the matter that they,
the said Commissioners. request the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to
withhold action on any pending ap-
plications for the conduct Of such
business in any Of the locations in
question"
The relative roles OF Assistant Cor
poration Counsel William A. Roberts
and Peoples Counsel Richmond B
Keech led to prolonged debate which
ended in the adoption Of resolution
asking that the Office of peoples
counsel be not abolished, but that on
the contrary the vacancy there exist
ing be promptly filled.
Clayton Speaks.
William NICK. Clayton, calling tc
the federation's attention the fact
that the principal supporter Of one Of
the District Commissioners is a direc.
tor in local utility corporation, saic
that there had never been any Public
Utilities Commission whose members
had not passed muster before the
utilities companies before their ap.
pointment. He said he considered II
important to continue the people.
counsel job. but pointed out that Mr.
Roberts. "a very aggressive gentle
man." in conducting cases before the
commission. is doing what the peo-
pies counsel should do, and that tht
peoples counsel sits by and doesn',
assert his rights.
Mr.. Sullivan said that Mr.. Roberts
has really run the commission. He
takes charge, monopolizes things SC
thoroughly that nobody can get in
he said. that is system that grew
up under Gen. Patrick" Sullivan
said that Keech was always willing
to carry on any Of the peoples fights
and that by his willingness he had
incurred the enmity Of Roberts and
Patrick.
The federation adopted a resolu-
ton calling for an amendment Of the
Districts organic act to omit any
reference to Army engineers in the
appointment of District Commission
ers. The resolution recommended the
appointment of three civilians, all OF
them bona fide residents Of the Dis
trict for at least five years. Another
resolution favored placing the record
er Of deeds under the Commissioners
and giving the Commissioners power
to fix the scale of fees to be charged
for recording the various instruments
Request Received.
Lie leOcI dllOl Lieu d IcQucSt AlOu
the Association Of Oldest Inhabitants
that 1t favor reduction of tariff duties
on the products of Finland.
A. j. Driscoll. chairman of the mem.
bership drive among citizens associa.
tions, reported that 1t had been de.
cided to continue the drive until
March IS, instead of March 7. HI
presented to Charles Norris of th'
West End Citizens Association a checl
for 81 signed by President Roosevelt
in payment Of his dues as a member
of that association. President Jane.
G. Yaden presented prizes to winner
in the essay contest on the benefits
of membership in citizens associations
The federation accorded a rising
| vote of thanks to the President fol
joining, and another to Oliver Over
Kuhn, managing editor of The Eve.
,, ming Star, for presenting the fedora.
ton with 1000 copies of a speech on
citizenship made by Mr.. Kuhn re-
Gently.
Representative Mary Norton's bill
on taxicab liability insurance, H. r
5043, was indorsed on recommenda.