Evening star., 1934-01-14
SCANDAL CHARGES
ROCK COLORADO'S
LEGISLATIVE HALLS
LIQUOR Control Session Brings
Accusations of Bribery
and Corruption.
BY J. J. MULLEN.
Ik~A - T~t, . 0t~~

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DENVER, January 13. - Scandal
rocked the Colorado Legislature this
week.
Scandal reminiscent Of pre-prohibi-
ton periods
Scandal involving charges Of bribery,
corruptiou and a "shlsh" fund to be
raised by retail liquor dealers for leg1s-
1ators who were to block unfavorable
legislation.
Hardly had the recessed second ex-
traordinary session of the twenty ninth
General Assembly reconvened when
members themselves took cognizance OF
rumors being banded about that money
had been demanded of liquor dealers
and Senator John F. Healy, jr., intro
duced a Joint resolution demanding an
Investigation. Both Senate and House
passed the resolution with unprecedented
speed. Two senators and three mem
bers Of tbs House were named on the
Investigating Committee, which mme-
diately opened sessions:
Bert M. Keating, legislative repre-.
sentative from Denver, one OF the first
witnesses called, testified that he had
advised the Denver Retail Liquor Deal
ers' Association to employ lobbyist
to protect their interests.
Liquor Dealer Missing.
A Juror resulted when Sergeants at
arms of the legislature failed for "A
hours to find Chick" Massie, a retail
LIQUOR dealer, who was reported to have
made charges that "shake-oown OF
Denver dealers had been attempted. A
fund of $4,000 was mentioned. Massie
later voluntarily appeared, but ne
couldn't remember" when members OF
the committee questioned him closely:
What testimony he did give connrmeo
the hotel room meeting with Repre-.
sentative Keating, and Massie aamitseo
there was talk about securing the serV-
ices of a lobbyist" He failed to re-
member mention of any specific sum
Of money. ;,
Questioning Of numerous other wit
nesses disclosed q bitter battle raging
among the liquor interests over con-
flicting demands for State regulation.
Rival organizations, termed by some
witnesses as "rackets," have been or
ganized to attempt to influence legis-
iation in their respective favor. Drug
cists want the existing laws to stand:
retail LIQUOR store owners and hotel and
restaurant owners are fighting for reg
ulations that will permit the sale OF
hard liquor by the drink which, the
drug store owners declare, will drive
druggists out of the liquor business.
Lewis Levin, president Of the Colo
RADIO Retail Liquor Dealers Association
told of meeting he nSa and three r,its Penver ve
sentative Keating in Denver hotel
room to discuss methods OF securing
the right kind Of legislation. The meet
1-xyA Cfaf
Keatine according to Levin. advised
them to follow the usual procedure
and hire a lobbyist"
License Issue Is Up.
Another phase Of the investigation
involved the licensing Of several re-
tail liquor dealers asserted to have
gers during the dry era. State regu-
lations prohibit this. Abe Wiley, in
charge of issuing State licenses, testi-
fed that the State had no effective
method Of checking on persons apply
ing for licenses. Such a check. he
pointed out, should be made by local
authorities issuing licenses. In this
connection Carl S. Milliken, manager
Of excise in Denver, will be subpoe-
naed to explain how several notorious
bootleggers secured license to conduct
legal liquor stores In Denver.
WILEY testified that there were 95
retail liquor stores in the State. So Of
which are in Denver, and 481 drug
stores with permits to sell prescription
whisky in the State, about half Of
which were in Denver.
Senator Healy. chairman Of the In
vestigating Committee, declared there
would be no "whitewash," but that the
Investigation would be thorough.
Gov Ed C. johnson applauded the
Investigation, declaring there had been
vicious and criminal" efforts to block
legislation in the twenty-ninth Gen.
efal Assembly.