Evening star., 1934-02-04
D. c. LIQUOR BOARD
DUE TO COMMENCE
WORK ON TUESDAY
Selection of Staff Is One
Problem Making Delay
Necessary.
ALIENS ILLNESS ALSO
HOLDS UP OPERATIONS
ofutt Announces Application
Blanks Distribution to Be
Postponed.

nee yeSlcIudy W duIlllIllStel tilt LID
trict liquor law, will be delayed at
Least until Tuesday, or possibly a
day or two later, according to indi-
cations last night.
One matter causing delay is said
10 be the problem of the selection
Of the staff of the Control Board
The Commissioners have received
some 700 applications for the score
of positions to be filled and the posts
Of the three assistants to the cor
poration counsel, and in many cases
the applicants have strong political
backing.
Considerable pressure is being eX-
erted on the Commissioners in this
connection. it is reported, and delay
In announcement of appointments
has indicated the problem is giving
the city heads concern.
Appointments Debated.
Another cause for delay is the fact
Commissioner George E. Allen. who
supervises administration of the law,
has been confined to his home for
several days with heavy cold. It
was stated yesterday he would not
return to his desk before Tuesday.
The question of who should be ap-
pointed to the new position, however,
has caused a lively debate for some
days and just week ago members
Of the District bar were planning to
protest against the reported consider
alton Of lawyers from various States
for appointment as assistants to the
corporation counsel. who will handle
prosecutions under the District liquor
law.
At that time, the Commissioners
declared no decision had been reached
- to who would be named. Commits
sioner Melvin C. Hazen said he had
not had an opportunity to go over
the matter with Commissioner Allen
because Of the illness of the latter.
After members Of the Control Board
assumed Offices yesterday. George w.
OfYutt. chairman, announced that no
application blanks would be distrib-
uted until Tuesday at least. Mr..
Offutt explained the board would be
unable to function until that time for
lack Of finished quarters, personnel
and because Office furniture was not
yet available.
This decision was reached unani-
nously by the board. In addition to
Mr.. Offutt, the members are Mrs.
William Beverly Mason and Isaac
Cans.
The board agreed also that no ap-
piicationS should be received by the
board except by mail, and that i'm
rlediately upon receipt each appllca-
ton would be given a number in
4ccord with the time received and
then be acted on strictly in keeping
With the order in which the docu-
Ments were received.
Any incomplete application, it was
decided, is to be returned to the ap-
plicant who would be instructed to
correct the document and to return
1t by mail. to be given new num-
hsr as new application and to be
taken up when reached in regular
order.
The board ruled also that no cor
nespondence addressed to the board
would be opened except in the pres
ance Of one of the members of the
board.
Space for the board has been pro-
Uded In the rooms formerly occupied
hg the Office of the superintendent of
insurance, on the second floor. at
the west side OF the District Building.
These rooms have been refinished,
end, It is expected, office furniture
Tor temporary use will be borrowed
from other District departments until
the boards furniture, now ordered, is
delivered
No Move to Be Made.
The Hotel Association of Washing
ton has decided to make no move
seeking to change the regulations
sdopted by the Commissioners pro-
hibiting establishment OF service"
bars, and will go along" with the
Commissioners, a spokesman fur the
association reported yesterday.
Police officials yesterday were given
On extended outline of provisions of
the liquor bill by Vernon E. West,
assistant corporation counsel, who
aided Corporation Counsel w. w.
Bride IN the actual drafting of the
measure under direction of Commis-
Honer Allen.
The group, headed by Maj. Ernest
". Brown, superintendent of police,
included inspectors. captains and lieu
tenants The police have been in
structed by the Commissioners to
strike severely at the operations OF
bootleggers and dealers not licensed.
Considerable time was devoted to
the question Of the search and seiz-
txs" clause of the hquor bill. Police
hs1sed what would constitute prob
hbAe cause" upon which a Judge Of
Pokce Court or q United States COM
missioner could issue q warrant Tor
Me search of premises and the con-
hscation of any contraband liquor
That might be found.
While declining to anticipate what
0ecision might be reached by Judge
br 6 United States commissioner
West said he did not believe a pur-
khase Of liquor from an unlicensed
Healer would be necessary If there
Vas clear and convincing evidence
Allowing that illicit operations were
heinq conducted. He believes, how
ever, there must be more than mere
Saaapicion of Illicit trade.
He cited as an illustration OF case
where probable cause" for a warrant
might be found, an unlicensed place
where there was q rather regular
strsam of patrons who emerged from
The establishment tipsy or downright
intoxicated or bearing packages which
. reasonable person would presume to
contain liquor.
Ofacials have explained that while
the standard rule under the prohibi-
Hon laws was to obtain q buy as
evidence, It was not always necessary
10 follow this rule In obtaining ap-
peoval Of . police entry to . sus-
bected place.