The Washington times., 1934-01-12
LEADERS STAND.
FIRM AGAINST
D|SPENSAR|ES
Many Voice Their Objection to
Plan to Put District in
Whisky Business
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against return of the saloon. He

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against return of the saloon. He
declared:
"The license system gives
ample supervision of the sale
Of liquor so that we need not
fear any abuses. IN addition to
the many evils that have been
seen to occur under the dis
pensary system, I am opposed
to rutting the Government in
the liquor business"
Walsh Hits DiSpensaries
Senator David I. Walsh CD,
OF Massachusetts,. is in favor of
the license proposal as a means
Of ridding the Capital of the
evils Of the bootlegger. The dis
penSary system, he fears, would
lead to "abuses and corruption
In the Government service"
Setting up the Government in
Siae liquor business is another
point on which the Massachu-
sets Senator takes issue. He is
opposed to placing the Govern
ment in any business, particu-
sArly the liquor business.
The Senate District Committee
has several members who are
strongly committed to the license
Aystem, including Senator Pat
McCarran CD of Nevada. who
believes that temperance will be
Rurthered by the sale of liquor in
private business establishments.
BY adoption Of the license sys-
6em, the Senator believes, liquor
will be made more easily avail
able to the public, with the re-
@llt that the craving" for liquor
will be minimized.
Senator Royal s. Copeland (D)
Of New York, veteran member of
the District Committee, also is in
favor Of the license system, as
are Senators Robert R. Reynolds
Cd of North Carolina, James j.
Davis (R.) of Pennsylvania, and
Warren R. Austin (R0 Of Ver-
mont.
Women Support Bill
The District of Columbia Wom-
ems Organization for Liquor Con-
troll, an outgrowth Of the Wom-
ems Organization for National
Prohibition Reform, is waging
vigorous campaign for adoption
Of the system for private sale.
The organization, which repre-
Gents several hundred outstanding
women leaders of Washington,
raised it's objections to the dis
pensary system at the recent
joint hearings of the Senate and
House District Committees.
Their spokesman, Miss Eliza
beth c. Harris, vice chairman Of
the organization and q prominent
local attorney, made the follow
ing statement at that time:
"The diSpensary SySte
would bring the bOOtlegger into
powerful competition with the
Government. We feel that al
though it is essential to prevent
return Of the saloon, it is equal
" as important to eliminate the
bOOtlegger.
Have One Vote Margin
with the private license block
IN the Senate District Committee
considering the local liquor con.
troll measure holding a potential
one vote margin over the sup
porters of the Government dis
pensary system, that body is ex-
pected to make a final decision
today on the type of measure it
will recommend to the Senate.
OF the IS members of the com.
naittee, which yesterday found it.
self in a tie in the private license
versus diSpenSary system contro-
versy due to the absence Of some
members, eight are understood to
favor the private license method.
If the vote in committee is as
anticipated, the bill the Senate
committee will report to the Sen
ate will be substantially the same
rs the measure which came to it
from the House and speedy Sen
ete approval Is believed assured.
Vigorous Battle Likely
II some Of the supporters Of
the House bill are absent when
the final vote is taken or any Of
those who indicated they will
support the House measure
change over and the dispensary
system wins the committee ap-
proval, it is predicted a vigorous
battle will take place in the
Senate and final enactment Of
q. District control measure would
be delayed materially.
SOn the basis of the tie vote in
committee yesterday, it was
agreed among the members that
they would go ahead with the
House bill and make such amend
ments as desired and then vote
On the major issue of the theory
Of the system.