Evening star., 1935-02-16
Strengthening Liquor Control.

After almost years trial under
the Districts liquor-control law. the
tendency of the Alcoholic Beverage
Board and of the Commissioners, as
exemplified in their proposed amend
ments to the law, is to strengthen
rather than weaken the regulations as
they now exist. The amendments
would prohibit the practice followed
In some establishments OF selling
enough drinks just before the hour OF
closing to last patrons through the
dry interval which follows two O'Clock
in the morning; would add sitter
penalties for those convicted Of in
toxication in public places, and would
enable the A. B. c. Board to suspend
licenses for some offenses rather than
resort to the more drastic procedure
of revocation of license or prosecution
in Police Court.
These amendments are desirable in
strict enforcement of the law and in
attempted remedy of some of the evils
experienced under the law. The prac-
tice, for instance, of selling several
drinks to patrons at two o'clock a m. so
they may continue drinking after the
legal hour of sale has passed may not
be particularly dangerous or vicious
in itself But it represents evasion
of the law, and once such loopholes
for evasion are established by Gus
tom the law itself becomes practically
meaningless. Where the law reveals
its weaknesses they should be re-
moved by proper amendment.
The power of the liquor board to
suspend licenses, without appeal to
the Commissioners. would undoubt
edly strengthen the hand Of the
board in dealing with class of Of
tenders whose violations may not be
regarded as serious enough to war
rant revocation of licenses-revoca-
ton in some cases amounting to fore
ing the licensees out of business. 1t is
from every standpoint desirable that
in imposing penalties on the basis Of
fact the board be given power to act
quickly and in a manner that will
make its decisions Immediately effec-
tive. With the knowledge that Of
fense under the law may bring sus-
pension of his license for thirty days,
the licensee will be more jealous in
conforming to the letter of the regu-
lations.
Amendments to the law proposed
by Representative Dirksen of Illi-
nois also deserve serious considera-
ton. Mr.. Dirksen would impose a
limitation on the number of "Class A"
license holders in the District that
would, in effect, confine the number
to less than $50. There are now 394
holders of this type of license-which
permits the "off-sale" of any kind Of
intoxicants. And this is the only class
of licenses which has shown an in
crease in the past year. The con-
centration of liquor stores in some
sections of the city, and the number
that now exist, suggest the advisability
Of limiting the total.
Another amendment proposed by
Mr.. Dirksen would abolish the hidden
bar" for mixing drinks-a develop
ment under the new control law that
has evoked much criticism. The
purpose Of the regulation requiring
drinks to be mixed out Of sight of the
customer was presumably to prevent
the return Of the old saloon. The
President, in proclaining the adoption
Of the repeal amendment, asked that
mo State shall by law or otherwise
authorize the return Of the saloon
either in its old form or in some
modern guise." Prevention of the re-
turn of the saloon should remain
the objective, with or without hidden
bars"