Evening star., 1935-03-01
TOWNS WILL SEEK
LOCAL OPTION LAW
Prince Georges Municipal
Officers Map Amendment
to Liquor Act.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HYATTsVILLE, Md, March l.
Definite steps looking to an amend
ment to the county liquor law CIV
ing incorporated towns local option,
were taken by the Prince Georges Mu-
nicipal Officers Association here last
night. Representatives of eight towns
were present. The association also
decided to call on the County Com
missioners to appoint constables with
out delay.
1t was voted to seek to have stricken
from the proposed bill authorizing the
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
to establish dumps in the
sanitary district the clause which
would require automobile "graveyards"
to get permits from the commission.
Instead. it was decided the bill should
prohibit the abandoning of automo-
biles or other vehicles.
Would Vote on Liquor.
After long discussion, it was voted
almost unanimously to have the Legis-
lative Committee of the association
consider for presentation to the Legis-
lature bill which would prohibit
the County Liquor Board from grant,
ing additional licenses, except off-sale
beer or wine. in any incorporated
town in the county until such license
shall have been approved in a refer
endum vote Of the town. The bill
also would prohibit the Liquor Board
from renewing the license of any
dealer whose continuance in business
is not favored bysa majority of voters
in a town referendum
1t was agreed that only one refer
endum would be held by each town
to determine its policy. The referen-
dunn. it was decided, should be broad
enough to cover the question of addi-
tional licenses of all sorts and whether
the voters favor or oppose the re-
newal Of present licenses. The bill
will be prepared by the legislative
Committee but will not be submitted
to the Legislature until it has been
approved by the Municipal Officers
Association.
Board Considers Opinion.
DR.. H. T. Willis, mayor of Hyatts-
Vile. and others agreed that the
County Liquor Board had so far re-
spected the wishes of people affected
in granting licenses. But. DR.. Willis
pointed out, this had been done as
matter Of courtesy and the board was
to issue any kind of a
license for any locality at any time.
While the present board was not ex-
pected to deviate from the policy that
had been followed. there was always
the possibility of licenses being issued
in dry localities, DR.. Willis added.
1t was after Mayor Fred w. Cast
OF Cheverly told of a wave Of house.
breakings within the last few days in
Cheverly that the association voted to
call upon the county commissioners to
appoint constables without delay. The
belief was expressed that the present
county police force of IL was made
ouate Mr. Dolby told the meeting
the commissioners were ignoring the
law in their failure to appoint con-
stables. He said the 1888 legislature
had passed measure reducing the
number of constables to be named by
the commissioners for each election
district from two to one and the State
constitution provided that all con-
stable vacancies must be filled.
Opinion Divided.
In connection with the automobile
graveyard" section Of the proposed
dumping bill, several expressed the
view that the Sanitary Commission
might not be able properly to handle
this problem and that the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission was the body which
should control it.
D. L. Grantham, town commissioner
of Cottage City. and temporary presi-
dent Of the association, conducted the
meeting 1t was announced permanent
officers would be elected at the next
session. DR.. Willis suggested that
former town officials also should be
admitted to membership in the as
sociation. Decision was postponed
until the next meeting.
Towns represented last night were
Mount Rainier. Brentwood, Cottage
City, North Brentwood, Colmar Manor.
Berwyn Heights, Cheverly and Hyatts-
vile.