Evening star., 1935-04-03
hidden BAR" BAN
BILL APPROVED BY
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Dirksen Measure, FavorabIy
Reported, Would Make
Beverages Visible.
INCREASE OF 141 MEN
FOR POLICE FAVORED
Group Assents Also to Bill Max.
ing Utilities Body Value
Arbiter.

The Dirksen bill, designed primarily
to abolish Washington's so-called hid
den bars was tavorably reported to-
Gay by the House District Committee.
A bill making the Public Utilities
Commission the final arbiter in ques-
tions of fact in valuation proceedings
and rate cases also was favorably re-
ported In addition. the committee
approved the preliminary partial re-
port of the Special Crime Investigat-
ing Committee recommending an in
crease of 14l in the personnel of the
Metropolitan Police Department.
Aside from aboliShing hidden bars,
the Dirksen bill as reported carries an
amendment which. it was developed,
would close on Sunday all delicates-
sens and drug stores which hold Glass
B off-sale liquor licenses. The meas
IRE also gives the Commissioners au-
thority to limit Class A retailers of
bottled liquors, one to each l,500 resi-
dents.
Full View Is Demanded.
The provisions abolishing the hid
den bars" reads: "All alcoholic bev-
erages offered for sale or sold by the
holder of such license shall be dis
played and dispensed in full sight of
the purchaser.
The public utilities bill. drafted by
William A. Roberts, peoples counsel
would change the procedure in cases
appealed from the commission to the
District Supreme Court. As a result
of an appeal from the commission to
the court, the action of the court
would constitute a judicial review
which is to say, the court would not
receive any further evidence, but
would consider only the records made
before the commission.
The Crime Committees report was
approved at the request of Chairman
Randolph, who explained a special
consideration had been given the Po-
lice Department because of the urgent
need Of an increase in the force.
Failure Of the House to provide the
additional officers when the 1886
District supply bill was under con-
sideration led to a discussion of the
need for change in the makeup of
the Appropriations Committee to give
the District better representation.
Would Add Member.
Representative Palmisano, Demo-
crat, Of Maryland, acting chairman in
the absence of Representative Norton
said he believed the chairman of the
District Legislative Committee of the
House should be an ex-of1cio member
of the Appropriations Committee.
Representative Ellenbogen, Democrat,
OF Pennsylvania, said either that
should be done or else the Legislative
Committee itself should be empowered
to handle the District supply bill.
In connection with the crime report
Randolph made public letters he re-
ceived from George w. Offutt, chair
man of the District Alcohol Beverage
Control Board, and j. Lewis Goldman
of the Boy Scouts. Offutt indorsed
the Crime Committees actions in rec
ommending an increase in police per-
sonnel, while Goldman said the Troop
COMMITTEE had gone on record as op-
posed to the reported statement of
Police Inspector Albert j. Headley that
the Eleventh precinct was third
class"
Offutt declared the Crime Commit
tees action would materially aid the
A. B. c. board in its work "and in
addition would bring about a far
better enforcement of the laws and
regulations in the District of Co.
lumbia''
''As a citizen of Washington" he
added. Il want to thank you for the
kind and generous consideration that
you have given to the ills of this city
and feel that we are in good hands"
Gelbman said the Boy Scout Troop
Committee had the highest regard for
the personnel and officers of the
eleventh precinct and believed that
with a different supervising inspector
this precinct need never be called
third class again"
I'VE fully believe" Goldman said,
that all records will show that the
eleventh precinct is freer from cor
ruption, vice and crime than many
other precincts in the city"