Evening star., 1936-12-29
CONGRESS ACTION
SEEN ON MODIFIED
D. c. LIQUOR BILL
Dirksen Likely to Press
Measure Despite Stand
of Commission.
BELIEVES SUNDAY BAN
THWARTS TEMPERANCE
Illinois Representative, However
May Drop Fight for All.Day
Sabbath Sale.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Although the Dirksen bill designed
to nberalize the liquor control act to
permit sale Of hard beverages by the
drink on Sunday Is expected to be
stricken from the legislative program
Of the Commissioners, the measure in
q modified form probably will be re-
introduced at the coming session of
Congress.
The Dirksen bill in its present form
specifically provides for legalized sale
of liquor by the drink in hotels, res
taurants, clubs and other licensed on
sale establishments from midnight
Saturday to 2 am. Sunday and from I
pm. to midnight on Sunday.
1t is reported that Representative
Dirksen, Republican, Of Illinois. is
willing to drop his fight to permit the
sale of liquor on Sunday from l pm.
to midnight but will continue to bat
tie for legislation allowing liquor to
be sold until 2 am. Sunday. The
Saturday night deadline on liquor
sales by the drink has been particu-
larly obnoxious to him because, he
says, he believes it is not conducive
to temperance.
Cites Late Parties.
Repeatedly Dirksen has argued that
the people OF Washington who fire.
quent night clubs and hotel dances
and parties do not start out until about
10 pm. on Saturday, and because of
the IL O'Clock closing order, either
drink too rapidly or else purchase q
bottle of liquor for consumption after
the bars are shut down. In eithar
case, he has pointed out, drinking frs-
quently goes beyond the stage of mod
Grafton.
The liquor dealers themselves are
Of the same opinion, according to in
formation given the Commissioners at
public hearing yesterday, but vir-
tually all of them are opposed to the
sale on Sunday from l pm. to mid
night.
Hazen Opposes Change.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen,
however, Is not in favor of liberaliza-
ton OF the existing law.
II am opposed to the Dirksen bill,"
he declared. "Of course, I cannot
speak officially for my colleagues on
the Board of Commissioners. How
ever. am confident the bill will not
be sent to Congress with the indorse-
ment of the District government"
Commissioner Hazen made his state
ment after more than score of reform
and church leaders vigorously opposed
Dirksen's bill at the public hearing.
Representatives of these groups argued
that any liberalization Of the present
law would constitute an invasion Of the
home. the church and public recrea-
tional places on Sunday.
10 Other Bills Scheduled.
Ten other bills on the legislative pro-
gram Of the Commissioners. which
were considered during the hearing,
are to be sert Congress. These meas
ures provide:
Tightening of existing gambling
laws to control the so-called numbers
racket" survey to determine the
feasibility of subways, establishment of
q hospital farm for treatment of habit
ual drunkards. regulation of the quali-
1cation of lawyers. further regulation
Of the sale and manufacture of mar
cotics and the sale of the District
Building and two squares Of the Mu-
nicipal Center site.
Commissioner Hazen estimates the
District can raise about $4,000, 900
through the sale of the District Build
ing and half Of the Municipal Center
site. These funds would be Used to
erect new District Building on the
north half Of the Municipal Center
site facing the District Courts Build
ing.