Evening star., 1938-03-06

There are still 400 "a" places, with no in
dication Of any early cut to 300-or any,
thing like 300.
Last year. as an experiment, the Commits
sioners also limited the number Of &C"
licenses to 800, counting restaurants, but
not hotels, clubs, railroad cars or marine
vessels, fixing $50 as the limit for 3D.
licenses, for beer and light wine "on-sale"
places. These limitations have been
dropped. It was found that dealers going
out Of business were asking fancy prices
for their permits. Since February l the
board has issued 34l &C" permits and 367
ID" licenses. Ali told, there were 1948
licensed establishments at the end of Janu-
ary.
Record Of Punishment.
How tough Is the board on violators?
It issued 1877 citations in the past license
year. Among these were 81 charges Of
excessive credit, 81 for sale of intoxicated
persons: IL for permitting disorderly con-
Duct for employing minors and S for per-
mitting gaming. In these 1877 citations
there were 1877 dispositions recorded. Per-
mits were suspended in II instances, warn
ings were issued in IS cases and permits
were revoked. Charges were dismissed
against "a, in Is instances dealers were
permitted to transfer their permits to
others, 8 dealers were placed under special
conditions, surrendered their licenses,
permit was Cancelled, another permitted to
expire, in one there was no action and in
one other the 1898 application was denied.
Interference by members Of Congress or
Federal officials in pending decisions has
embarrassed the board a number Of times.
One notable case: The board revoked
permit because the licensee had violated a
sworn statement, made in applying for
the permit A member Of Congress raised
such rumpus the Commissioners had the
permit restored.
Another case: Permits had been denied
to places near Walter Reed Hospital be-
cause Of objections by hospital officials.
One applicant got his plea to the War
Department and Secretary Woodring over
ruled the hospital protest. The board
issued that permit on the ground there
no longer was an official objection.
In numerous instances members of
Congress have Endorsed applications, but
the known record does not reveal any
large number Of cases where pressure"
was exerted.
Policy on Proximity to Schools.
On the other hand, from the first the
board has followed the general policy of
accepting the views of the Board Of Edu-
cation or the official spokesman for paro-
chial schools on applications for places
within 400 feet of schools. Eighteen of
forty-6ve applications denied the first year
were because of proximity to schools.
As neighborhoods came more "ade-
quately" serviced, the board has denied
more applications because of the wishes
of the neighborhood' There were Is
such instances in the past year. Then
there were IL others denied for being for
inappropriate" location, and 18 were re-
jected because places for which permits
were sought did not have proper toilet
facilities. Only one was denied last year
specifically because Of school protest.
One Of the major changes in the orig
inal control plan was to permit the mixing
Of drinks at bars within sight Of customers
in the on-sale places. Critics Of the
change insist it has accomplished no good,
and champions Of the change insist 1t has
done no harm.
Recently there was concerted effort in
the House District Committee to permit
the sale of hard liquor until am. Sun
days, now halted at midnight. The plan
was killed, at least for this session, after
Representative Wood, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, declared:
II am not prohibitionist-if were.
would be in favor of this change. II we
are to keep on edging into the closing hour
regulations, We will bring prohibition back.
We ought to tighten up the law and regu.
la*ions rather than loosen them."