Evening star., 1940-03-07
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

ny JhMLS 4. ChlNN.
Prohibition of the sale of beer
and wine on Sunday and return OF
the old-time saloon where a man
can stand up and drink was advo-
Gated today by Maj. Ernest w.
Brown, superintendent of police,
principal witness before a special
House committee investigating the
District liquor situation.
The police chief also suggested
that class A dealers-those that
sell liquor by the bottle-be forced
to close at pm. instead of IA
midnight, and that drug stores sell.
ing liquor be restricted to sales on
prescriptions.
When liquor was legalized after
prohibition, Maj Brown pointed out,
drinking was restricted to those
seated at tables in an effort to pre-
vent return of the old saloon evils.
Backward Step Seen.
ut was step backward" he de-
clared. When drinkers stand up
they can better feel when they ap-
proach intoxication and others can
better judge whether they are
drunk. After the restriction on the
number of bars prior to prohibition,
the saloons were kept orderly and
enforcement was simpler than it Is
now"
Maj. Brown advocated the 9
o'clock closing of stores that sell
liquor by the bottle on the ground
such places cause the police depart
ment considerable concern" at late
hours because of the receipts in
their cash registers.
There is no particular reason
why these places should be kept
open after o'clock, except perhaps
on Saturday night" he declared.
Maj. Brown was particularly crit
ical of the so-called combination
stores'-stores that sell liquor as
Sideline. He said such places offer
a temptation" to customers and
also might influence" the dealer
to sell liquor on Sundays.
"It's bad combination" he said.
"The temptation should be re-
moved, and it would not inflict any
hardship on the public"
Says Situation Not Improved.
Maj. Brown indicated that places
in which liquor is sold by the drink
require more police attention than
any other establishments.
That's where you get your drunks
and sales to minors" he said.
The police chief proposed the re-
turn of the old-time saloon in re.
sponse to request by Representa-
tive Hunter, Democrat, of Ohio for
a comparison of liquor conditions
today with those in the pre-pro-
hibition era
'The time saloon was regard
ed as a menace to society,"" he de-
clared. New conditions have not
improved the situation a bit. I
believe we had better observance Of
the law in the old days"
Closing Hours Discussed.
Maj. Brown said he is opposed to
the sale of beer and wine in hotels
and restaurants on Sunday because
you can get just as drunk on beer
and wine as on hard liquor"
He also declared it is mot good
business" to allow hotels and restau-
rants to open their bars for two
hours from midnight Sunday until
2 am. Monday.
Il would rater see the bars re-
main open until am. Sunday than
to have them open at IL o'clock
Sunday night" he added. existing
law requires bars in hotels and res.
taurants to close at midnight Satur-
day, although they are allowed to
remain open until 2 am. on other
days)
Subsequently he expressed the
opinion there would not be much
objection to 2 am. Sunday closing
OF bars in hotels and restaurants.
Mr.. Hunter asked Maj. Brown II
ne would advocate IL o'clock clos
ing of bars every night. He replied
that personally he felt that II
O'Clock is the proper time" for any
liquor place to close, but pointed
out that I'VE are living in a differ
ent age"
Conditions have changed since
the old days." he declared. Many
people feel that am. is not a
late hour to be up. People used
(See LIQUOR, Page A-15l