Evening star., 1940-05-24
$4,000 D. {.
Liquor Study
Recommended
Tentative Report Of
Subcommittee Asks
Tighter Regulation
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

By JAMES E. CHINN.
An appropriation Of $4,000 for a
comprehensive study Of the liquor
situation in Washington is recon-
mended in the tentative report Of
the subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee which recently COM
pleted an investigation of the liquor
control situation here.
The report, covering % pages,
makes a number of other recon-
mendations, most of which are de-
signed to tighten liquor enforce
ment regulations in the District.
1t was written by Representative
Eberharter, Democrat, of Pennsyl-
vania, chairman of the special SUBJ
committee.
Mr.. Eberharter's report is tenta-
tive and his recommendations may
be changed before the other mem
bers OF the subcommittee pass on it.
Criticizes Chairman.
The Eberharter report, at the out
set, criticizes the chairman of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
whose name is not mentioned in the
report. Thomas E. Lodge is chair.
man of the board.
1t is charged in the report that
witnesses before the subcommittee
which investigated the liquor situa-
ton accused Mr.. Lodge of being
arbitrary, capricious. and lacking
the restraint which is so desirable
in an official occupying quasi
judicial position"
The report stresses that Washing
ton should have ''the best system
and administration of control" of
the troublesome problem" OF the
sale Of liquor.
Another paragraph suggests that
the $4,000 for the investigation
should be taken out of the revenue
OF the A. B. C. Board and points
out that this fund would constitute
only relatively nominal invest
ment."
There are number of recon-
mendations in the report.
Outstanding among the recon-
mendations are:
l. That residents Of Washington
be given the privilege of determin-
ing by popular vote where a liquor
license should be issued.
2. That the sales of liquor be re-
stricted to adults only.
Newspaper Ads Attacked.
3. Attacks newspaper advertising
which might induce young people to
drink.
4. That restaurants and night
clubs that sell liquor by the drink
be permitted to keep open until 2
am. Sunday. Existing laws require
that these places close their bars at
midnight.
5. That stores selling liquor by the
bottle be drastically reduced.
The report declared there are
obvious defects in both the law and
its administration"
The proposal of Maj Ernest w.
Brown, superintendent of Metropoli-
tan Police Department, during the
recent hearings on the liquor situa-
ton, that drinkers be permitted to
stand up instead of sitting down,
was Endorsed in the report. It de-
clared that sitting while drinking
adds nothing towards sobriety."
Fewer Stores Suggested.
1t was suggested that there be a
sharp curtailment in the number of
liquor stores in Washington. There
are now 400 stores where liquor may
be purchased by the bottle.
Relative to the suggestion that
restaurants, hotels and night clubs
be permitted to sell liquor by the
drink until 2 am. Sunday, the re-
port declared this change would not
create ian additional objectional or
social problem"
The report indicates that intoxica-
ton among minors is on the in
crease and recommends that steps
should be taken to keep liquor from
being so easily accessible to children.
1t was said that the Police Depart
ment in the last fiscal year made
23O arrests for intoxication of bows
and girls between II and 81 years
old.
No Dispensary Recommendations.
There are no definite recommeri-
dations in the report with respect
to proposals that a dispensary sys-
tenn be established in Washington
for the sale of liquor by the bottle,
The Eberharter report did not
make direct reference to the action
OF the A. B. c. Board in issuing a
license to Leo j. Rossiter or Ralph
A. Lee to sell liquor by the drink,
But 1t cited action of the board
In granting license to an applicant,
who had rather recently become
resident of Washington, while
another applicant in the same area.
who had been Washingtonian and
businessman practically all of his
life. is still awaiting action on his
application"
The A. B. C. Board issued the
permits to Mr.. Rossiter and Mr.. Lee
shortly after Mr.. Eberharter's sub
committee began its investigation
OF the District liquor situat; IN.
The report hits at the telephone
delivery system used by a number
OF retail liquor stores and indicates
that by this method children are
able to purchase liquor. It declares
the ease with which liquor pur-
chaSes are obtained encourages
rather than discourages the use of
intoxicants