Evening star., 1940-03-03
implications, although the factors
underlying 1t are essentially local.
Genuine Concern Felt.

lmpucaClOnS, 0lCnOugn the 1acCOrS
underlying 1t are essentially local.
Genuine Concern Felt.
Discussion Of the District liquor
problem with spokesmen for the in
dustry and the public dicloses a
genuine concern over the local liq-
uor conditions. The industry ap-
pears greatly concerned over the
threat of publicly-a administers
system Of dispensaries or stores for
the sale Of packaged liquor and
wine. Civic and church groups, on
the other hand, are taking a deter
mined position against the alleged
abuses Of the current situation. The
Washington Federation of Churches,
In January, by q unanimous resolu-
ton asked THE Commissioners to
recommend to Congress the abol;-
ton of the private license system
and substitution of thes dispensary
system under municipal control.
Analysis of the complaints about
liquor conditions here shows they
originate from four main sources:
Cd the citizens associations, (2) the
churches, 90 the schools, and, a.
various classes of liquor licensees,
mostly retailers Of packaged goods
and wholesalers.
These complaints generally fall
into categories, Cd those rejecting
public reaction against unwhole-
some conditions as observed or ex-
perienced at the point of contact
between the liquor business and the
public. and ca practices within the
trade itself which. in provoking un-
desirable conditions among the
dealers, precipitate adverse public
reaction.
= Included within the first category
are the following: sales to minors
and to drunkards through telephone
delivery service. licensing of liquor
outlets in essentially residential
areas, licensing of an excessive
number OF outlets. permitting sales
too close to churches and schools,
blatant liquor advertising signs, use
of advertising handbills, public in
toxication and unwise hours of sale.
Unhealthy Dealer Conditions.
Practices within the trade itself
which ultimately incur public reac-
ton because of the unhealthy
conditions they tend to create
among dealers include the ship
ment by distillers of unordered
goods to wholesalers and accom-
panying "high-pressure" selling cam
paigns, with varying price deals"
among retailers. Wholesalers COM
plain against the distillers' methods,
and the retailers who are unable
to take advantage of quantity -pur-
chase discounts complain to the
wholesalers. The disadvantage of
the small dealer, it is said, tempts
him to "cut corners" on the laws
and regulations In order to survive
the competitive pressure. Operators
Of exclusive liquor stores complain
of Sunday sales and sales ION the
book" in violation of the anti-credit
rule by licensees operating groceries
and delicatessen stores.
A feature of the local situation
which provokes public opposition
and. on occasion, protests from COM
petitors, is the indiscriminate trans
fer of licenses from person to per-
son, premise to premise, and from
one locality or section of the city
to another. This situation, which
will be dealt with in detail in a
later article, warrants the closest
scrutiny. 1t is the merry-go-round
which has maintained the number
Of package stores at 400 despite the
announced policy Of the. Commis-
sioners, Of March II, 1896, limiting