Evening star., 1940-06-11
Liquor Report
Asks Thorouqh
D. {. Study
Subcommittee Notes
Abuses, Hits Mildly
At Commissioners
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

alleged "abuses" in the enforcement
OF the liquor control law.
The report, covering 10 typewrit-
ten pages, was submitted by the
special subcommittee of the District
Committee. which recently COM
pleted an investigation of the liquor
situation here. The recommended
tions are virtually the same as
those contained in the subcom-
mlttee's tentative report, which we're
printed exclusively in The Star
several weeks ago.
The tentative draft of the report
suggested that Congress appropriate
$4,000 for further inquiry into
the District liquor situation. The
final report, however. which was
signed by all five members of the
subcommittee, said the liquor ques-
ton is so broad and so important
In scope 1t warrants the expendi.
ture of sufficient funds for the pur-
pose of making a thorough and
searching study and investigation,
with the view Of ultimately deter.
mining for the District of Columbia
such a system of control of this
admittedly troublesome problem as
would properly benefit the Nations
Capital"
Notes Certain Abuses"
The subcommittee said it believes
that while the manufacture. the
sale and distribution of liquor in
the District is being controlled "in
a reasonably effective way, it is
not unmindful of the fact that GER
tain abuses do exist which should
be corrected insofar as legisla-
lively administratively possible"
1T appreciates also" the report
continues, that if fragrant abuses
should develop and exist in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia. there will be
many serious minded citizens who
will take up the matter in behalf
OF an effort to restore prohibition
to the District. The committee,
therefore, proposes the recommen-
| datlons herein contained in the hope
| that existing abuses will be curbed
and eliminated by the board CA. B.
c. Board and by the Commits
sloners under the authority which
they now possess and expresses the
hope that Congress will continue
to deal with this matter to bring
about system of control and en-
forcement OF laws and regulations
| relating to the manufacture, the
distribution and sale of alcoholic
beverages which will be as nearly
acceptable as possible.
The subcommittee failed to make
any definite recommendation on
the proposal made during its public
hearing that dispensary system
be substituted. The report cited
the arguments of both the propo-
nents and opponents of such a
plan, but did not make a definite
recommendation on the subject. It
pointed out, however that if the
dispensary system operated here, it
would result in bringing to the mu.
nicipal government at least $780,.
900 year in additional revenue.
One of the recommendation
made by the subcommittee was that
liquor licensees whose permits are
suspended, or revoked. by the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board shall
have the right of appealing to the
United States Court for the Dis
trict. The subcommittee said such
an appeal should be tried de no vo.
Takes Up Sale to Minors.
Many complaints were made to
the subcommittee during it's inves-
tigation about the ease with which
minors procured liquor by the tele-
| phone delivery system. In this re-
spect the subcommittee said in its
report:
mo real evidence, however, was
presented to the committee indicat-
ing any fragrant abuses in this
direction"
AS for the ''injudicious advertising
and undue display of advertising
signs with respect to liquor, the
subcommittee suggested such a plan
stimulates competition"
THE committee recommends"
declared the report, "that the A, B.
c. Board take immediate steps to
curb false and misleading adver-
tising practices, particularly as they
relate to prices, and further recon-
mends that provision be made for
the supervision and revocation of
licenses where such regulations are
violated. The committee believes
that the elimination of false and
misleading advertising, as it relates
to prices, may serve to moderate the
evils which now spring from price
competition"
Considers Ban on Price Ads.
And further the subcommittee
added that:
1T may even be advisable entirely
to prohibit advertising of liquor
prices, but the subcommittee be-
lieves this matter requires further
study"
No definite recommendations are
made by the subcommittee as to
the hours for the closing of stores
that sell liquor by the bottle, or
the bars that sell liquor by the
drink. A suggestion is made in
the report. however, that it seems
Illogical that liquor is sold by the
drink between IL o'clock midnight
Sunday and 2 am. Monday and
not between IL o'clock midnight
Saturday and am. Sunday.
The subcommittee devotes brief
paragraph in its report to the COM
plants made to it with respect to
the sale of liquor to minors. In
answer to these complaints the sub
committee said: while there was
some testimony before the commit
tee to the effect that it was possible
for minors to procure alcoholic bev-
erages in the District, there was no
direct evidence showing fragrant
abuses in this connection.
This problem should continue to
receive sustained attention in the
hope that all abuses in connection
with the sales to minors will be
eliminated or curbed.
THE committee wishes to empha-