Evening star., 1940-03-06
Wide Violation
OF D. {. Liquor
Law Charged
Sales to Minors
And on Sundays
Alleged by Hunter
BACKGROUND

The House District Committee
ordered a subcommittee to in
uestigdte the liquor situation in
Washington after the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board failed to
issue t1Do liquor licenses. The sub
committee has heard testimony
on an "ofcr" OF aid in getting a
liquor license and that the board
handles licenses by rule of tear."
The District Committee Monday
refused to halt the investigation.
Charges that there have been
wholesale" violations of the Dis
trict liquor control law-sales after
hours, sales to minors and even sales
on Sunday-were made today by
Representative Hunter, Democrat,
of Ohio, member of the special
House committee investigating the
liquor situation here.
Representative Hunter hurled his
accusations at Franklin G. Sartwell,
former Washington newspaper re-
porter and now public relations
counsel for the Alcoholic Beverage
Council while he was testifying in
defense of the liquor industry.
In the last 80 days I have seen
deliveries made on Sundays by IA
year-old boys and have personally
witnessed sales to Minors" declared
Mr.. Hunter. II take the position
there are wholesale violations in the
District"
Data Given Authorities.
Mr.. Sartwell said he did not be-
lieve conditions are as bad as paint
ed by Representative Hunter. and
suggested that if he had such in
formation 1t should be turned over
to the proper authorities.
Il have already presented some of
my information to the proper au-
thorities,' retorted Representative
Hunter.
Mr.. Sartwell insisted the liquor
industry as a whole is conducting
business in an orderly, legal manner,
and pointed out there is fear" on
the part of all licensees that they
might violate the law. Such a con-
dition, he declared, prevents whole
sale violations.
Il can't see how these statements
persist without anything to back
them up he. added.
Go into the outlying sections on
Sundays If you want to see it." said
Representative Hunter. Phone a
nalf dozen liquor dealers on Sun
day."
Il haven't tried it." replied Mr..
Sartwell. "but don't believe you can
get liquqor ON Sundays. Il don't
believe a dealer would take that
chance"
Explains Councils Objectives.
Mr.. Sartwell explained that the
Alcohol Beverage Council, composed
of all classes of liquor dealers, had
recommended increased penalties
for liquor law violations. He said
the council wanted the Commits
sioners and the Alcohol Beverage
Control Board to invoke the general
penalty clause instead of merely
,suspending or revoking licenses.
This clause, he said, provides as
a maximum penalty a fine of 5000
or imprisonment of one year.
Mr.. Sartwen said the council was
organized to improve conditions in
the liquor industry and to promote
better feeling"
He also declared the investigating
committee had not yet produced
anything" that reflects discredit on
the industry.
There is a conscientious effort
on the part of all classes of liquor
dealers to obey the law" he said.
There are some features of the
law, however, that are unfair and
unjust"
AS to the testimony of previous
witness that sales to minors are not
controlled, Mr.. Sartwell admitted
there had been a few" cases, and
added, he held mo brief" for any
one who sold liquor to a child.
Mr.. Sartwell said he regretted"
that some of the previous witnesses
had charged that rookie cops" as
signed as inspectors for the A. B. c..
Board had been overzealous in their
efforts to make arrests.
by and large" he declared,
these inspectors are doing a con-
scientious piece of work"
Later Mr.. SartWell said there had
(See LIQUOR, Page A-30