Evening star., 1940-03-05

existing system OF prlVate-ncen
While the situation involves a.
combination of factors, the primary
responsibility is placed by some
critics upon the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board; secondarily, upon the
Commissioners; and, thirdly, upon a
small group of Congressman who
have intervened in board affairs.
A considerable share of the re-
sponsibility rests with the alcoholic
beverage industry itself-in all its
branches. The conditions within
the industry, to large degree, how
ever, simply reflect the lack of a
consistently firm administrative pol
icy in the board.
Credit should be given individual
and group opinions among all classes
of responsible licensees for the real
ization, frequently expressed, that
continuation unchecked of the pres
ent trends will only accelerate the
public'S retribution-b -banishment.
The Role of Patronage.
Patronage undoubtedly plays a
large part in selecting the subordi-
nate personnel of the liquor board.
Patronage, for instance. is the log
ical explanation for the appointment
of William w. Dent of Collins, Miss,
as an assistant corporation counsel
assigned to the board. Mr.. Dent is
not a member of the District bar at
present. His application for ad-
mission to practice before the local
courts is now pending before the
Committee on Admissions.
Mr.. Dent is considered an able
young man. But the filing of this
key post by a newcomer to the city
who has little or no familiarity with
its liquor-control problem, much less
of its laws, is in some quarters re.
garded as typical of liquor control"
efficiency.
Also. the assignment of Mr.. Dent,
who comes from State in which
the sale of beer and light wine only
are permitted, makes the fifth or
sixth" person (the board has lost
county to be assigned to the A. B. C.
Board by the corporation counsel's
Office in the past six years. Mr..
Dent, who is % years of age and u
graduate of the University of Mis-
sissippi, succeeded Edward M. We'll
liver, resigned.
Requirements of Act Not Met.
The new A. B. G. Board attorney
was admitted to practice in Mis-
slssippi in June, 1884, where he was
associated with his fathers law
ONCE. Mr.. Dent states he has been
in the District about six months. +"
The A. B. G. Act requires that board
members be bona f1de residents of
the District for three years previous
to their appointment. The Allen
plan for the reorganization of the
District government, section 400,
provides that "only citizens of the
United States, who for a period of
three years or more Immediately
prior to the date Of application for
appointment Cor for examination)
have been actually bona fide resi-
dents of the District of Columbia
shall be eligible for appointment
under the terms Of this title to any
position in the District government
: ="
This residential clause, of course,
does not affect corporation counsel
assistants or other subordinate per-
sonnel.
According to Judge Ralph Given,
secretary to the Committee on Ad-
missions, Mr.. Dent Is very well rec
commended. Inquiry at the ofice Of
Representative Ross Collins of Mis-
sissippi, former chairman of the
Subcommittee Of the House Appro-
priations Committee in charge of
District appropriations, elected the
opinion that Mr.. Dent is a brilliant
person and an excellent attorney.
To be admitted to practice here on
motion without examination) an
attorney must have been for five
years 4 member Of the bar Of the