Evening star., 1940-02-10
2-to-1 Vote Renews
Rossiter' 'sCIassC T.
Liquor License
Meredith, New Boord
Member, Points to
Approval Lost Year

The Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board yesterday granted Leo j. Ros-
sitter a renewal of his class c liquor
license at his sea food restaurant in
the 41O0 block of Georgia avenue
NV
Decision on the renewal hinged
on the vote of William Payne Mere
dith, newly appointed member of
the board, for whose benefit special
hearings were held. The situation
was created when the application
for a renewal came up, with Mrs.
Agnes K. Mason voting for it, Chair
man Thomas E. Lodge voting against
and Mr.. Meredith's predecessor,
Isaac Cans. absent because of ILL
ness Mr.. Cans died Sunday. Cor
poration Counsel ElWood H. Seal
held that Mr.. Meredith could not
vote on the hearings which Mr..
Cans sat in on
In casting his vote for the appli-
cant Mr. Meredith said his decision
might have been different if the
licensee was applying for the first
time but pointed out that the board
had issued Mr.. Rossiter permit
last year. 4
Sees No Change in Sentiment.
This board in 1889 found the
sentiment of the neighborhood (the
five block area agreed upon) to be
in favor of the applicant" he said.
There is no showing that the senti-
ment of the neighborhood has
changed since that time" .
Mr.. Meredith pointed to the fact
that none of those opposed had any
complaint about Mr.. Rossiter's ad-
ministration of his place
IF lcensee at each renewal
period is to have an ak held over
his head" he continued. "he has no
incentive to be law abiding but will
be inclined to operate his business
in such manner as to increase his
sales of liquor in any way possible :"
Mr.. Meredith said that relying on
the reissuance, Mr.. Rossiter had en-
tered into contracts, expending large
sums of money.
Il would not feel justified he de-
clared, 'in voting against the issu-
ance of the license in view of these
facts
Persons who protested, he said,
are asking the board to rehear a
question which was determined a
year ago and to reverse itself upon
the presentation of additional
testimony, all of which could have
been produced at the time the license
was granted
Quotes Cans.
Mr. Meredith quoted the late Mr.
Cans as saying in approving the
license:
The predominating sentiment of
the entire neighborhood, as shown
by petitions presented to this board,
is overwhelmingly in favor of
granting this license, and since the
first consideration of the board in
making its decisions should be gov
erned by the wishes of the COM
munity, 1 unhesitatingly vote in
favor of the granting of the license"
Mr.. Meredith also quoted the for
mer Chairman George Offutt of the
board at the time the license was
issued as saying:
1T is frankly difficult for me to
see personally how the issuance of
this license will affect any of the
student body (of the Petworth edu-
cational enter. However, we are
then faced with the issue that the
Board of Education has protested
the issuance of this license" Mr..
Offutt voted against the license.
Lodge Remains Opposed.
Mr.. Rossiter's license was thus
granted with 81 vote, Mr.. Lodge
maintaining his position opposing
the renewal.
The case prompted appointment
of special subcommittee of the
House District Committee to investi-
gate the practices of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
In the three days of hearings prior
to the granting of the license resi-
dents of the Petworth area, civic
leaders, church leaders, school off,
cials, representatives of women S
groups and others took the stand
to protest the renewal. The opposi-
ton was led by Ernest F. Henry OF
the Petworth Citizens association
counsel for the opposition.