Evening star., 1940-07-21
Hearing 10 Get
Draft Of Liquor
Act Changes
Control Of Minimum
Prices Among Many
Proposals Offered

Proposals Offered
Proposals for changes In the Dis
trict Liquor Act or in the liquor reg
ulations will be drafted by the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board and
offered for public consideration at
an open hearing next month before
they 90 to the Commissioners or
Congress.
A statement to this effect was
made by Thomas E Lodge, chair
man of the. A. B. C. Board, after it
had heard numerous suggestions
from spokesmen for organized groups
In the liquor industry at an initial
hearing yesterday.
The major proposals made yester-
day were for some form Of control
over minimum prices, q posting Of
wholesale prices, ban on advertis-
ing of prices and elimination Of use
Of handbills and circulars and garish
advertising signs.
Kronheim and Rover Testify.
Principal witnesses were Milton S.
Kronheim, wholesaler who organ
ized the new Beverage Industry
Committee. which he represented as
well as speaking for himself, and
Leo A. Rover, former United States
attorney. who represented the Dis
trict Retail Liquor Dealers Associa-
tion.. Generally, they supported sug-
gestions contained in. the report of
the EberhArter Subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
Mr.. Kronheim, speaking for him
self, also urged the board to adopt
rule that no new licenses be
granted to places within 600 feet of
any church. school ground, play
ground or library, holding that such
a rule would be good for the indus
try as well as the public.
Yesterdays hearing was called by
Mr.. Lodge on his return from a
vacation, after Representative Sha-
fer, Republican, Of Michigan had
protested alleged Hardness and in
difference" at the District Building
regarding the findings of the Eber-
harter Subcommittee. which had in
vestigated conditions in the liquor
industry here.
Dispensary System Opposed.
In answer to questions from the
board; Mr.. Rover said the retail
dealers organization was unani-
mously opposed to adoption of q
government dispensary system for
the District.
Urging minimum retail price con-
troll, both Mr.. Rover and Nj. Kron-
helm admitted that under the pres
ent system deals" were made in
sale of liquor by wholesale.
I'VE would welcome adoption OF
4 system that would i eliminate
DEALS" said Mr.. Kronheils Under
the present competitive system they
can't be prevented. II We got to-
gether on prices, it would be 4 vio-
lation of law"
The point had been made that
retailer who can buy 100 cases of
liquor at time can get better prices
than the retailer who buys in small
er quantities.
Mr.. Rover said the Retailers body
favored rule that wholesale prices
be posted with the board and that
retailers be forbidden to sell liquor
for less than IS per cent above the
normal wholesale price. This
would be designed to eliminate cut
rate retail selling. Mr.. Rover said
there was no question but that there
was much evil" in deals on whole.
sale pricing.
Favors Advertising Regulations.
The retail association, he said,
favored legislation giving q right of
appeal to District Court to licenses
whose permits were revoked or sus-
pended by the A. B. c. Board. Dis
tribution of circulars and handbills
advertising liquor should be banned
and use Of the radio for liquor ad-
vertising should be prohibited, he
said. The group, he said, also
would ban advertising Of prices in
newspapers of general circulation.
but would not stop other liquor ads
In newspapers.
The A. B. C. Board, he said, should
have power to fix the size and type
OF liquor signs. When he said signs
should be held to a modest" size.
the board asked what would be
modest"
I am not an expert on signs
nor on modesty," Mr.. Rover replied.
Both Mr.. Rover and Mr.. Kron-
helm urged changes in rules to per-
nit sale of liquor between midnight
Saturday nights and am. Sundays
and . rule closing liquor stores at
10 pm. week days.
Would Restrict Licenses.
Discussing the question of limita-
ton Of the numbers of licensee
establishments, Mr.. Rover suggested
that transfers from one place to
another should be restricted to q
new location in the same neighbor-
hood, but agreed this might be hard
to define.
Mr.. Kronheim suggested adoption
Of legislation to permit customers
to drink at bars while standing, but
added that such bars should not
be permitted in family neighbor-
hoods' and that some rules should
be made as to permitting women
to drink at bars. He said he was
converted to such changes by q sug-
eestion made by Maj. Ernest w.
Brewn, superintendent Of police. at
the Eberharter hearings. Mr.. Kron-
helm noted that Maj. Brown was a
"churchman" as well as police chief.
Would Limit Size Of Signs.
Among other proposals submitted
In drafted form by Mr.. Kronheim
we're the following:
That no sim advertising linll0r