Evening star., 1940-02-16

telephone Deliveries to
Adults Only Suggested;
Maj. Brown Testifies \
BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Proposals to force all retail liquor
stores to close at pm. instead Of
IL o'clock midnight and that a closer
check be kept on telephone deliveries
are under consideration today by
the special subcommittee of the
House District Committee investi-
eating the liquor situation here.
The subcommittee also has under
consideration a proposal of Repre-
sentative Sheppard, Democrat, of
California that municipality operated
dispensaries take over the business
of the 400 dealers that sell liquor
by the package.
The subcommittee held another
executive session today. Only two
members of the five on the subcom-
mlttee were in attendance. Chair
man Eberharter of Pennsylvania
and Representative Hunter, Demo-
crat, of Ohio.
Ted Welliver, former attorney
for the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board, was called as q witness. No
announcement was made concern
ing his testimony.
Chairman Eberharter said thu
next executive session of the COM
mittee will be held Monday and
that public hearings might begin
Tuesday or Wednesday.
For nearly a week, the subcommit-
tee, headed by Representative Eber-
harter, has been taking testimony
behind closed doors laying the foun-
dation for series Of public hearings
expected to start early>next week.
Maj. Brown Questioned.
Yesterday, Maj. Ernest w. Brown,
superintendent Of police, and 1t.
Earl Hartman, In command Of the
Detective Bureaus vice squad, spent
several hours before the subcom-
mittee outlining what they know
about the liquor situation. The In
formation they gave members Of
the subcommittee was guarded with
utmost secrecy.
The subcommittee also listened to
the complaints of a group of bar
tenders.
Chairman Eberharter declined to
reveal who made the suggestion for
a 6 O'Clock closing of the liquor
stores, or any of the other proposals
under consideration.
I'VE are merely building up
background for public hearings"
he declared. "The information we
have received is confidential. We
are proceeding cautiously so as not to
harm unjustly any one when the in
vestigation becomes public"
The 6 pm. closing order for
retail liquor stores, however, it was
indicated, came from 6 person who
believes it would serve to aid the
night drunk problem Of the Police
Department. A more careful check
on delivery Of liquor on telephone
orders, it was said, might make it
more difficult for children to pro-
cure intoxicants.
May Require Adult Signature.
The plan under consideration, It
was intimated, would require that
all messengers delivering liquor be at
least 81 years of age, and that they
not be permitted to turn over liquor
to a telephone customer unless it
be an adult, who signed receipt.
Complaints have been made to
the subcommittee that high school
children, under the telephone deli
very service are able to procure
liquor because the messenger who
delivers it is not cautious.
There are rather strong indica-
tions that the proposed dispensary
system might get the support OF
at least two members of the sub
committee Mr.. Eberharter and
Representative Hunter.
The dispensary system is now in
operation in both Ohio and Penn
Sylvania, from whence Representa-
tive Eberharter came. Mr.. Hunter
said he is gathering statistics to
show there is better control of the
sale Of liquor in packages under the
dispensary system than under the
retail store system such as in opera
ton In Washington. Moreover, he
believes, the District would procure
more revenue under the dispensary
system.
Ohio, with population of 1000, 900
persons, according to Mr.. Hunter,
has less than 400 dispensaries at
which a person may buy liquor by
the bottle. In Washington, however,
with population Of less than TOO
600, he said, there are 400 places sell
ing liquor by the bottle.