Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-06
Board TO Weigh
Views Heard on
Liquor Changes
Lodge Says Action
Moy Be Deferred
For 3 Weeks
BY DON S. WARREN.

by the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board to its proposed % changes in
regulation and law debated at yes
terday's public hearing before it
makes final recommendations to the
Commissioners or Congress, it was
indicated today as two weeks were
granted for the filing of briefs by
any interested group.
Chairman Thomas E. Lodge said
it was likely three weeks would
elapse before the board took any
further action.
The hearing yesterday afternoon
was marked by sharp attack by
Leslie Garrett, former United States
attorney, who appeared as counsel
for Clark's Liquors, Inc, against
Milton S. Kronheim, ST., liquor
wholesaler, who recently organized
the Beverage Industry Committee.
which is sponsoring approval of the
22-piont program. Mr.. Garrett de-
Scribed Mr.. Kronheim as the GEAR
of the District liquor industry" and
said the proposed program amount
ed to conspiracy to violate the
Sherman Antitrust Act"
Charged With Directing Program.
Mr.. Garrett protested that Mr..
Kronheim and his cohorts" had
steered the whole program, that Mr..
Kronheim's agents had worn out
their boots on Capitol HilT' trying
to get approval of the proposed min
imum price control and, having
failed there, were trying to get the
A. B. C. Board to sponsor the pro-
gram.
F. Joseph Donohue, attorney for
Mr.. kronheim in other affairs, but
speaking also for the Beverage In
dustry Committee, challenged Mr..
Garnett to offer any evidence he
may have of any influence placed
at our door" and promised that I'VE
will meet the issue"
TN support of the move for retail
minimum price control and a ban
on liquor price advertising, Mr.. Don
ohue cited laws of other States which
1ic Sdlo p1oNiOto LOT SOIil0 10TH Vi
these control measures.
While Mr.. Donohue said he spoke
for some 1856 licensed dealers, Mr.
Garrett submitted to the board a
petition he said was signed by be-
tween 500 and 600 persons who were
opposed to the proposed price adver-
Using ban.
1t has been argued that the pro-
posed price advertising ban would
affect principally those stores which
advertise cut rates. In this connec-
ton Mr.. Garrett reported that the
great majority of liquor advertising
in Washington was of national
brands in publications which could
not be controlled by the A. B. C.
Board.
Reports Boycott Threatened.
Late in yesterdays hearing, Henry
j. Halam of Miglioretti Bros, a
wholesale licensee, who spoke in OPP
position to the two proposals for
price control and a ban on price adj
vertising. demanded a hearing to
report that three retailers had
threatened to boycott mis- firm as a
result of his testimony.
Il feel I must tell you now of the
kind of thing to expect when We have
a car in our industry" said Mr..
Halam. He pointed to three men sit
ting in the room who, he said, had
told him -. E.
you said today
While Mr. Halam did not mention
any names, Morris Stearman, a
liquor retailer, next took the floor
and denied he had made any state
ment to Mr.. Halam. He pointed to
Manuel Lipsky of Clark's Liquors.
Inc, asserting that he had inspired
Mr.. Halam to make the accusation.
This Mr.. Lipsky Immediately denied
and he added that this type of
thing had prevented many whole
salers from appearing at the hear
ing to testify in fear they would be
ooycotted by the retailer.
Unexpectedly, there was little
argument over the proposal to per-
init drinking at bars by customers
standing up" In fact, no one ap-
peared to oppose the plan. Several
speakers gave general approval to
the whole program for % changes.
but there was little specific argu-
ment for Standing up" drinking ex-
cept that which came from Rufus S
Lusk, formerly national official of
the Crusaders, an anti-prohibition
organization
Mrs. Lowe Gives Approval.
Mrs. c. D. Lowe, president of the
District Congress of Parents and
Teachers, wrote to the board stating
approval of the whole program, DAN
lei B. Lloyd, president of the Manor
Park Citizens Association. also
wrote a statement approving the
general program.
H. E. Spitzberger, president of the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens As
ISOLATION, urged closing of package
goods stores at pm, instead of the
proposed 10 pm, and advocated re-
strlctlonS against licensing LIQUOR
stores within 1900 feet of a school or
church, instead of the proposed 600
foot rule.