Evening star., 1940-02-21
Liquor Board
AssaiIed for
Rule Of Fear
WeIliver Charges
Lack Of Cooperation
With Licensees
BY JAMES E. CHM.

~HhNA1o
Sharp criticism of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board and par.
ticularly the chairman, Thomas E.
Lodge, was voiced today by Edward
M. Welliver, its former attorney.
while testifying before the spe-
cial subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee investigating the
liquor situation.
Mr.. Welliver, who resigned Feb
ruary to return to private prac-
tlce, Charged that the board ham
died liquor licenses by rule of fear
rather than by any other method"
and that there had been rumors
OF leaks of confidential informa-
ton from the boards cramped Of
f1ces in the District Building.
Licenses are subjected to the
most minute examination on matters
that have nothing to do with the
questions at ISSUE" Mr.. Welliver g.
clared. Mr.. Lodge has a tendency
TO go into extraneous matters"
Mr.. Welliver also told the sub.
committee there might have been a
great deal more cooperation be-
tween the board and the licensees
and that the boards attitude is to
restrict licenses.
New Regulations Proposed.
A number of changes in the LIQUOR
control regulations were advocated
by Mr.. Welliver. Among his recon-
mendations were:
l.. That sale of liquor by the drink
IN hotels and restaurants be per-
mitted on Sunday.
z. That hotels and restaurants he
allowed to sell liquor until am
Sunday. present law prohibits the
sale after IL o'clock midnight Satur-
day.
3. That drinking at bars standing
up be permitted.
4. That the liquor industry be put
on cash basis.
5. That the present regulation
against curb service of beer be
written into the alcoholic beverage
control law.
Mr.. Welllver, at the outset of his
testimony, said the A. B. C. Board
Is SO strict in regulating the LIQUOR
industry it will not permit a LIQUOR
dealer to display sign in his win
dow advertising free automobile
parking space.
"A wholesale beer dealer" he add.
ed, cannot give a boat ride to
licensees at which free beer is served.
even though the boat ride is outside
the District Of Columbia"
Admits Dissension on Board.
Mr.. Welliver admitted that In the
two years he served as attorney for
the A. B. c. Board there had been
some disSension between board
members. particularly with respect
to the transfer of licenses.
Mr.. Lodge was opposed to the
transfer of licenses" he declared.
Mrs. Mason MRS. Agnes K. Ma
son, vice chairman was generally in
favor Of transfers.
But as to Mr.. Cans (the late Isaac
Cans, 1t was hard to determine on
which side he stood But he gen.
orally agreed with Mr.. Lodge"
The witness subsequently, adj
mitted he had several strenuous
arguments" with Mr.. Lodge over
the transfer of licenses.
| Mr.. Welliver testified that al
though attorneys for liquor licenses
were not permitted to examine the
boards files at the specific direction
OF Commissioner Melvin C.. Hazen.
licensees would walk into the boards
offices and read the letters on the
desk irrespective of their confiden-
tial nature.
Leaks" on Board CHARGED.
1t was difficult to make confiden.
tial information inaccessible because
OF the lack of ROOM" he declared.
Once. the board put up a rail
around the main entrance to its
ONCE with gate that had a pat.
ented lock. I don't think it served
any purpose. People would unlatch
the gate and come in anyhow and
would read the mail on the desks IL
'ney mad nerve enough to pick it
up."
Mr.. Welliver at first said there
was leak for while" at the A. B.
Z. Board, but was unable to cite
any particular instances. He hastily
explained, however, the leak" was
without the knowledge or consent
OF any employe. Later, he declared
there were "rumors" of leaks of
confidential information.
Advocating that hotels, restau-
rants and other Glass C licensees
be permitted to sell liquor by the
drink on Sunday, Mr.. Welliver said:
II It's wrong to sell liquor on
Sunday, it's wrong to sell it on any
other day. Sunday is the only day
some people have an opportunity to
go into a restaurant or hotel and
drink leisurely."
Mr.. Welliver said a person who
wants to drink in a hotel or some
other high-class place must check
MS coat and hat, tip the checkroom
girl and also tip the waiter who
serves him the drink. As a result,
he declared, drink costs between
IS and 10 cents.
The present law works a hard
ship on the better places for that
reason" he said. Il believe YOU
should restrict by legislation the
giving of tips in places where liquor
is sold"
Mr.. Welliver declared there is .
(See LIQUOR, Page A-2)