Evening star., 1940-03-06

olllCe May 20, 1881, tHe COmmlS-
sioners, acting for the board, have
issued eight orders promulgating
new, or modifying or repeating
earlier, regulations. The last writ
ten regulation was promulgated De-
cember 13. 1888.
Policy Rule Put in Effect.
Substitution of a policy rule for
written regulation was ordered
May %. 1887, in wiping out the
"400-foot rule" protecting churches,
schools and colleges against en-
croachment by liquor establish
ments. This rule, first enacted by
law on March 4, 1918, impeded
progress, the board held in effect,
by operating to bar a package liquor
store on Fourteenth street between
New York avenue and H street NV.
The New York law proscribes
liquor establishments within $500
feet of churches and schools.
How the unwritten policy theory
of regulation has operated also may
be judged by the complaint of public
education officials over the licensing
of a package sales outlet directly
across the alley from the Armstrong
High School.
Whether the board has promulgat-
ed any additional policies since
December 13, 1898, cannot be ascer-
tanned. Licensees and the public
are free to consult the local clair
voyants.
La Roe Expresses Opinion.
A typical reflection of civic opinion
on the success Of liquor control
administration by rule of thumb is
expressed by Wilbur La Roe, jr.,
chairman of the Civic Affairs Com
mittee, Washington Federation of
Churches.
Many of the stores are badly
located, near schools and churches,
and in residential communities, he
said. I'm determining the location
the welfare of the liquor dealer has
often been deemed co-equal to the
welfare of the community"
Indicative of the responsiveness of
the A. B. G. Board to public in
dignation over an enforcement angle
is regulation 7 as to signs. Outside
signs or interior signs visible from
the exterior containing any refer
ence to the price of alcoholic
beverages alone are taboo. This
bulwark against the disposition OF
the liquor trade to outdo Broadway
is strengthened by footnoted men
ton that the board invites" the
attention of the licensees to the
general sign regulations of the Dis
trict. Sign regulation as to both
size and contents are a feature OF
post-repeal liquor legislation gen.
orally.
The present policies of the board
stand in sharp contrast against the
statement in its first annual re-
port of March /, 1886, that: ut
has been most clearly demonstrated
that a liberal law. strictly and i'm
partially enforced without fear or
favor, is far superior to a strict
and exacting law with approximate
enforcement only"
Broadly speaking, the term en-
forcement as applied here includes
both police enforcement and A. B. G.
Board inspection.
Job Long Overdue.
From the police standpoint local
enforcement probably is as good as,
if not better than the police aspect
of liquor enforcement in cities of
comparable size and system of op-
Grafton. Certainly it is no worse
than in comparable areas and posi-
bly, more efficient. Closer police at
tention to the widespread bootleg
ging after hours Of pint and half
pint packages of whisky is local
disinfection job that is long over
due.
Police opinion is that the Dis
trict Act is extremely difficult to
enforce because of its uberality.
In his proclamation repeating the
prohibition amendment President
Roosevelt asked that no State by
law or otherwise authorize the re-
turn of the saloon, either in its
old form or in some modern guise." :"