Evening star., 1940-02-29
Dispute Peri|s
Liquor Probes
Continuance
Inquiry Inspired
By Political Pressure,
Shofer Charges
BACKGROUND

Shoter Charges
BACKGROUND
Largely because the Alcoholic
beverage Control Board failed
to issue t,0o liquor licenses, the
House District Committee tuo
10eeEs ago ordered subcommit-
zee to investigate the liquor situ-
dtion in Washington. Already
restaurateur has charged that he
pds made an "ofer" for aid in
getting liquor license: a for
nler A. B. C. Board attornev has
charged the boaA handles liquor
licenses by rule of tear," and talk
Of soliciting ori0es" has been
A dispute between Representatives
Eberhater, Democrat, of Pennsyl-
vanla. and Shafer, Republican, of
Michigan, threatened today to bring
to an abrupt halt the investigation
OF the District liquor situation.
Mr.. Eherharter is chairman of the
special subcommittee of the House
District Committee conducting the
inquiry, and Mr.. Shafer is one of the
two Republican members.
While Wilbur La Roe, jr, chairman
OF the Civic Affairs Committee of
the Washington Federation of
Churches, was on the witness stand.
representative Shafer INTERRUPTED
with charge that the subcommittee
Is gong too far" with the probe.
I am through with this investiea.
tlon until we are given proper au-
thorlty to 60 ahead" he declared.
| / don't believe the committee
should sit here day after day and
llsten to lot of disgruntled folks.
we have been given no authority To
reWrlte the liquor code. 1 think We
have gone far beyond our iurisdic.
ton already"
| Political Basis Seen.
Representative Shafer declared
the investigation was ordered pri-
marty to inquire into the cases of
Leo j. Rossiter and Ralph A. Lee.
restaurant proprietors, whose an
phcatlons to sell liquor by the drink
mad been denied by the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board. The
licenses were issued, however, after
the inquiry started.
Ihe investigation, he added. was
inspired by AN influential MARYLAND
congressman who became inter-
eSted in the Rossiter case because
Mr.. Rossiter has brother who on
crates a large seafood restaurant in
Baltimore.
Ihe motion providing for creation
OF a special subcommittee to in
vestlgate the liquor situation was
made by Representative Ambrose ],
Kennedy, Democrat, of Maryland,
ranking majority member Of the
District Committee.
Neither Rossiter or Lee should
ever have been given a LIQUOR
license" shouted Mr.. Shafer. 1T
was only because of political pres.
sure that this investigation started, y
subsequently Mr.. Shafer said he
believed the A. B. C. Board is doing
a good job but he was greatly
disappointed with it" when it grant.
ed the Rossiter and Lee licenses.
Eberharter Admonishes Him.
When Mr.. Shafer finished his
statement, Chairman Eberharter
told him he should have waited for
an executive session of the SUBJ
committee to express his views.
| As tn the cpnro of tho ;,,o,,;~x, :,
the jurisdiction of the subcommit-
tee, Mr.. Eberharter explained.
there is difference of opinion.
However, he declared, there is a
decided movement on foot to stop
the investigation with view to pre-
vent the rewriting of the District
Liquor Act and to correct the
abuses that exist.
These meetings should not be
used by members as a sounding
board"
Il don't believe the subcommittee
should be used as a sounding board
for certain politicians who want to
control the A. B. C. Board" retorted
Mr.. Shafer.
Executive Session Suggested.
my intention is to get all sides
OF the question:" said Chairman
Eberharter. If you feel the sub
committee is going too far, let's
have an executive session right away
and take UP with the full District
Committee the question as to juris-
dlction and whether we have gone
too far"
Il think that should be DONE" re-
piled Mr.. Shafer.
If the subcommittee is to make a
thorough investigation of the en-
tire liquor situation, Mr.. Shafer
argued, it should ask the House to
appropriate money out of its con-
tingent fund to employ an attorney
and a staff of investigators and
proceed in proper" way.
Mr.. La Roe, who said the federation
he represented embraces 139
churches and more than 10000
church members in the District, pre-
sented a number of suggestions to
improve control Of the sale Of
| liquor.
Thinks Stores Too Numerous.
"The first and most obvious fac.
tor that is wrong in the existing sit
uation," he declared, "is the dispro-
portionately large number of places
where liquor is sold. There is no
public interest that requires or JUS
titles 400 hard liquor stores in an
area 10 miles square"
From a civic yiewpoint. Mr.. Ia Roe