Evening star., 1941-04-29
County 10 Take
Over Wholesale
Beer Thursday
Montgomery Board
Extends Control
On Distribution

The Montgomery County Liquor
Control Board will take over whole
sale distribution of beer throughout
the county Thursday morning, it
was announced today.
Gov. O'Conor yesterday signed a
measure passed at the recent ses-
sion of the Legislature. Beer dis
tributors who will be barred from
the county by the bill and the Mont
gomery County Taxpayers Associa-
ton, last week urged the Governor
not to sign the proposal which ex-
tends the boards liquor monopoly
to include wholesale beer distribu-
ton. Retail distribution is not af-
fected.
Following a meeting today of Off
clals of the County Liquor Board,
majority of the members of the
Board of Commissioners and others,
it was announced that Ralph Chase,
chief clerk of the Bethesda County
Building, had been temporarily as
signed TO organize the distribution
setup. Mr.. Chase was manager of
the dispensary system in the county
in 1889.
Warehouse Chief Named.
Roy S. Moore, Garrett Park, act
ing county assessor, was named SUI
perintendent of a warehouse to be
procured for storing the beer
Negotiations are under way for
leasing a warehouse owned by Boyd
Keys in Linden, it was said.
The group decided to offer en-
ployment to the four smallest of
the six county beer wholesalers to
act as route men for delivery of the
beverage They would be paid a
salary of $40 weekly to drive the
four new trucks which will be
purchased The four smaller whole
salers were offered the jobs because
it was felt the two larger dealers
would not be interested in the offer
All beer will be sold for cash, with
no discounts or rebates Of any kind,
it was said.
At present there are about 100
retail outlets. About $4,000 cases of
beer were sold in the county last
year.
Present at Meeting.
j. Forest Walker. board president
and manager of the county dis
pensary system: James w. Gill.
counsel of the liquor board; Alex
ander Hancock, county accountant,
and Nicholas Griffith. county beer
inspector. were among those attend
ing today's meeting.
The bill signed yesterday in
cludeS widespread powers for es-
tablishing a county monopoly on
beer, as well as liquor, and pro-
vides penalties for employees of
the diSpensary system who accept
gifts" or samples from alcoholic
beverage dealers. II authorizes is
suance of bonds needed to carry out
the provisions of the act, to be re-
tired from proceeds Of the dis
pensary operation. Proponents of
the bill claimed it would raise $780,
900 in revenue for the county.
Meanwhile, Gov. OConOr had
scheduled hearings on several other
pills before him for signature, in
cluding the measure authorizing
construction of $50 100000 toll
highway from Washington TO Balti-
more and the anti sabotage bill.
passed over the protest Of labor or
ganizations.
Restriction on Pickets.
Under it, persons found guilty Of
Intentionally interfering with pro-
duction at plains manufacturing ar
ticles for the United States or for
friendly nations would be subject
to 10 years imprisonment, $4,000
fine. or both.
The bill gives labor the right to
strike and picket but picket lines
would be forbidden in restricted
zones which may be established
around defense plants.
Gov. O'Conor signed 1877 measures
Yesterday, bringing the total num-
Der of new bills placed on statute
books to 436 Today's hearing will
clear the way for final action, prob
ably Friday. on some of the 442 re-
naming bills.
Among the newly enacted laws is
the Teachers Equalization Act, CIV
ing colored instructors the same
salaries as white teachers. a step
made mandatory by recent Federal
court decision
New Low Tax Rate.
Excess liquor revenues and a Spe-
cial 2 per cent tax on half-mile race
tracks will pay part Of the equaliza-
ton on behalf of the State. Coun-
ties are to pay the rest, amounting
to about one-fourth of the entire
cast.
The new tax rate-22 cents per
500 of assessable property in 1912
and 2075 cents in 1943-also became
law. Gov. O'Conor said the new
rate would be Maryland's lowest in
80 years Currently it is 1885 cents.
Other important Statewide meas
ures signed included:
The explosives act to regulate the