Evening star., 1941-04-06

ID A. B. C. changes, the Federation
delegates approved plan to permit
seated drinking" at bars and coun-
ters and Harry S. Wender, first vice
president of the Federation, said he
to press the plan as COM
promise solution Of the problem.
He said the compromise had ths
of Assistant Corporation
Counsel Michael Kean, who drew up
a report on the proposed liquor
changes for the A. B. C. Board.
Mr.. Wender said that while his
Law and Legislation Committee did
not recommend stand-up drinking,
some members of the group favored
it, all were dissatisfied with the
present arrangement and all ap-
proved the compromise on seated"
He said he thought the Federation
action enjoyed all the good points
advanced for stand-up drinking and
none of its bad points.
Officials Disagree on Plans.
The present status, while Corpora
ton Counsel Keech prepares the
legislation, is that Police Supt.
Ernest w. Brown, the Commission
erS, Chairman Randolph of the
House District Committee. Repre-
sentative Eberharter of Pennsyl-
vania, conductor of liquor inquiry
last year, and William Meredith,
member of the A. B. C. Board. ap-
prove. Chairman Reynolds of the
Senate District Committee disap-
proves. Mr.. Kean refused to make
recommendation for stand-up
drinking in his report on the ground
that there had not been sufficient
expression of public opinion on the
plan and the majority of the A. B. C.
Board made no recommendation,
seeing no urgency in the matter.
1t is reported a spokesman for the
Bartenders' Union appeared before
the city heads in favor of the plan
as an aid to temperance.
The original suggestion on stand
up drinking, as tossed out unin-
dorsed, for trial balloon" purposes,
by the A. B. C. Board months ago
specified that this type of drinking
would be limited to certain specially
licensed bars considered by the
board as suitable. 1t was indicated
that the board had in mind clubs
and similar establishments.
Without any marked response,
Mr.. Kean refused to recommend on
1t, but Mr.. Meredith, in submitting
ms minority opinion to the Com
mlsSloners, suggested no limitations
would be made on what licensees
could sell to persons standing-thus
going further than the original
trial balloon"
1t was this extension of the sug-
gestion that the Commissioners ap-
proved
At the Capitol Mr.. Randolph.
saying he had never been in a bar.
approved the suggestion and Mr..
Eberharter pointed out that his
subcommittee had made a similar
recommendation. Senator REYNOLDS
raised the issue of the saloon. The
North Carolinian was elected to the
Senate in 1882 on a wet" ticket,
but had promised the State he
would oppose the return of the sa-
loon.
Proponents of the plan, stresSing
its use in determining intoxication,
assert that the result would not be
the saloon, since the law requires
the primary business of the estab-
hshment should be sale of food.
Opponents say a rose by any other
name would smell as sweet. mean
ing that whenever you can put your
foot on a brass rail and order a
drink, you have saloon.
Cafeteria Counter Sale Voted.
The position of the federation
was that no harm would result
from an amendment to permit over
the-counter drinking to seated per-
sons. The practice of requiring
table service, it was said, "necessi-
tates additional expense to the
management and requires tipping
on the part of the individuals who
may have chosen such places be-
cause of the economy involved"
The action of the delegates also
expressly covered counter sale of
beer and wine at cafeterias to custo-
mers along with the sale of food.
Consideration of the proposed
changes-some % in all-in the
liquor administration was deferred
by the Commissioners until the fed
Grafton had submitted recommen-
dation, but the city heads then re-
fused to go along with the dele
gates on the provision in which
they were principally interested
the proposed extension of the Sat-
urday night closing hour to am.
Sunday as substitute for the pres
ent legal consumption in the hours
between midnight Sunday and 2
am. Monday.
The federation overturned the
recommendation of Mr.. Vendors
committee on this point and Wig
orously opposed the extension. Dele
gates expressed the sentiment that
the liquor dealers desired the change
because the early Monday hours
were not profitable. The position
of the committee, which approved
the plan, was that it might curtail
drunken driving from supervised
places in the District to unsuper-
vised places in the nearby counties
where later drinking is permitted
now. The Commissioners approved
the extension as one of the proposed
amendments Mr.. Keech is preparing.