Evening star., 1942-01-25
A. B. T.. Head Admits
Acting in Business
Case for Licensee
Motter Had No ReIotion
To Any Liquor License,
Lodge Declares

Thomas E. Lodge, whose term as
a member of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board expires February 3,
yesterday confirmed reports he
acted during the last year as legal
counsel in a business issue affect
ing an A. B. c. hcensee, but he
declared the case had no relation
to anything concerning a liquor
license Of the A. B. c. Board"
While the District Commissioners
who hold the appointing power, re-
fused comment on possible reap
pointmenf Of Mr.. Lodge, Commis-
sioner Macon issued a statement
related to another published criti-
cism of Mr.. Lodge, a statement
that he had accepted free drinks at
one or more places on opening
nights"
"I think it is a mistake or bad
judgment for public officials to
accept gratuities from any one"
Mr.. Mason said. They should be
independent of all persons who have,
or might do business before the
District government. Public
officials should lean backwards in
all cases"
Was No Secret.
To this Mr.. Lodge said in a
limited" number of instances he
had been a guest of licensees on
opening nights or other special oc-
casions, and that there was nothing
secret about it, as he had been an
nounced as guest speaker and chair
man of the A. B. c. Board. He said
he had accepted such invitations
because there was precedent for it,
and because he felt it was logical
for A. B. c. Board members to
attend such affairs so they might
know how the places of liquor
licensees were conducted.
However, he added, when he was
told recently that a question of pro-
priety was involved, he said he
would never again accept such invi-
cations if anyone thought accept
'ance might create the wrong i'm
preston.
AS to the-4egal case, Mr.. Lodge
said: Il can see no justification for
any criticism of me for handling
private legal matter outside of my
hours in District service, which in
no wise conflicted with the judg-
ment or decisions Of myself or other
members of the A. B. G. Board.
Involved Air Conditioning.
The case, which Mr.. Lodge said
occurred last spring, involved
question of provision Of air-cooling
equipment for the Annapolis Phar-
macy, Inc, located in the Annapolis
Hotel Building, which is controlled
by the Manger Hotel chain, with
headquarters in New York.
Mr.. Lodge said he had known L.
Louis Rods, president Of the phar-
macy company, for many years, and
assumed he was asked to serve as
its legal counsel in the case for this
reason The pharmacy has an Of
sale class A liquor license. The
Annapolis Hotel has an on-sale
class c permit.
AS Mr.. Lodge described the issue,
the hotel had air-conditioning
equipment but the pharmacy did
not. Mr.. Lodge said he negotiated,
from his private law Offices, with
the Manger hotel chain and sue
ceeded in getting an agreement for
installation of air conditioning
equipment for the pharmacy. He
said his legal fee was paid by Mr..
Rods for the pharmacy company.
Competition Was Factor.
The request for air-conditioning
equipment, he explained, hinged on
possible loss of customers to the
pharmacy. since competitors had
this advantage. Mr.. Lodge empha-
sized this did not mean the hotel
as a competitor In the liquor sales,
since the drug store was licensed
to sell only bottled goods and not
drinks. He added that he had had