Evening star., 1942-07-15
Council Refuses
To Ban Sale Of
Beer on Sunday
Alexandra Minister
Groups Proposal
Defeated, 6 to 3

Refusing a request of the Alexar-
dria Ministerial Association to pro-
hibit the sale of beer and wine on
Sunday, the Alexandria City Coun-
Gil last night passed motion to
make no change in the existing law
without a referendum. The vote
was 6 to 3.
With DIR. Cooper Bell of the
Washington Street Methodist
Church as it's spokesman. the asso-
citation made strong plea to close
the city's bars on Sunday, citing
the fact that large number of SOL
diers come to Alexandria on week.
end leave and pointing out that the
city councils of Portsmouth and Pet
ersburg had taken such action
without referendum.
DR.. Bell said the ministers were
not interested in a referendum as
they did not wish to initiate a con-
troversy and felt that the service
men and their families would not
be represented. He admitted that
the result of such referendum
would go against the association.
In explaining the action of the
council, Mayor wilkins said that
while he felt each member agreed
with the association about the bad
effect of open bars on Sunday, the
council represents a cross section
Of the city and must vote accord
ingly. He added that while the
council would have legal right to
make such move. the function was
to administer the city's business
and not its morals.
Appointment Protested.
The council passed a resolution
protesting the appointment of Pres
ton DAILY as rent control examiner
for Alexandria. The resolution was
presented by City Manager Carl
Budwesky.
1t characterizees the appointment
Of "a nonresident" as arbitrary
and tactless." Copies of the resolu-
ton will be sent to Leon Henden-
son, administrator of the ONCE Of
Price Administration, and to Gov.
Darden of Virginia.
A repcrt was received from Charles
Davis, who was requested to deter
mine the ownership of a piece of
land east of Lee street, between
Pendleton and Madison streets,
which the Texas Co. seeks to pur-
! chase tor an oil storage plant. The
greater pat of the land is owned
| by the Southern Railway, which
wants to sell to the Texas Co., but
the city Claims ownership of a por-
ton Of tile tract. Mr. Davis re-
ported that he would be unable to
assure clear title unless both the
city ard the railroad signed the
deed, despite the fact that the
Southern Railway has paid taxes on
the entire tract for several years.
Committee Appointed.
The council voted to have a COM
mittee If three appointed to esti-
mate the value of the portion of
land the city claims Mayor Will
kins named James Armstrong to
represent the council and Charles
T. Nicholson and John Loughlan as
disinterested citizens.
The request Of Robert E. Kline, jr.
to rezone the square bounded by
Madison, Montgomery, Royal and
Pitt streets to D-2 commercial was
granted.
The request of Ruth jackson to
rezone 206 North Pitt street to d.
commercial was denied.
The request of James D. Redd to
rezone the southeast corner of Al
fred and Pendleton streets to d.
was granted
An estimate of $4,000 for con-
struction of storm water sewer
in the 700 block of King street was
presented by the city manager, and
the appropriation passed on first
reading.
A resolution was received from
the Junior Chamber of Commerce
asking the council to retain the city
market in its present form without
alteration except for Improvement.