Evening star., 1943-11-02
Liquor Dealers
Seek Farley
With Mason
Problem of Sales
To Nonresidents
Studied by Industry

Harry c. Wechsler. president Of
the District Retail Liquor Dealers
Association, said today he would
seek meeting with Commissioner
Guy Mason on the problem of the
sale of liquor to non-residents Of
the District.
The question arose yesterday when
Mr.. Mason warned the local liquor
industry that If sales to non-resi-
dents did not stop he would sponsor
legislation for governmental con-
troll.
Both Mr.. Wechsler and the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board, how
ever, appeared puzzled over what
steps could be taken. A statement
by Chairman Thomas E. Lodge of
the ABC Board that the board had
no campaign in mind indicated that
the matter was out of its jurisdic-
tion.
Mr.. Lodge said figures, based on
the sale of stamps, indicated in
creased shipments to Washington
during the year. but he said there
was no way to check the significance
OF the figures. He pointed out, for
instance, that there was no way of
telling whether retailers were hoard
ing for holiday sales, for possible in
crease in prices, or to save stocks
for regular customers.
Plans to Call Meeting.
Chairman Lodge said the whole
salers report they are not boarding
and are passing their liquor stocks
on to retailers as soon as they are
received.
Mr.. Wechsler, who is collecting
data on how States are handling
their liquor problems, said he would
call a meeting of his association
shortly to warn retailers that 1T is
a bad practice to sell out of town
or in large quantities"
Suggests Definite Way"
He suggested that "one very def
mite way of controlling out of town
sales was to make the purchaser
show his ration book. which lists
place OF residence. Mr.. Wechsler
said he was not inclined to believe
that large amounts were being
shipped out of town, but he said
that out of 400 retailers some are
found to be not as good as others.
But those who are not so good are
in the minority"
Says Sales Are Limited.
Bernard C. Oser, secretary of the
association, which has been admitted
into the Federation of Business
Mems Associations, said that if re-
Itailers noticed person coming into
the store from an out-of town car
they limited sales to one bottle and
declined to sell cases.
Beverage Bulletin, published for a
large wholesale firm, yesterday car
ried an editorial saying that the
alcoholic beverage business in the
District is confronted with serious
situation arising from the shipment
of beverages from this city to other
Jurisdictions for resale"
The trade publication said that
while it seems that thus far less
than half a dozen cases have been
developed in which such sales have
been made. nevertheless, the public
is getting the idea that it is being
deprived of alcoholic beverages
which should remain in the Dis
trict." 1t warned the industry that
serious consequences can result to
the trade as a whole if this idea is
not dissipated promptly and effec-
lively"
Thomas E. Lodge. chairman of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
said Yesterday that he had received
complaints from the public and from
stores themselves" of being unable
to purchase certain alcoholic bev-
erages.
Many stores are confining them
selves to one-bottle sales of whisky ~
he said, but we (the ARC Board)
have no campaign in mind"