Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
Randolph Asks
City Heads TO
Act on Liquor
Tells Commissioners
To Suggest Any
Needed Legislation
By DON S. WARREN.

by DON b. WARREN.
Taking formal notice OF protests
over the liquor control situation In
Washington, Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee
yesterday called on the Commits
sioners to recommend additional
legislation If they find it is needed.
Mr.. Randolph referred to the
report of the Eberharter subcom-
mittee on its investigation of the
administration Of the District LID
uor Law in June, 1910, which was
in part critical and suggested q
number OF changes, some Of which
have not been adopted.
Meanwhile Representative COT
fee, Democrat, of Washington, new
ly named as chairman of the District
Subcommittee of the House Appro-
priations Committee, who has an
nounced his group will study care
fully the work Of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board when con-
sidering the 1945 budget requests,
expanded his recent criticism of the
board to say it appeared too legal
istic and too soft-hearted."
Fears Prohibition.
Mr.. Coffee, while saying he has a
high regard for the ability and in
tegrity of District officials, voiced
fears that tide of prohibition
sentiment" might sweep over the
country If liquor laws are not en-
forced wisely and with determine
ton.
Mr.. Randolph in his letter to the
city heads quoted briefly from the
statement made recently to the
House by Representative Cochran,
Democrat, of Missouri, in which he
contended there was evidence of
black market operations in and af-
fecting the District and criticized
the ABC Board for not cracking
down harder on licensees found
guilty of violating District liquor
regulations. Mr.. Cochran said the
situation here was another chal-
lenge" to Congress and to the Com
misSioners.
Mr.. Randolph noted the District
Committee has the responsibility of
acting for the best interests of the
National Capital while directing
the attention of the city heads to
the liquor situation (which is re-
ceiving considerable comment" He
added:
i am writing you to determine
whether, in the opinion of the Com
missioners, the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board has sufficient au-
thority to cope with the various
regulatory problems arising as re-
suit OF war problems"
will Conf1 With Dirksen.
Mr.. Randolph said he would con-
suit with Representative Dirksen,
Republican. of Illinois, ranking
minority member of the District
Committee. and other members of
the former Eberharter special COIN
mittee, including Representative
Eberharter and Shafer. He con-
tinued:
ut is my belief the Commission
ers. having the power of appointing
members Of the ABC Board, are in a
position to determine what legisla-
ton, If any. is needed to botain a
system of control which would most
effectively function for Washing
ton" He asked the city heads to
reply In time for him to submit their
ideas to the District Committee after
Congress meets January 10.
The section of the Eberharter re-
port to which Mr.. Randolph referred
states. in part: The committee be-
lieves that while the manufacture,
sale and distribution of alcoholic
beverages in the District is being
controlled in reasonably effective
way, it is not unmindful of the fact
that certain abuses do exist which
should be corrected insofar as legis-
latively and enthusiastically pos
sible. 1t appreciates also that if
fragrant abuses should develop and
exist there will be many serious
minded citizens who will take up the
matter in behalf of an effort to re-
store prohibition to the District.
Changes Urged.
"The committee. therefore, pro-
poses recommendations in the hope
that existing abuses will be curbed
and eliminated by the board and by
the commissioners under the au-
thority which they now possess and
express hope Congress will continue
to deal with this matter to bring
about system Of control and en-
forcement of laws and regulations
which will be as nearly &C
ceptable as possible"
AS a result of the Eberharter in
vestigation the ABC Board and the
commissioners considered a num-
Der of changes in control rules,
some of which were adopted and
in recent weeks again have been
studying the problems related to
the current liquor shortage, alleged
"tie in" sales of wines with whisky,
and reports of black market deal
ings. Recommendations may be for
warded to the city heads soon, 1t
was said.
Taxi Driver Found Dead