Evening star., 1944-12-06
Two Prince GEORGES
Towns Get Support
For Ban on Liquor

Residents OF Colmar Manor and
Cottage City in Prince Georges
County today had the support of
two of the county's six Delegates
to the State Legislature in their
fight to abolish the sale of whisky
in the two towns after a stormy
meeting last night with the Mayor
and Council of Colmar Manor.
More than 900 persons have signed
petitions circulated in the two COM
munities urging the county's legis-
lative delegation to introduce a bill
prohibiting the sale of liquor and
providing for a referendum. The
bill would not apply to beer and
light wine.
The proposed bill would require
all liquor establishments to be closed
from midnight to Z am. on week
nights and from midnight Saturday
to 7 am. Monday. Fines ranging
from 500 to $1,000 or 80 days IN
Jail, or both, would be imposed for
each offense.
Harvey to Support Referendum.
Samuel H. Harvey. a member of
the legislative delegation, told the
more than 80 persons attending the
meeting that he would support any
bill calling for a referendum on
the proposal in the two towns.
IF our county delegation will sup
port this bill, I am certain that it
will be enacted at the next session
Of the Legislature" Mr.. Harvey
asserted.
From Perry o. Wilkinson, another
member of the delegation, came
assurance that "if that's what you
want, that's the thing you ought
to have"
State Senator L. Harold Sothoron
declared, however, that the proposed
bill has not the slightest chance OF
passage in the Legislature. Dele
gates to the Legislature have tor
vivid recollection Of prohibitioG
and its attendant evils"
Boulevard Conditions "Deplored."
Declaring that conditions alons
Baltimore boulevard, the boundary
line of both towns, are "deporable'
because Of the 10 liquor establish
mentS there, P. e. Houck, leader OF
the movement in Cottage City,
charged that the taverns have re-
peatedly broken the law" by selling
liquor after hours and on Sundays.
Conditions are 50 bad that this
area is known from Maine to Florida
as Rum Row." Mr.. Houck said.
He also charged that the County
Liquor Board is corrupt" because
it continues to grant petitions for
liquor licenses in the face of oppo-
sition by residents.
I'VE must put the finger on those
who don't want to help us and re-
place them with people who support
our attempt to clean up our towns, -
Mr.. Houck said
Attempts to Correct Conditions.
W. Rosenfield, operator of the
Rustic Cabin in Colmar Manor, told
the residents that the businessmen s
association of the area is attempt
ing to correct conditions. He added
that no complaints have been made
either to the tavern owners or to
the association.
Lawrence Whelan, president of the
County Hotel and Restaurant Asso-
ciation, said the association has ap-
pointed committee to meet with
officials of the two towns in an effort
to solve the problem.
When Mr.. Rosenf1eld asked that
action on the proposed bill be de-
layed. pending efforts of the two
associations to correct conditions,
Andrew c. Tackett, Colmar Manor
councilman, shouted:
The liquor association has too
much money-that's why we can't
do anything about these law viola
tions now. I intend to go to Army
and Navy officials and get both
towns declared out of bounds-that
ought to help clean up these places. !"