Evening star., 1948-08-22
After-HourC|ubs
Stay0pen, Wet
Despite
Court Test Awaited; ;
Truscott Hints Police
PIon Further Action

Most after-hours night clubs re-
manned open and wet last night in
the face of possible further police
action against unlicensed estab-
ishments.
Managers of those niteries classi-
fed as incorporated social clubs
took the position that If it was legal
for them to 60 into business, there
is nothing wrong with operating
today.
This reasoning appeared likely to
prevail at least until the adjudica-
ton of test cases involving three
clubs raided last Thursday morning.
Despite confidence of police that
their undercover work had devel-
oped strong evidence of illegal op-
erations, the three raided clubs
were among those still operating.
Truscott Hints at New Raids.
These were the Allies Club, 1926
Massachusetts, avenue NV; the
Spotlight Club, Seventeenth and M
streets NV, and the Five O'Clock
Club, 621 Pennsylvania avenue NV.
Inspector Floyd A. Truscott, who
planned the 100-policeman raid on
the clubs, said last night there
might be similar raids later. 1t de-
pended on what evidence under
cover men can produce in the pur-
chasing of drinks with marked
money, device used in laying
groundwork in Thursdays raid he
said.
1t appears more probable that
the police will hold their fire until
after the cases involving II defend
ants in the three raided clubs.
Charged with selling and keeping
liquor without license, they are
scheduled to appear August 81, but
there are indications the contest
may go as far as the Supreme
Court.
Inspector Truscott said there are
20 or 80 after-hours clubs operating,
ranging from exclusive, soft-car-
peted establishments to something
more reminiscent of speakeasy DAYS
here. Some comply with Alcoholic
Beverage Control laws, and some do
not he said.
No Thought of Closing.
The manager of one of the better
known downtown places said he had
no thought of closing.
AS an incorporated membership
club, with officers and a board of
directors, he said. the spot was op-
Grating legally without an ABC Ii
cense. Z,
He contended that drinks were not
sold direct, but were served only to !
members who had bought their bot
ties elsewhere and checked them at |
the club. Amy change in policy will
be up to the. membership, he added.
To join the club, candidate must !
have two sponsors and pay yearly |
dues. Admission is by membership |
card alone, the manager added.
Another manager said he was con-
fdent his place was in order. He
could present membership rolls and
prove that all bottles on his place
belonged to individuals, he said. In
addition, his club charter was on
file with the Recorder of Deeds.
License holders Complain.
The other side of the picture was
the arguments of liquor dispensing
spots paying $3.50 year for ABC
licenses.
1t was complaints of delegations
from the Washington Hotei Associa- /,
ton and the Washington Restaurant
Association which touched off last
weeks raids.
Robert Wilson, secretary of the
restaurant association said that 400
of the members have ABC licenses, !
obliging them to close by am. on
weekdays and midnight on Satur-
days.
He said it should be necessary for
after-hours competitors to abide by
the conditions of the ABC as we'll
as stand inspections by the Health
Department.