Evening star., 1948-02-24
PincaSleolysA
Liquor Board
|0uster Sought
' : WiIfuI Neglect Seen
By Jenkins Corners
Citizens Group

. Removal of the entire Prince
6 Georges County Board Of License
commissioners was asked today by
Sthe jenkins Corner Citizens Asso-
Eciation in a letter to Gov. Lane of
sMaryfand. The association charged
gthe board members with "incom-
petence" or "wilful neglect of duty"
:, IN the issuance Of beer, wine and
liquor licenses.
' IN asking for appointment Of a
rssw board the citizens cited two
: recent court decisions overruling
actions of the board.
The association charged that the
',oard had failed to apply State law
n granting licenses, had failed to
consider the best interests of the
Nsublic and had failed to enforce
various statutes of the State OF
Maryland applicable to the man
cement of and conduct within Ii
,eased places Of business within its
Jurisdiction ="
I Mrs. Mary w. Browning of River
ale, chairman of the three-member
I ,oard, refused to comment when
old of the civic groups charges to-
lay!
The Jenkins Corner citizens also
charged in their letter that the board
gave little consideration" to the
,haracter. ability and capability of
the individual applying for license.
1T is generally recognized that
many licenses have been granted by
this board where the applications
have not been in correct legal form
in fact, it has lately been 'estab-
lished that the board has been using
an application form that does not
even comply with the requirements
of the State law" they said.
Citizens Cite Case.
One of several cases cited by the
association where courts have over
ruled the boards action was that of
a beer and wine license to Joseph
w. Shuler for his restaurant near
Andrews Field. Prince Georges Cir
cult Court Judge Charles C. Mar
bury declared that the board had
erred in ignoring both the law and
the expressed will of the people by
granting the license, the citizens
told the Governor.
3. The judge held that the granting
of the license was illegal and repri-
manded the board for questioning
those protesting the Shuler license
as to whether they were prohibi-
tionists. "All that should concern
the board is whether a majority of
those in the immediate vicinity are
opposed to or in favor of the license.
That should govern their action
the judge declared.
Landover Case Mentioned.
Another case cited was the grant
ing of license to William Man
sgrtim for of sale of beer, wine and
liquor at .Landover, Md. In this
case Judge Marbury tagain revoked
"a license granted by the board after
pointing out that the board had
failed to give sufficient notice of
the hearing; that the application
was not in proper form, and that
the. license had been granted to a
place of business that was not
actually in existence, which is in
violation of the law.
The letter to the Governor, for
,warded by John P. Kern, associa-
.tion president, noted that the Lii
Icense Board is appointed biennially
Eby the Governor. The letter then
'cites provision in the law for the
removal of license commissioners by
the Governor when it is found that
any member of the board is guilty
Iof misconduct in office, incompe-
|tence, or wilful neglect of duty. I'm
der provisions cited, the accused
board member or members are en-
titled to q public hearing.