Evening star., 1950-03-18
Two-StateFight
Seen in Potomac
Pier Gambling
Vireiniuns Preparing
To Sell Liquor Over
Maryland Water
By J. |. MichoeI
Speeiol Stor CORRESPONDENT

l..
ia new Maryland-Virginia dis
pute in which oysters are replaced
by slot machines and whisky is
developing on the Potomac.
Virginians are rushing prepara-
tions to sell liquor by the drink
and to install slot machines on
pierheads over Maryland water.
They are reported negotiating
with operators in Washington and
elsewhere to buy or lease the ma
chimes.
On the Maryland side of the
river, where licenses must be OBJ
tanned, Charles County authori-
ties have demanded that the ma
chimes be obtained from county
licensed distributors.
If the Virginians carry out their
plan, Charles County faces a
heavy loss in slot machine fees.
Law In Charles County.
Charles County slot machine
law provides that machines IL
censed by the county be pur-
chased or leased only from coun-
ty = licensed distributors. License
fees are $3.50 for each machine.
Persons familiar with the local
situation say at least 100 of the
devices will jingle here during the
summer resort season. This means
that Charles County may lose at
least $4,000 revenue. No estimate
has been made of the number of
whisky licenses that may be ap-
piled for.
While refusing to be quoted by
name, Charles County leaders
made it clear that any attempt
to evade the slot machine law
would result in court action and
probably refusal of both liquor
and slot machine licenses.
The local town council has ad-
vertised for bids for lease of the
pierhead at the end of the Munic-
ipal wharf.
4-to-2 Council Vote.
Action followed a 4-to-2 town
council vote approving a resolu-
ton for such lease which, had
been offered by Councilman John
E. Mayo.
Councilmen voting for the reso-
luton, were Dorsey Mears, Roy
Wilkins, q w. Beckwith. and Mr..
Mayo. Those who voted against
L. C. Costenbader and F. w. Den
son.
Mr.. Mayo said the resolution
would permit use of the pierhead
for any commercial enterprise
which does not compete directly
with licensed businesses in the
town"
Beer is licensed, he noted, and
therefore probably would be
banned. Liquor is sold in the
town at State dispensary, how
ever.
Designed for Revenue.
"The resolution was designed
primarily to bring slot-machine
revenue into the town to pay for
badly needed municipal repairs
and improvements" Mr.. Mayo
said.
Bids for the town wharf pier
head are to be opened April Is.
If bid is approved, the lessee
would take possession May Is.
At least three private wharves
In the town also are being readied
for use when the summer season
opens May 30.
Town authorities would not dis
cuss what figure the town would
consider fair. From other sources
1t was learned, that Washington
slot machine operator was pre-
pared to offer $4,000 a season
and that another out of State
man had tentatively figured his
bid at $4,000.
Church leaders report that
community opinion is sharply di-
vlded on the issue.
The Potomac River is conceded
Maryland's territory on the Free
State side of the Virginia high
water mark.
Tactics Declared Legal.
Wharf operators simply saw
piers in two at the low water line,
leaving two separate wharves
spaced about an inch apart, one
in Maryland and one in Virginia.
Such tactics have been declared
legal by Virginia authorities. in
cluding Attorney Gen. j. Lindsay
Almond.
DR.. j. L. Carrick, pastor of the
local Baptist Church, said he had
conferred with Westmoreland
County Circuit Judge E. Hugh
Smith on the matter.
Judge Smith, DR.. Carrick said,
informed him that he believed
Virginia has full jurisdiction over
wharves extending from it's shore
particularly where the piers are
used for purposes detrimental to
the best interests of the COM
munity." Judge Smith has so
ruled in previous cases.
The Baptist pastor indicated
that he would lead a fight against
slot machines and liquor.
eve have until April 15," he ex-
planned "to get signatures on a
protesting petition which will be
presented to the town council. If
this is not sufficient we may have
to raise at least $4,000 to fight the
case ourselves in court. We hope,
though" he added, that the
State will take up the fight and
that the town will eventually join
us in blocking such operations. -