Evening star., 1950-03-26
Hearings Open
Tomorrow on
ID. {. Liquor Bill
Controversy Expected
Over Voluntary
Fair Trade Plan
By Harold B. ROGERS

'fA'SfS ~ NSSStS
Proposed voluntary control Of
liquor prices by wholesalers and
dealers here is headed for a con-
troversy before House District
subcommittee at 10 am. tomor-
row.
The bill for such a purpose.
sponsored by Representative Nc
MILAN, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima. will come up for public hear
ing before judiciary subcommit-
tee of which Representative
Harris, Democrat, OF Arkansas is
chairman.
known as fair trade" prac-
tice measure. it is backed by some
liquor interests, but has been
criticized by opponents as move
to keep prices up.
Officials to Testify.
Witnesses are expected to in
clude spokesmen for the liquor in
dustry. the District Alcohol Bev-
erage Control Board, and the Dis
trict Commissioners. District
officials in the past have opposed
the principle of fair trade prac-
tice legislation for the liquor in
dustry, which would have made
the ABC board the enforcing
agency.
Under the new voluntary" bill
wholesalers and retailers could
sign binding agreements under I,
which the buyer would not resell
commodities except at the price
stipulated by the vendor" Reg
ulations would be drawn up by
the ABC Board.
Persons wao claim they had
been damaged by underselling
could sue in court On the basis
of unfair competition" whether
or not they are parties to volun-
tary contract not to undersell.
The bill is aimed at low prices
of standard brands sold by cut
rate stores.
Tomorrow is District Day In the
House, but will not be 50 OBJ
served. Chairman Mcmillan Of the
District Committee said last night
he will not call up any munich
pal legislation for action. The
House is scheduled to debate the
ECA bill tomorrow.
Senate Group to Meet.
On the Senate side, q District
subcommittee will consider three
bills at hearing at II an.
Thursday. One of these, already
passed by the House, would per-
nit f1remen to 60 on . five-day
week as soon as funds are avail
able, presumably next July /, IN
stead of waiting 180 days after
that date.
The second would authorize
$100 900 for the Districts day care
nurseries next fiscal year.. with
the proviso that the Commission
ers could enter into contracts with
either public. or private agencies
to handle the project.
Another measure. sponsored by
Chairman Nicely Of the Senate
District Committee, would change
the 1906 charter of the Presby-
terian Congregation Of George
town. 1t would permit trustees
to meet any time they decide, in
stead of the mandatory first
Tuesday in April, and to increase
the amount of annual income
from church property from its
charter limit of $4,000 to $25 900.
Legislation for summer daylight
saving time here is pending on
both sides of the Capitol. A bill
to authorize the District Commis-
sioners to put it into effect each
year in the future has been ap-
proved by the Senate District
Committee, and is waiting action
on the floor. It probably will
come up when the calendar Is
called, probably next week.
The House District Committee
plans to act on a bill for the ex-
tension Of daylight saving time
next summer only. when the next
regular committee session Is held
April 2. This measure was sent
to the full committee by a sub
committee. Since that action an
other bill has been introduced in
the House to give the commits
sioners such authority perma-
nently.