Evening star., 1951-01-31
Council Cuts0ff.
Official S Plea
For ABC Board
Attorney Gill Carries
Fight to Legislature
To Retain System

Fight to Legislature
To Retain System
A Montgomery County Liquor
Board official. whose plea for re-
tention of the, alcoholic beverage
control system was cut short by
the County Council yesterday, was
to take his appeal to lawmakers in
Annapolis this afternoon.
James w. Gill, attorney to the
Liquor Board, touched off a lively
exchange at the County Council
meeting in Rockville when he was
prevented from concluding a
statement.
His appeal to the county dele
CATION in the General Assembly
this afternoon probably will come
too late. however.
Scheduled for introduction to-
day are four bills to bring about
most OF the things Mr.. Gill is try
ing to circumvent. Three of them
were indorsed by the County
Council in executive session two
weeks ago, it was learned.
One bill would abolish the pres
ent Liquor Control Board, which
is appointed by the Governor. In
stead there would be created a
board of license commissioners,
appointed by the County Council
but functioning as a separate
agency. and a department of
liquor control under the county
manager.
Another measure would repeal
the present law, which earmarks
liquor license fees to pay off inx
debtedness against the county
dispensary buildings.
Another piece of legislation
one which the County Council de-
clined to act on at its closed ses-
sion-would sharply increase the
beer and liquor license fees for
sales on the premises.
The all-Republican delegation
to the General Assembly is spon-
soring the legislation as a part of
its home rule" program. Gov.
Mckeldin is a Republican. Mem
bers of the present Liquor Control
Board are Democrats. The Coun-
ty Council is made up of five
Republicans and two Democrats,
Laynor Statement Criticized.
At yesterdays Council meeting.
Mr.. Gill criticized a recent state
ment Of Roger Laynor, chief of
the alcoholic beverage division
OF the State controllers Office.
Mr.. Laynor told Montgomery's
lawmakers last week that the
county's beer monopoly is reduc-
ing the States revenues.
At this point Mr.. Gill had con-
sumed an estimated 20 minutes
making his report and it appeared
that he was little more than half
through.
Council President j. Louis
Monarch commented: politics, :
whisky and money do not mix
and the problem should be studied
without considering politics."
Mr.. Gill said he understood"
bills were being prepared to re-
vamp the county's present alco-
holic beverage control setup and
he felt the Council should be fully
informed of the facts.
Mrs. Kathleen Lawlor and
Harold Hammond, Council men,
bers, said they did not believe the
Council was the proper place to
discuss legislation before the
General Assembly.
Predicts S5O0,0O0 Profit.
Mr.. Gill. who had predicted a
profit of $500,000 to the county
at the end of the fiscal year, said:
II am trying to show the Council
the seriousness of the loss of reve-
nue. that would result by these
proposed bills. I have facts and
figures to show what the prob
able consumption and what the
probable income will be-"
Mr.. Monarch told Mr.. Gill:
''The Council is not interested in
controversial legislation. We can
not get into a political discussion.
You understand, we are prepared
to hear any factual statement"
mo, don't understand that"
Mr.. Gill replied, feelingly. "It
seems to me the Council should be
willing to listen to anything per-
tanning to the good of the county.
That you are not doing"
j. Forest Walker, chairman of
the Liquor Board, also sought to
reassure the Council that Mr..
Gill's statement was not intended
to have political implications.
Later Mr.. Walker told reporters:
From 1941 to 1916 I was clerk
to the (former) county commits
sioners. During that time the
board never refused to hear any
person who came in to talk to us"
DIT hafora N6r C;JI oI x>,,x 80.