Evening star., 1951-08-17
County-0wned
Liquor System
UrgedbyHughes
Delegate Plans to
Seek Legislation
For Prince Georges

A Prince Georges County Re-
publican leader was on record to-
lay as favoring a county owned
and-operated liquor dispensary
system similar to the one operat-
ng in Montgomery County.
Delegate William r. "Huck"
Hughes told the County Liquor
Board in Upper Marlboro yester-
day he is giving very serious con-
to the dispensary sys-
tenn for Prince Georges, even
though it is somewhat repugnant
to my Republican belief in free
enterprise"
He told reporter afterwald
he contemplates introducing a
bill in the General Assembly to
authorize the system. He said he
probably will have to wait until
the 1858 session to introduce it,
since the even-year sessions Of
the Legislature may consider only
and fiscal legislation.
"At present." Mr.. Hughes de-
clared, Il feel I can count on the
support of at least two members
of the delegation and I feel Ger
tain the people of the county
will support the move"
Sees Cleanup Possibilities.
He said he sees the dispensary
system as a good. and possibly
the only instrument for clean
ing up the liquor situation in
Prince Georges County"
Under the dispensary system
as it operates in Montgomery
County. both wholesale and re-
tail purchases of beer and liquor
are made at county stores, with
the profit going to the county.
Montgomery's dispensary system
brought the county 100000 in
revenues during the 1851 fiscal
year. t
Mr.. Hughes disclosed his inter-
est in the dispensary system in
appearing before the board as a
representative of several Suitland
residents who unsuccessfully op-
posed transfer of a liquor license
to Hartman's Grill at 4701 Suit
land road.
The Republican dominated
board approved transfer of the
Class A, on-and-off sale license
now held by former Democratic
County Treasurer James B. Bland.
William Bowie, Mr.. BANDS at
torney, said application will be
made at next months liquor board
meeting to have the license trans
Iferred to C. Norris Hartman, pro-
prietor of Hartman's grill, since
board procedure does not allow
transfer of both location and own
ership of a license at the sans
time.
Held for Month.
Mr.. Bland has held the license
for only a month. 1t was trans
ferred to him at the July meet
/ ing for use at the Prince Georges
Hotel at Upper Marlboro. The
license was formerly held by Peter
w. Duval and Robert w. Downing.
The board stipulated, in trans
ferring the license to Hartman'S
grill, that it shall be used for
sale or package goods sales
only.
Thomas B. Carrico, Republican
chairman of the board, pointed
out several times during the
lengthy hearing on the transfer
that Mr.. BANDS high position in
the county Democratic party
should not influence the boards
decision.
Sixty-seven Suitland residents
appeared to protest the transfer.
They argued that Hartman's grill
is too close to the Suitland Ele-
mentary and Suitland Junior
Senior High schools and the Bap,
tist and Christian churches to bs
suitable for a liquor store. Fur4
thermore, the community already
has enough liquor stores, one of
them only half mile from Hart !
mans grill, they said.
The board, in a statement, said
1t does not feel "the morals of
Suitland'S school children will be
corrupted" by the liquor store.
Liquor is just another com i
modify" the statement added
and the rapid growth of Suitj
land justif1es another liquor store ="
License Suspensions.
In another action, the board
suspended the licenses of Otto'S
Grill, 1927 Bladensburg road, COL
mar Manor; Mike Young's tavern.
5000 block of Marlboro pike, Hin.
side, and the Campus Club. lust
across the street from Mike
Young'S.
Mike Young's drew a 6o-dav
suspension, and 15-day suspen-
Slons were decreed for the two
OCAlCA PIdCCS.
Mike Young and Vernon Bied.
Ter, proprietor of the Campus Cluh
were summoned before the board
at the request of Robert L, BeaTl
liquor board investigator, and
County Police Chief F. Allen Rich
ards. The two tavernkeepers were
accused of failing to control
drunks and rowdies on their
premises. =
Walter Shelton's license for
Ottos Grill was suspended he
cause of Police Court convictioo
Ior selling whisky on SUNDAY
another violation, and your IL
cense will be in serious Jeopardy y
the board told Shelton.
IN addition, the board also
granted a beer and light wins
on-sale license to Alfonso Pro-
coplo for AIS Market, Tolls Cen.
tral avenue, Seat Pleasant.