Evening star., 1951-02-11
Hearing Slated
On Price Ban
In Liquor Ads
ABC Chairman Heads.
IS Witnesses to
Testify Tomorrow

The proposal to prohibit liquor
dealers here from quoting prices.
in their advertisements will be
the subject Of a public hearing
by the Commissioners at 10 am.
tomorrow in the District Building.
Fifteen names. headed by that
of Alan w. Payne. chairman of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
are on the list of witnesses sched-
uled to present their views.
The amendments submitted by
the ABC Board would prohibit
all forms of liquor price advertis-
ing, except on wine lists and
menus furnished guests in eating
places.
The ban was recommended az
a means of stabilizing the in
dustry, doing away with bargain,
sales, and bringing the regula-
ton into line with existing ones
preventing outside display Of
liquor prices, Mr.. Payne said.
Sought by Wholesale Dealers.
Mr.. Payne in the past has op-
posed such a measure. The board
submitted the present proposal
following discussion in January
with the Commissioners of
similar, less drastic one.
There was a public hearing last
June on two proposals by the
board. One would have banned
sellers of drinks by the bottle or
case from advertising prices less
than the met list price" at which
the licensee purchased the bever-
age. The second would have con-
trolled discounts offered by whole
salers to retailers.
The city heads rejected the dis
count rule on grounds it would be
unenforceable. They asked the
board to tighten the advertising
proposal to forbid all advertising
on the ground the board had in
sufficient inspectors to police the
regulation as pegged to the met
list price"
Wholesale dealers have been:
trying for several years to get a
rule banning price advertising as
a means Of blocking cut-rate sales.
H. G. Morrison. assistant at
torney general. has advised the
city heads Of a belief the present.
ly proposed regulation would con-
stitute a serious departure from
the congressional policy, enun-
ciated in =. the Sherman Act :.
to preserve system of free COM
petitive enterprise in the Dis
trict." 80
The Justice Department. viii be
represented at the hearing by Wall
ter D. Murphy. =
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West has stated he saw no legal
objection to the proposed amend
ments.
Prices Sought on Room Lists.
Hilliard Schulberg, executive die
rector of the Washington Retail
Liquor Dealers Association, Inc,
will speak in favor of the change.
He reported that a poll of 1856
dealers here brought 230 responses,
90 per cent of which were for the
move.
Joseph c. McGarraghy, who
will represent the Hotel Associa-
ton of Washington, said he
would ask a modification to per-
NIT the listing of prices on cards
in guest rooms.
The proposal has been backed
in letters to the Commissioners
from Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee and
Representative Klein. Democrat.
of New York. a member.
Peyton r. Evans, executive Sec
retary and counsel for the Wash
ington Publishers Association, ad-
vised the Commissioners he had
been authorized to present its
views in opposition.
Others opposing include Cor
don M. Atherholt, attorney, who
will appear on behalf of ths
Council of Citizens AS
sociations. the Palisades Citizens
and the Glover Park
Citizens Association.