Evening star., 1951-05-16
D. {. House Unit
'ApprovesCu
On Bottle Clubs
Davis Crime Bill
OKd Unanimously;
Due Out on Moy 2S
By Miriom ottenberq

BY Miriam Gutenberg
The House District Committee
today unanimously approved the
Davis crime bill, which would put
illegal bottle clubs out of busi-
ness and provide more than a
score OF new legal weapons
against criminals here.
The 30-point bill goes to the
House floor on May %, the next
District day.
Favors ABC Control.
In today's action, winding ur
many months of work on the bill
the comittee:
/. Approved the bottle club pro-
vision which puts the after-hours
establishments under the control
OF the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board and sets up the legal ma
chlnery for padlocking clubs that
operate without an ABC license
or otherwise violate the law.
2. Agreed to authorize a staff
OF five investigators for the United
States Attorneys Office.
3. Struck from the bill a Sec
ton reofganizing the high COM
mand setup of the METROPOLITAN
Police Department and agreed to
handle that issue in separate
bill
Sees End to "Subterfuge."
Representative Davis, Democrat
Iof Georgia. author of the sweep
ing measure. said the bottle club
provision will put out of busi-
ness the clubs that should be
put out of business"
He said the bill will absolutely
eliminate the subterfuge" under
which the bottle clubs have been
operating. He explained he re-
ferred to their operations under
charters granted to benevolent
educational, social and non n-proflt
clubs.
Under the bottle club section
the Commissioners are authorized
to set up whatever rules are neces-
Sary to control the consumption
or alcoholic beverages in the bottle
clubs and to prescribe the hours
during which whisky may be
drunk. The bill specifies, now
ever that the Commissioners shall
not authorize the consumption of
any beverages in the bottle clubs
on Sundays except lights wines
and beer.
Police Section Dropped.
The bills requirements would
make it fairly easy for a legiti-
mate private club to operate,
but it would virtually be impossible
for a commercial after-hours club.
Mr.. Davis explained that the
police reorganization section was
eliminated because of last-minute
protests from police officers who
contended the section would have
the effect of reducing three assist
ant superintendents in rank and
pay and adversely affect retired
officers. Mr.. Davis said he would
add the separate police reorganiza-
ton bill to the pending police pay
bill.
Among other major provisions.
the crime curb bill fixes minimum
sentences for certain crimes,
amends the Dangerous Weapons
Act. provides for forfeiture of
property used in violating gam
bling laws, authorizes arrest with
out warrant in a number of cases,
provides punishment for habitues
of dives" strengthens disorderly
conduct provisions, officially pro-
vides a central criminal record set
UP. and establishes council for
law enforcement in the District.
Authority for Judges.
Under the bill as it now stands.
judges would have to fix these
minimum sentences:
For robbery, housebreaking at
night or assault with intent to
commit rape. not less than one
year. The minimum sentence for
these offenses would be three years
if the offender had previously been
convicted here or elsewhere of a
crime of violence.
For rape, not less than five
years. The minimum sentence fol-
rape would be 10 years if the Of
fender had previously been con-
victed here or elsewhere of a crime
of violence.
For assault with dangerous
weapon on a policeman, for a sec
ond offenSe of illegal possession of
a pistol, or for possession of bur-
glar tools after a previous felony
conviction. not less than one year
Offenders convicted of crimes
where these fixed minimum sem
tences apply would not be eligible
for probation and would not be
paroled before the minimum SEN
tence expires.
d CEnkA.fI.~~AI~A