Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-10
After-Hours Bill
Held Threat 10
Legal Clubs
Committee Delays
Control Measure
For New Hearing
By ChorIes 6. Brooks


Efforts to stamp out the local
bottle club racket hit a snag
today when members of a HOUSE
District subcommittee discovered
that the pending bill to curb
them would drastically restrict
a number of legitimate estab-
lishments.
Representative Patterson, Re.
publican, of Connecticut, pointed
out that the measure now being
considered would also strike at
the Sphinx Club. the Moose. the
Elks. the Variety and the Touch
down Clubs-all of which were
termed Legitimate and upstand-
ing organizations"
At the same time. Represen-
tative Klein. Democrat. Of New
York, called for the extension
of hours when bars may sell
drinks as part of the after-hours
club solution.
was 10 Be Reported.
The bill to clamp down on
after-hours clubs, introduced by
Chairman Kearns of the SUBJ
committee on Public Service.
Streets and Traffic. was sched-
uled to be reported out after this
mornings hearings.
However, Mr.. Kearns an
nounced that an additional hear
ing would be held at $50 am.
March 18. He added that the
committee would invite members
of the legitimately operated fra
ternal clubs to appear.
The Kearns bill would force
bottle clubs to obtain licenses
and bring them under strict Al
coholic Beverage Control Board
regulations. Passage Of the
measure would virtually insure
the adjustment of after-hours
clubs.
Mr.. Klein agreed with several
witnesses from hotel and res
taurant groups that the extern
sion of hours when licensed bars
and restaurants may serve drinks
would help keep the bottle clubs
closed.
Advocates Home Rule.
The Representative, who has
previously had bills to that effect
defeated, dashed out at oppo-
nents to such measures and de-
clared that if the District had
home rule there would be no
such problem.
Time after time" he said,
there are things like the extern
sion Of drinking hours. that the
people Of the District want. but
Congress brings in the prejudices
of persons all over the country
and stymies them.
"The people here cannot get
the legislation they want. If this
isn't the best argument for home
rule, I can't think of one"
United States Attorney
Charles M. Irelan today told the
committee that passage of the
after-hourS club measure would
provide a long-sought weapon
with which to put out of BUSH
ness persons like Albert B. Click
field. Glickfield. according to
Deputy Chief Clarence Lutz. is
scheduled to reopen his cloed-
down bottle club under a new
name this week at the same
COG E street NV. address
officials say that if the pend
ing legislation is not passed
there is little that can be done
to halt the new clubs activities.
Snag Develops.
Today's Snag appeared when
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West pointed out that the legiti-
mate fraternal organizations
would be forced to close their
doors to members at 2 am. on
weekdays and midnight on Sat-
urdays under the proposed bill.
He added that hotels would be
able to allow private parties
to consume alcoholic beverages
if the sponsors supply their own
drinks. setups, food and service.
The legitimate clubs would
not be allowed to operate even
under those circumstances.
However, committee members.
who are determined to provide
legislation to stamp out the
commercially operated clubs, in
dictated a means would be found
to avoid the latest tieup.