Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-25
New Plan SET
For Licensing
Restaurants
Health Department
Would Lose Control
OF Renewed Process

All GMAAy MAVNG W tAtS AAo-
trict Commissioners In the con-
trovery over Washington res
taurant licensing was forecast
last night.
Three District departments,
Il was reported. have agreed
on a plan for ending present
Health Department control
over renewal Of licenses for
the city's public eating places
and other food-handling estab-
liShments.
The plan would make most
renewals automatic. But In
formed sources indicated 1t
would also give health inspec-
tors power to cause quick sls-
pension or revocation Of IL
censes In case Of serious health
violations.
This new plan may be acted
on by the Commissioners this
week.
Expands COMMITTEES
Meanwhile, Commissioner Da-
vid B. Karrick already has ex-
banded q Health Department
industry advisory committee TO
include a representative Of the
Restaurant Beverage Associa-
ton, which has been critical Of
department policies.
The new appointee, Gust
Buttinelli, is a director Of the
beverage group. He is the pro-
prietor Of restaurants at 1887
M street NV. and Fifth and
Morse streets NE.
The advisory committee is
helping to review the city's
restaurant regulations. 1t is ex-
pected that the regulations will
be subject to considerable re-
vision, some Of 1t stemming
from recent disputes.
The beverage association re-
Gently challenged q Health De-
partment licensing action in
volving q restaurant owned by
its chairman, Philip A. Guar
inc. Inspectors were seeking to
require changes in wash-basin
facilities. The Districts Board
Of Appeals and Review upheld
Mr.. Guarino and reversed the
department in the case.
Complain Of Backlog
The association also COM
planned about a large backlog
of license renewal applications
awaiting action by the Health
Departments Bureau Of Food
and Public Health Engineering.
The bureau subsequently was
instructed to expedite these APP
plications.
The Health Department. Lii
censes and Inspections Depart
ment and General Administra-
ton Department yesterday we're
reported to have agreed on the
new automatic-renewal plan
for annual food-handling Ii
censes.
A similar plan already is in
effect for the city's housing
licenses. And management ON
Gals have expressed a hope Of
extending the procedure to all
other business licenses, al
though this is not expected
Immediately.
Under the proposed change,
the significance Of a restaurant
license would be altered. The
holder Of a license cleared by
the Health Department is now
presumed to be in compliance
with health requirements. Un-
der the new plan the license
would not carry this implica-
ton.
Inspections Still Due
Establishments would still be
sheet to periodic health inspec-
tons under the proposal. Ac-
cording to the plans advocates,
the inspectors powers to deal
with serious violations would be
strengthened.
Health Director Daniel l..
Finucane said yesterday he has
agreed to the proposed changes.
William H. Cary. jr., chief Of
the food bureau, also said he
has no objection provided the
change in the meaning of the
license is recognized and the
departments hands are not
tied in protecting public health.
License officials said Mr..
Cary's bureau by Friday had APP
proved and sent back for is
suance some 1000 business IL
censes out Of nearly 5000 sent
to the bureau for review since
expiring last october. The ma
jority were processed in the past
two weeks after complaints by
the beverage group and the
licenses department.