Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-28
Liquor Law
Relaxation
Move Beaten
Montgomery Unit
Blocks Favor to
Hotels in County
By . star star writer


Legislation TO relax Montgom-
cry County's liquor laws appears
to be on its way to the scrap
heap for this session Of the
Maryland General Assembly.
The county delegation yes
terday, after q bitter floor bat
tie. beat down Q move that
would have allowed liquor
licenses for big hotels in the
county.
Still alive. but given little
chance Of surviving the final
week Of this session. Is q bill
that would relax present laws
to permit the licensing Of fra
ternal and veterans clubs in
the suburban area.
During yesterdays fooy fight
over the hotel bill. three Mont
gomery Delegates said their
constituents did not want the
liquor laws relaxed.
The battle came over q move
by I'VE Of the six Montgomery
delegates to exempt the country
from q Statewide bill that
would have authorized hotel
liquor licenses in any county
where liquor is sold but where
hotels are not now licensed.
Two Counties Concerned
Delegate Alger Y. Barbee
fought against other members
Of the delegation in the move to
exempt the county from the
bill. The bills effect would
have been primarily on Mont
gomery and Frederick Counties.
Mr.. Barbee twice got major
assistance from House Speaker
Perry o. Wilkinson.
At one point, Mr.. wilkinson
told the House that although 1t
had O tradition Of observing the
will Of the majority Of q local
delegation on q local matter,
1t also should consider recon-
mendations Of standing COM
mittees.
The Alcoholic Beverage Com
mittee, on which Mr.. Barbee
sits as the lone Montgomery
member, had rejected the
county's request to be exempted
from the bill.
When a voice vote was called
for by Mr.. wilkinson, he ruled
the mos seem to have 1t. the
Nos have it."
Montgomery delegation
Chairman Blair Lee III three
times asked for q roll call be-
fore Mr.. Wilkinson honored his
request at the insistence of
other delegates. He first tried
to make Mr.. Lee ask for q re-
consideration Of the voice vote.
InvOkes Tradition
Mr.. Lee called on the House
to honor its ancient and hon.
orable traditions" of abiding
by the majority vote Of a local
delegation.
Mr.. Barbee urged the House
to ignore pleas Of other mem
bers Of the delegation.
He made 1t clear he felt open
ing the county to hotel liquor
licensing would be a starting
point for both hotels and res
taurants.
Mr.. Barbee said his actions
on liquor legislation might
jeopardize his chances for re-
election in the county.
The House, despite efforts Of
the Alcoholic Beverage Com
mittee. voted Ga to % to sup
port Montgomery's majority in
the roll call vote. Mr.. Wilkin-
son cast his vote with the ma
jority.
Offers Amendments
Yesterday he released two
amendments to his bill which
he said would make it more
palatable to the other members
of the delegation.
One would prohibit the IL
censing of clubs located in resi-
dentially zoned areas. The
other would require that any
future country club license
carry a restriction that 1t could
serve only members and guests.
His second amendment would
not affect existing country
clubs which have no restrictions
on who can be served either by
the drink or by the bottle for
Off-DremiSeS liSe