Evening star., 1960-06-06
Resolution Calls
ForCo-operotion
In Development
BY GRACE BASSETT
Star Stan Writer


sage by the full committee was
a resolution, already cleared by
the Senate, calling on Federal
agencies to cooperate to the
fullest extent practicable with
development Of such areas and
the management of their public
affairs.
The resolution amounts to a
declaration of policy by Con-
gress. 1t recognizes that the
District, although the seat of
Federal Government, also has
become an urban center of a
rapidly expanding region.
This was one of seven
measures reported by the COM
ntittee after a morning hear
ing on three bills dealing with
regulation of the sale of alco-
holic beverages. Chairman Nc
MILAN of South Carolina, said
the action on these three pro-
poSalS probably would be taken
at another committee meeting
next week.
Opposed by City Officials
The most controversial of the
three was opposed by Police
Chief Robert v. Murray and
other city officials and sup
ported by Spokesmen for the
restaurant and retail and
wholesale liquor industry.
Witnesses split over a bill
to do away with the present tax
system of stamping liquor bot
ties sold in the District. Whole
SalerS affix stamps and retail
ers put their own numbers over
the stamps. Taxes are paid the
District by wholesalers who
purchase stamps and then COLI
lect a rebate from retailers.
Substituted for stamps would
be a system of reporting to the
District on sales for which
taxes must be paid, under the
bill introduced by Mr.. Nc
MILAN.
Supporters claimed that new,
simple reports would be less
costly and just as certain to
yield the city tax revenue. Sim
ilar reports now are filed for
wine and beer sales.
Seen as Aid to Police
But Chief Murray insisted
that the numbers on tax stamps
led police to murderers, house
breakers, and all kinds of more
minor offenders.
For example, a woman was
Beaten to death with a whisky
bottle in a Washington park"
the chief explained. I'VE found
a number on the broken bottle,
traced it to the store where it
was bought and got our man.
He was convicted of murder"
Henry Wixon, assistant Cor
poration Counsel, testified that
reporting would cost taxpayers
more to enforce because at
least three new auditors would
have to be hired.
Il don't understand why
you'd need three extra men to
audit this simple FORM" coun-
tered Hilliard Schulberg, ex-
ecutive director of the WASH
ington Retail Liquor Dealers
Association. holding up a single
sheet of paper to be used in
the new reporting system.
Demonstration Staged
He also brought a man along
to open a heavy wooden crate
of whisky bottles before the
committee. The man snapped
wire with pliers, used a ham
mer to force open the lid, and
then tore the tissue off each
bottle before he could stamp a
retailers number on the label.
An even more time-consuln-
ing process must be shouldered
by wholesalers or distillers, ac-
cording to Erwin B. Hook of
the Distilled Spirits Institute.
He explained that girls at the
end of bottling lines had TO
affix by hand stamps on all
bottles bound for the District.
Also considered by the com.
mittee were proposals to allow
liquor sales on Sunday in the
District when New Years Day
fell on a Sunday and to ex-
empt embassies from paying
District taxes on liquor bought
here.
Other Bills Reported
Committeeman reported 9TH
er bills that would:
Allow the National Society,
Daughters of the American
ColonistS, to use for its head
quarters a building in a resi-.
dental zone.
Permit incorporation Of the
Metropolitan Police Relief As
sociation.
Set up a procedure for reg
istering names on birth certifi-
Gates which did not require
first names at the time babies
were born.
Hand District Commissioners
sweeping powers 10 organize
the city in case Of emergencies
or enemy attack.
Give schoolteachers credit
for retirement benefits the time
spent on leave without pay to
further their educations.
Regulate credit life insur.
ance companies.