Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-23
CONGRESS AND TEMPERANCE,

them. Heretofore all petitions OF this
character have been referred indiscrimi-
nately TO committees which felt they
had no special concern with the sub
iect, and they have simply been smoth-
ered-no report TO or action by the
House ever being made or taken upon
them.
Mr.. FRYE secured the appointment OF
the committee upon the plea Of insuring
a fuller recognition OF the right OF pc
tition. The discussion Of the subject IN
Congress brought ont the usual variety
OF opinion upon the question so often
raised of the power OF Con-
gress 70 interfere with the
liquor traffic even if petitions were pre-
sented. The resolution reported by
Mr.. FRYE is to the effect that the Speaker
appoint a new special committee OF
nine members ''to whom shall be re-
ferred all petitions, memorials, bills
and resolutions, touching the alcoholic
traffic" "and making it their duty to
consider and report on the subject,
with special regard to the proPriety OF
limiting and controlling the importation,
manufacture or sale of intoxicating
drink"
The line was drawn, in the interesting
debate which followed, between those
who held that as Congress had no
power to act, investigation without
action would be absurd and needless
expense; while those iayoring it held
that the right of petition was practically
violated by the reference Of memorials
on the subject to committees which
permitted them to sleep without any
report.
Mr. FRYE said: "An that they ask is
that the subject Of this traffic shall be
thoroughly investigated in behalf OF the
nation, as you examine into the yellow
lever, or the cattle disease, or anything
that Is tending TO injure or destroy the
people, commission to investigate
thoroughly and make report to the Con-
gress of the United States, and in this
way 10 the nation itself, so that We may
have certain facts which shall be regard
ed as settled, certain statistics on which
we may rely
Mr.. REAGoN said, il was not desirable
for the House to commit itself formally
by raising a committee to do things
which it is not authorized by the cOnsti-
tuition ofthe United States TO do Mr..
FERNANDO WooD said that he would 90
as far as the gentleman from Maine to
suppress the excessive use OF liquors,
but he believed in the limitation OF the
powers OF the federal government, and
that some powers still remained in the
municipalities and in the States, land,
as he said, Il doubt very much whether
the Congress Of the United States can
arrogate jurisdiction to itself over qucs-
tons Of a moral, OF a religious, OF OF a
purely municipal character" Mr.. GAR
FIELD, however had no doubt OF
the constitutionality OF the resO-
luton, There were thou
sand rum shops, he said, within the
shadow OF the capltOl, anu congress GER
tainly had jurisdiction over the entire
legislation of the district But further,
said Mr.. GARFIELD, "we are leyying in
ternal revenue taxes on whisky in vari-
GUS forms, which are to-day paving a
revenue Of almost SlOO.OOO,OOO a year.
Surely it is not improper or unlawful
for us TO inquire how far, ii at all, We
shall consider the moral element in levy
ing taxes. / DO not assert that we have
the general control OF morals, but it may
be our duty to inquire how far morals
shall regulate our actions when we levy
taxes, and how far We may fairly con-
slider the relation OF our taxes to the
morals of the people"
The foregoing shows the general tenor
Of the debate upon the subject, which
resulted in the passage of Mr.. FRYEs
resolution. And now the temperance
reformers have a committee in Congress
especially organized and selected to hear
their complaints. As We have said,
they can make much out of it, if wise.
They can expose the deadly adultera-
tons that are being practised in the Ii
quor traffic, and secure, at least, some
legislation that will be effective in re-
forming the drinks, if it don't reform
the drinkers, and in this they ought to
have no formidable opposition.