West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-05-21
Mr.. Goff's Minority Report on
the Liquor Traffic Commits
sion Bill.

We give below the Bill intro
duced in Congress by Mr.. Price.
The Bill was referred to the Select |
Com mittee on the Alcoholic Liq-
uor Traffic, and reported against.
Mr.. Price and Mr.. Golf each sub
mftted a minority report recon-
mending that the BILL do pass"
Fo provide for commission on the
subject of the alcoholic-liquor
traffic.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
{Hoatse of Representatives. of the U7ait-
ed States of america in Congress as
Fssm,blcd, That there shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent of the
Senate, commission of seven per-
sons, not more than four 81 whom
l-shall belong 10 the same political
party nor be advocates of prohibit
ton, who shall be selected solely
with reference to personal fitness
and capacity flor an honest, impair
tial, and thorough investigation,
and who shall hold Office until
their duties shall be accomplished,
but not to exceed two years. 1t
shall be their duty to investigate
the Acknowledgment traffic, its rela-
tions to revenue and taxation, and
it's general economic, criminal,
moral, and scientific aspects in
connection with pauperism, crime,
social vice. the public health, and
general welfare of the people; and
also to inquire as to the practical
results of license and pTohibitory
! Legislation for the prevention of
intemperanee in the several States
of the Union.
SEC. 2. That the said commits
sioners shall serve without salary ;
that the necessary expenses Incl
dental to said investigation, not
exceeding ten Thousand dollars,
shall be pale out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, npon vouchers to be
tapproved bySthe Secretary of the
4 Treasury; a&d for this pCrpose the
Asum of ten Tia ousand dollars is here
tby appropriated out of any moneys
Yin the Treasury not otherwise ap-
toropriated. &c shall be the fur
Jther duty of said commiss oners to
report the result of their investiga-
Istion, with ssch suggestions and
Recommendations as they may see
1T to make, aad the expenses at
tending the same, to the President,
within eighteen months after the
passage of this act, to be transmit
ted by him to Congress.
MR.. GoFF's MINORITY REPORT.
II do not concur with the COM
nittee in the report submitted in
this matter. Lagree with the mi
nority in the conclusion reached
that the bill should pass, but l
cannot indorse all the arguments
used in reaching that conclusion,
hence I cannot subscribe to the
report offered by Mr. Price.
The questions involved are of
greattimportance, and the petition
ers ase of high character and great
number. The committee conclude
that Congress has no power to ALL
thorize the legislation proposed by
this bid. After a careful consid-
GRAFTON of the questions involved, I
am forosd to different conclusion
1t is not now necessary to discuss
the question as to the power Of
Congress to regulate the sale of or
prohibit the manufacture of in
toxicating liquors within the
States. TIE information desired,
is, in my opinion, necessary as an
aid to future legislation and a guide
to Congress on the questions of rev.
eaue and taxation. AS to the
District of Columbia and all the
Territories, it is conceded by all
that Congress possesses the oOns4i-
tutienal right to make the inquf-
ny proposed, as wei. as to regulate
or prohibit the traffic in liquors.
I do not now propose to discuss
the question of temperance, but |
do think that full and compre-