Evening journal., 1890-06-28
ONE GENT.
THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE QUESTION.
Report Of the House Committee on Its
Substitute Bill.


substitute BILL
WAsHrNGroE, June 2s The report of the
house committee on the Judiciary on it's
substitute for the senate bill to prohibit
the importation Of liquors In original pack
ages into state in violation of state laws
has been prepared by Mr. Reed DAD
The senate bill was applicable to intoxi-
cants only, while the house substitute COW
ers all articles Of commerce. After review
ing the recent decision OF the United States
supreme court, in which it WAS held that
intoxicants might be shipped to a prohibit
ton state and offered for sale there in
original packages, the report cites in
stances where states found it expedieut to
prohibit the sale Of liquors and other arti-
ules Of commerce. within their borders, and
then goes on to say:
In the opinion Of your committee, all
property, which has been imported into a
!, ate and kept for sale there ought to be
subject for all purposes to the jurisdiction
Of the state and all persons who would
engage 10 tratiice within q state ought to
be subject 70 such rules as 1t may enact
for the regulation Of that traffic. The
states are the proper judges Of the needs
Of their own citizens, and they ought To be
free to enact and enforce such laws as they
may deem best adapted TO their situation,
and best calculated to enhance the pros
perty and happiness OF their people, and
when the nonresident imports his wares
into the state and there engages in traffic,
it is but just that he should be subjected
TO the same restrictions that govern the
citizen Of the state who would engage in u
like traffic And this would be the effect
Of the bill II amended as recommended by
the committee. It would in no manner
interfere with the right of a citizen of q
state to purchase abroad any article OF
commerce which he might desire for his
own use aud have the same transported
and delivered to him at his place OF resi-
| dence
'Ihe states would have no power 10 pre-
vent the importation OF any article of com
meree nor to obstruet the transportation
of commerce through their territories ex-
| oept in the necessary enforcement Of their
| health laws Its only effect would be TO
subject such property as may be imported
into the state and there held or offered for
sale to The laws Of the state. The power
OF congress to enact n law Of this character
can hardly be doubted. II Is empowered
20 regulate commerce among the several
states and with foreign nations. Any
| enactment which establishes a rule for the
government OF commerce OF that character
Is regulation within the meaning of the
constitution, and the bill clearly would
have that effect
"In the Judgment Of your committee il
would be much wiser 20 enact a general
law, applicable to all articles Of commerce,
than TO meet the exigeney with reference
to particular articles as II may desire, az
would be the policy if the senate bill
should be enacted For that reason VIZ
have recommended the accompanying
amendment, and il Is the opinion Of ths
committee that the bin as amended ought
TO be enacted into % law Mr.. Adam'
ulls) dissented from the views Of th'
other members Of the committee, and vii
file a minority report.