New-York tribune., 1890-05-21
STATE CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
An INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE
on CONSTITUTIONAL POINTS.

on CONSTITUTIONAL POINTS.
Washington, May 90 tspeciaD.-The bill reported
by the Judiciary Committee Of the Senate to meet the
situation arising from the recent Original package
decision of the Supreme Curt came up today ana led
~ an interesting though not satisfying " coilsltu-
t,onalp discussion. The bill was drawn TO restore 10
the states their control Of the liquor 'raic within the
own borders, and reads a. follows:
> S,,e shau be held u be limited restrained In It's
nover 70 prohibit regulate. control or tax ;he sale Keep
Ing for sale the transportation as an article o commerce
:. obo,vise Ia be delivered within It's own limits OF any
,ermented distilled of0thcr intoxicating liquids Or liquor,
hv reason o, fact that tho same nave oe'h lnPou
,o sch state from hcvond rs limits. whether there
shall or shall have been paid thereon any "N' uu"'
limos. or cxcise to the United State'
The massage OF some such measure had been recon-
oo,dod nv tho supreme Court and it expected TO
20 through the Senate without much delay or difficulty
Mr. Vest however made vigorous opposition to the
hill and kept up the fight almost single handed until
the hour for tho eulogies on the late William d.
Kelley had arrived that the senate was forced 10
let the matter 20 over until to morrow
Tho point made By Mr. Vest that Congress
had no right delegate 10 the states the exercise OF
A, poger which had been conferred exclusively upon
the General Government by tile trainers OF the Con
stitution. The supreme Court had decided that com
mercc between the states waa Incapable OF reguatloh
by state Legislature. 30 the o"ly thng tpneI.,se
IN intoxicating lquors. Restoring the power 10 tha
states to regulate commerce in liquors was simply an
ndofcn,lbe abdicat.on Of right and privilege resting
.olcly with the Federal Government.
Mr Edmund,. Mr. Wilson, of Iowa. and Mr. lioar re
Piled 10 Mr.. vest and defended with shH the report
u the committee. Coucrr,, tho' argued, was not
ahdicatng It's proper authority when It gave
liquors 1t was really employing the state as an
agent or instrument for The execution Of It's undono,rd
right Ia regulate commerce between the states Mr
Edmunds caused mild sensation by remarhng that
step toward centralzaton taken in the last 100
wears and by commertlne IN d,parae.nG tenn on @ thG
courts conclusion. Ia'e i H'tc douut tnit 'le me D
will pass by large majority If vote on II can be
reached tomorrow
ERIsK "ORIGINAI. PACKAGE" TRADE N IOWA.
Chicago. May 90 tSpeciap.-A dispatch from Dcs
Noines Iowa. says: The original package bust
,c-s is Increasing daily. scores Of delivery wagons
arc r,nn.ng In the streets ot this city, Nphed with
beer beg, and cases and bottles Of stronger liquids
without interference. The original package haS ap
parrnty come to stay. The next step VIII pe u
sdapt matters n the condition. IL Is evident
that this cannot be done under existing Statutes
NoRvIN GREEN AND THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH
Wellington May 2O.-Dr. Norvin Green president
Of the Western Union Telegraph Company. was tn
the room Of the House Committee on Postofhec and
Post Roads to-day FOR the purpose Of giving his views
on tho revised and amended bill proposed by tho
Postmastcr-G Gcncral the subject OF a limited postal
telegraph. barely a quorum OF the committee nov"
ever was in attendance, and "a Or. Green's rQue>'
TO speak before r full committee the hearing was
postponed until some future time.
At the request OF Chairman Bingham. Dr. Greene
answered Informally several questions IN regard to The
hll After referring TO the great direIence' IN unc
rate, Of the Western Union and those proposed IN the
Mn he said those rates upon their face meant absolute
loss tn any telegraph company doing business uhdr
them. The Western Union could not afford 10 accept
those rates. There no business In the country
that could stand such reduction In rs charges
Even I'm the of the telephone companies he said
a r,-uction OF 40 per cent IN rates WouW Close
every exchange IN the country and many would nave
10 close bushes, at q reduction Of p per ce'h Dr.
rt,,n gave list Of telegraph companies IN existence
and said agreements ma>ntaln rates were necessary
to prevent companies from waStcful compeut'"h'
referring to the relative for the HoVernment ana
the public Or. said he had made an account OF
| he business from city for three WONth>. lh.'
-howcd that the rates the public were Just about
tvice ~ much the Government during last Nedr
and for some years past and about iour llnlcs a.
much a. the rate fixed by the Postmaster General for
the Government on October 30 last for The prSent
| n,cal wear. DR.. Green said that although the
Government operated the telegraph III Europe Il never
started one In competition with liz own citizens.