The Portland daily press., 1890-05-30
SMASHING THE ORIGINAL PACKAGES.
The Senate Passes Bill Allowing
States to Regulate Liquor Traffic.
Bar Harbor's Public Building Under
Fire in the House.
Favored With That of Lewiston In
Committee of the Whole.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-In the Senate to-
day, Mr.. Teller introduced this joint resolu-
tion, which was laid on the table and ordered
printed:
That it is the determined policy of the United
States government to use both gold and silver as
tull legal tender money under the ratio now ex-
ter be established by the United States alone, or
acting In accord with other nations.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the House bill, with
amendments, to authorize the acquisition of
certain parcels of real estate in Washington
as a site for city post office. The site pro-
vided for in the House bill is one bounded
by Pennsylvania avenue, e street, Ninth
street and the safe deposit building. The
amendments change the site to the south
side of the avenue, between 11th and 18th
streets, and strike out the amendment in the
House bill for the purchase of the site, the
cost of the proposed site not being known
definitely. The bill was passed.
The Senate bill subjecting imported liquors
to the provisions of the laws of the several
states was taken up, the question being on
the substitute offered by Mr.. Gray, reading
That fermented, distilled, or other Intoxicating
liquors transferred as an article of commerce, or
outside such state or territory for use therein
shall not be exempt nor shall the owner or per
sons in possession thereof be exempt from
the operation of the laws of, or the regulation,
control, police or taxing power of such state or
territory affecting or applicable to all other like
akage OF m
as subject of interstate or foreign commerce.
The amendment was agreed to-yeas, 26
nays, 20; the Maine senators not voting.
Mr.. Vest moved to amend the substitute
JUS. adopted by making it apply to fresh
gued that if the bill was to become law it
should not be confined to intoxicating
liquors. He had not heard an argument
tending to. show that the bill was in the
right direction: or was anything else than an
ions IONS dH Of the ~ Supreme 'ne Court ue'lSf Of
the United States for the last 63 years. It
was the first time that he knew of the Su-
preme Court being the suggester of reme-
dies. There were only two questions be-
fore the court in the Iowa case. When the
court went outside of them and said it would
suggest what could be done, it was present
ing a novel and unique proposition. Instead
of the uniformity sought by the trainers of
duce chaos and confusion worse confounded
as the ages should continue to progress. But
If he were wrong in his position In regard to
the bill, and If the friends of the bill were
right, then he wanted to save to the cattle
raisers of the West the same privileges as
regard to the exclusion of alcoholic stimu-
lants.
The vote on Mr.. Vests amendment was
yeas, 8; nays, 80 no quorum voting. Mr..
Vest withdrew the demand for the yeas and
nays, and his amendment was disagreed to.
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, offered a substitute
for Mr.. Gray's amendment providing that
liquors transported into any state or terrific
ry for use or storage, shall, on arrival, be
subject to the operation and effect of the
laws OF such state or territory enacted in the
exercise OF IT'S powers and shall not be ex-
empt. therefrom by reason of being intro
duced in the original packages.
Mr.. Eustis asked Mr.. Gray whether, If his
substitute become law and If the brewers
who were parties to the suit in the recent
case before the Supreme Court were again
to ship packages Of beer to Iowa, the beer
could be seized and coniscated under the
Iowa law. which the Supreme Court had de-
clared unconstitutional, or it would be neces-
sary for Iowa to originate another law. In
other words, was il not unQuestionable that
the effect Of the amendment was to render a a
state law constitutional which the Supreme
Court had declared constitutiona1P
Mr.. Gray replied that he did not consider
It necessary for Iowa to re-enact its law.
The only effect of the recent decision of the
Supreme Court and of the bill, if it became
a law, would be to withdraw the Interrupt
tion which the commerce clause of the con-
stitution presented to the execution of the
Iowa law. Mr.. Wilson's substitute for Mr..
Gray's amendment was adopted-yeas, %
nays, 20, and the bill passed-yeas, "a; nays
10. 1t reads:
That all fermented, distilled or other intoxicat
ing liquors or liquids transported into any state
or territory for use, consumption, sale storage
shall, on arrival in such state territory re
naming therein, be subject to the operation and
territory, enacted in the exercise of its
police powers, to the same extent
and in the same manner as though such liquor:
or liquids had been produced in such state or ter
ritory and shall not be exempt therefrom by rea
| son of boing introduced there in original pack
ages or otherwise.
The Maine Senators did not vote on thu
passage of the bill. The title of the bill wa!
| amended, on motion of Mr.. Wilson of Iowa,
| to read "A bill to limit the effect of the reg
| ulations of commerce between the severa
states and with foreign countries in certain
cases."
The river and harb0r appropriation bill
was received from the House and reported
| to the committee on commerce. After ;
brief executive session the Senate at 6.15 ad
journed until Monday.