Washington sentinel., 1901-01-12


ference committee. In such case
the brewers have The best OF the
and strong grounds for
the belief that a lower rate than
500 will be the reward Of their
representatives, for when it comes
o a deadlock in conference com
mittees the Senate usually wins
the point for which it contends,
Brewers therefore are lucky to
have the Senate on their side.
The tax on bank checks should
stay; so should that on patent
medicines, both Of which are Tor
Insignificant sums, are as easily
collected as tbs beer tax and ia
comparably less oppressive. Pos
sesslng, therefore, all the qualities
the facility OF collection and free
dom from burdens-that made
beer, from a revenue standpoint,
available, and none OF its draw
backs, the interests ofthe Treasury.
will be subseryed in all respects by
the retention OF these items, and
their retention will clear the way
for farther reduction OF Is cents
a barrel on beer.
The War Revenue bill will be
taken up after the passage Of the
Army bill-probably Monday.
---sS-B--
The Canteen Defeat and what 1t
POrtends.
The importance OF the vote in
the Senate, last Wednesday, on
the canteen provision in the Army
bill, allowing the sale beer TO sol
diers, but which was defeated by a
vote OF "a to IS, does not lie en-
tirelY in the circumstance that
Congress has forbidden the sale Of
Intoxicating liquors to soldiers.
Were it merely matter OF the sale
OF a few barrels Of beer, it might
be dismissed without further COM
ment.
The significance lies in the fact
that ianaiicisin has been able to
muster tor the first time in both
Houses Of Congress a vote suffi-
ciently large to pass their meas
ures. The result is significant not
for what has been done but for
what NAV be done in the future.
AT various times since 1873,
when the first attempt was made
to make Prohibition a national
issue through the appointment oil
an Alcoholic Liquor Traffic Com.
mission, the bill providing for
which was introduced by Senator
Howe, OF Wisconsin, and FIVE tim eS
met defeat, Prohibitionists have
forced their pet schemes through
one or the other House OF Con-
gress, but never have they sue
ceeded with both Houses until last
Wednesday.
This is important Tor several
reasons: because it shows that pro-
hibition sentiment has taken a
frmer hold upon the people than
the vote for olley & Metcalf, in
the late campaign, would indicate;
because it shows that prohibition
sentiment is powerful enough TO
1-eeEtnrsrfflfSS srfflfSSF HF-ffaa IA vor 4bife actrUm from
Congress; because it shows that
prohibition sentiment has been so
successfully developed, through
press and public lecturers, as to be
able to brush aside old party Gi-
visions (Which heretofore have
been relied upon to furnish a
nucleus for successful opposition)
and compel an alignment on an
issue which both parties have hith-
erto sought to evade. In a word,
it means that prohibition is here
to stay.
And what does this mean7 1t
means that prohibition will not
stop there. This session OF Con-
gress is a short one; that alone
may prevent enactment OF laws, at
the behest OF victorious Prohibi-
tionists, to forbid the sale OF liquor
in any Of our new island posses
sion5. But the coming session will
surely see hem. Again, It means
renewed efforts-in many cases
undoubtedly successful oues-in
favor Of stringent restrictive meas
ures in the State Legislatures.
And finally, it means a reopening
Of the question Of constitutional
prohibition Tor the States, Terri
tories and District OF Columbia.
Stimulated by their victory in
Congress and encouraged by their
success in breaking down old party
lines and laying the foundation
firm and deep for a new one built
upon the issues they have long
contended for, supporters oil ma
tional prohibition will be factors in
coming elec ions that no party can
afford to ignore.