Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-19
KNOX DRAWS LIQUOR BILL
Measure to Prevent Federal Interfer-
enoe With Local Prohibition Laws.
ACTS ON TnLMANS SUGGESTION
Proposed Measure Subjects c. o. ID.
Packages to Laws of state when
They Cross the Line--Culber-
son Talks on Finances.

, WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-In the senate
today resolutions were introduced by Sena-
tor Tilman asking the Interstate Com
merce commission to report whether any
corporation engaged in interstate commerce
is the owner Of stock of any other cor
poration~ transporting passengers and
freight and calling upon the Interstate
Commerce commission to define the author
ity Of the federal government and Of the
states IN respect to the control OF the
liquor traffic through the operation of the
interstate commerce law.
These resolutions provoked considerable
debate and were finally referred to senate
committees, though one Of them was trans
formed into bill by Senator Knox at the
request OF Senator Tillman.
Senator Culberson spoke on his resolu-
tion calling on the committee on finance to
investigate and report on the cause of the
present financial stringency and to recon-
mend measures for the prevention Of its re-
currence. The resolution was referred to
the committee on finance.
TiIIman's liquor ResOIutiOn.
Senator Tilman today introduced the fol-
lowing resolution:
THAT the committee on interstate COM
merce be instructed to consider and report
by bill or otherwise what legislation is
desirable or necessary to enable the states
in the exercise of their police powers to
control the commerce of liquors and alco-
holio beverages within their borders so as
to aid the cause of temperance and to pre-
vent the encouragement by the United
States government of Illicit dealing in the
same"
Mr.. Tillman said his purpose was to
prevent circumvention Of state prohibition
laws Said he:
THE courts have held that these laws
interfere with interstate commerce. On this
account l ask this investigation"
Mr.. Tillman said the express companies
are flooding local option southern states
with whisky from other states &C o. D,
and the supreme court Of the United States
has held that such traffic cannot be inter-
fered with because of its interstate char
acter.
He said his resolution sought to define
the point at which the police power of
the state begins and determine how far
congress can go in limiting the control
over interstate traffic in intoxicating bever-
ages.
Mr.. Knox Draws Bill.
A general discussion concerning the
powers of the federal government was
precipitated
Mr.. Knox suggested that the whole diff
ficulty could be reached through a bill
Draw oner suggested Mr.. Tflman,
whereupon Mr.. Knox prepared an amend
ment to the Wilson law.
Mr.. Tillman then 4yithdrew his resolution
and offered the Knox bill, which was re-
ferred to the committee on judiciary
The bill provides that all Intoxicating
| liquors transported into any state or terri
tory or remaining therein shall upon ar
rival within the state and before or after
delivery to the consignee, be subject to
the laws OF such state, in the same manner
as though such liquors had been produced
in such state or territory and shall not
be exempt therefrom by reason of being
introduced in original packages or other
wise.
CuIbersOn Discusses Resolution
Senator Culberson discussed his resolution
directing the committee on finance to inves-
tigate the causes Of the financial strin-
gency. He referred TO the message of the
| president, in which he suggested the
| necessity OF legislation in the near future
and said that either the president had
changed his mind or that congress was
loath to carry out the recommendation.
Il have noticed" said Mr.. Culberson,
that statements from Mr.. Roosevelt have
not always been received with that degree
OF welcome as were those of his illustrious
predecessor, George Washington"
Mr.. Culberson had read an article in a
Philadelphia paper declaring tnat banking
laws had been dictated by banking inter-
ests.
1T is said by some" he said. that this
condition is due to the Vaccinations of
| stock gamblers whe would cripple COM
merce IN order to force the money which
was in the interior back TO the east where
| II may be used for speculation"
The resolution was referred to the
| finance committee.
The senate today, on motion of Senator
Allison, agreed to adjourn until Satur-
I day, and after routine business on Satur-
! an-- 10 adin11r1n IN Iant1nr.. &