Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-24
GIVES STATES
RIGHT TO END
LIQUOR SALE.
SENATE BILL AIMS BLOW AT
TRAFFIC
Measure Provides That VIII Of People
as to Whether intoxicants Shall
Be Sold Must Be
Observed
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Hearings
on the various bills to regulate inter-
state commerce in Intoxicating liquors,
with a view to preventing shipments
into dry states or counties. will be
closed by the senate committee on
judiciary on Saturday next.
The Arguments are being made be-
fore a subcommittee consisting of Sem
ators Knox, chairman; Nelson. Fulton
Bacon and Rayner.
Probably no question before congress,
not excepting the currency problem
has received so much attention during
the present session. 1t Is of vital in
terest to nearly every state of the
south and to half of the northern and
western states.
The indications are that the sub-com-
ruittee will recommend the passage OF
the Bacon bill. Its author, being
member of the committee, has incor-
porated into the measure numerous
amendments covering nearly every
phase of the subject that has Deen
raised during the extended hearings
II proyides that Intoxicating liquors
within the borders Of any state shall
be within the lawful police powers OIL
such state, but that the state shall not
interfere with the transportation OF
liquors. 1t provides that the Dill or
Iading accompanying the shipment
shall declare the destination and that
the TRANSPORTATION shall not be arrest
ed nor diverted from the port of con-
signment.
In other words the bill seeks to pre-
vent any transaction in shipment
which would tend to defeat the state
law in regard tv traffic in intoxicants.
whatever that state law may be.
Not Prohibition Bill
Senator Bacon pointed out during
the hearings that it is in no sense a
prohibition bill, and if enacted into
law would not, of itself, interfere with
the sale of liquors in any place. The
sole purpose of the measure is by con-
gressional action to so regulate inter-
state commerce in intoxicating liquors
as to remove the barriers created by
the operation OF the interstate COM
merce law, in order to permit the state
to exercise full control of the traffic
within it's borders. Succinctly stated,
1t Will secure TO eacn state the TiSnt
and power to enact and to enforce laws
which will reg dlate and control the
liquor traffic in such state in such
manner as its people may elect.
The passage Of the Bacon bill will
give to each state the right TO de-
termine whether there shall or shall
nov be within it's borders any traffic
in intoxicating liquors. The same pow
or will extend to a county of a state.
so that it may be determined whether
the restriction shall be wholly or in
part Under this bill, the state could
entirely exclude liquors from its bor-
ders, or if it desired, could permit
liquor traffic.
Furthermore. any state would have
the power, If it's people so elected to
permit liquors to be received by any
citizen for his own use, and at the
same time the sale to others could be
prohibited. 1t Is provided that con-
gress, in the exercise of it's powers to
regulate commerce between the states,
shall so control interstate commerce in
Intoxicating liquors as to leave each
state in the free exercise of it's police
powers in relation to the liquor traffic
within its borders.