The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-24
HARD PROBLEM
 BEFORE SENATE Shipment of Liquors Will Be
 Regulated POLICE PONER5 OF STATE Farmers of the Measure Are Trying To Make a Law That Will Aid
 Cause of Prohibition In
 the Dry States.
POLICE P0NER5 OF STATE

Washington, February 23.-Hearings on
 the various bills to regulate interstate
 commerce on intoxicating liquors, with
 view of preventing shipments into
 dry states or counties. will be closed
 by the Senate committee on judiciary
 on Saturday next The arguments are
 being made before a subcommittee con-
 sisting of Senator Knox, chairman and
 Senators Nelson. Fulton, Bacon and
 Rayner. Probably no question before
 Congress, not excepting the currency
 problem has received so much attention
 during the present session It is of vital
 interest to nearly every state of the
 south. and half, of the northern and
 western states
 The indications are that the sub-conl-
 mttee will recommend the passage of
 the bill Its author. being member
 of the committee, has incorporated Into
 the measure numerous amendments cov-
 ering nearly every phase of the subject
 that has been raised during the extend
 ed hearing. It provides that intoxicating
 liquors within the borders of any state
 shall be within the lawful police powers
 of such state, but that the state shall
 not interfere with the transportation of
 liquors. It provides that the bill of lad
 ing accompanying the shipment shall de-
 clare the destination and that the trans portation shall not be arrested. nor di- verted from the point of consignment In other words the bill seeks to pre- vent any transaction in shipment which
 would tend to defeat the state law in regard to traffic in intoxicants. whatever that state law may be.
 Senator Bacon pointed out during the
 hearings that it Is in no sense prohi- bition bill, and if enacted into law would not of itself interfere with the sale of liquor in any place. The sole purpose of the measure is by congressional action to so regulate interstate commerce in in- toxicating liquors as to remove the bar rers created by the operation of the Interstate commerce law, in order to per init the state to exercise full control of the traffic within its borders. Succinctly stated, it would secure to each state the right and the power to enact and to enforce laws which will regulate and control the liquor traffic in such state in such manner as it's people may elect. ne pdSSdSt Oi tnt IdCOii Dllt VIII SlN t to each state the right 10 determine whether there shall or shall not be within its borders any traffic in intoxicating liquors. The same power 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 It's borders, or if it desires, could l permit liquor traffic. Furthermore, any state would have the power, if it's peo- pie so elected to permit liquors to be received by any citizen for his own use 1 and at the same time sale to others could be prohibited. It is provided that Con gress in the exercise of it's powers to regulate commerce between the states | shall so control interstate transportation of intoxicating liquors IS to leave each state in the free exercise of it's police 1 powers in regard to traffic of liquors l within it's borders.