The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-02
Washington Snapshots and Side,lights

Wdlch III TO whip throufth the Uousa
legislation which the speaker says
shall be enacted. MFR. Payne simply
appears on his feet ieGtg enough to
utter sentence or two ia show bta
followers that they must follow tho
Leader IT Is rare, indeed that they
do not follow. O. for q mlnorit, az
"biddable' and even half as well
drilled.
payne has more ways of making
himself disliked titan any man In tha
House of Represen tativesr said MEM
Der the other day. Mr.. Payne always
smiles. The smile will not come Off,
But 1t does not indicate anything In
the case of Mr.. Payne. He simply can.
not help It. He does not at any time
indicate that the smile means moro
than a smile.
The House rarely gets chance to
show that 1t does not approve of Mr..
Payne. 1t got 1t this week when the
proposition to compel the Ways and
Means Committee, of which he is tho
titular head. to remove to the House
office building was voted on. He has
not fought as hard for anything at
this session as he fought to be all
lowed to retain his committee-room
opening off the floor of the House,
ing over a. block away. He even
complained that he suffered with
rheumatism. which made walking so
difficult that 1t would be hardship
to him to have to walk the distance.
The day after he discovered this casa
of rheumatism he appeared at the
Capitol with a cane. on which he leant
heavily. The effect was good, cSs
parently, and the following day Mr..
Payne appeared leaning on crutch.
There was much sympathetic inquiry
regarding his sufferings. And threa
hours later the House voted, by over
two to one. to make the COMMITTEES
and the chairman move to the office
building.
Mr.. Payne showed up tho ncxt day
without crutch or cane.
-
Some people profess to believe that
|, we are about to SEQ Congress submit
to the people a proposition to amend
the Federal Constitution SO as to pre-
| vent the use OF liquor There is scarce
/ ly anything conceivable more difficult
than the amendment of the organic
law of The Union. owing to the wisely
cumbersome manner in which amend
ment has to be accomplished method
fixed by the trainers OF the Constitu-
ton themselves.
But some believe, as I have stated,
that Congress viii adopt the resolu-
ton proposed by Representative Ache
son, of Pennsylvania. to amend the
Constitution so as to provide that
whiskey shall not be manufactured,
imported or sold in this country save
for medicinal purposes. Congress is
very slow to do anything which ,indi-
Gates that 1t is unmindful of the power
full sentiment which has developed in
n re tJ1a
the abolition of the liquor traffic.
1t would not be the most remarkable
thing which ever happened If Congress
were to take the view that the people
the sovereign people," of which we
hear great deal and see too little, in
so far as statutes enacted are con-
.cerned--sllould decide whether liquor
is to be made and sold and drunk in
these United States. To refuse to take
such view is certain to make trouble
for some members and Nenators-prob-
ably for a majority.
1t cannot be said to be probable that
Congress will adopt the Acheson reso-
luton, but it is not so improbable as
many who have not duly appreciated
the strength and wide distribution OF
the temperance sentiment may believe.
The Constitution itself provides that
the instrument may be amended by
two-thirds of both houses of Congress
submitting to the people an amend
ment. which shall be ratified by three
fourths of the States, through their
Legislatures. or by conventions in
three-fourths of the States. It is also
provided that on the application of the
Legislatures of two-thirds of the States
Congress shall call a convention to
consider amendments, and such amend
ments shall be valid when ratified by
the Legislatures of three fourths of
the States
Thus it is seen that prohibition
amendment to the Constitution would
have to receive the Endorsement of the
legislatures of thirty-fve States, and
That should Congress refuse to submit
such an amendment to the country,
thirty-one State Legislatures could ac-
complish the same end by action call
ing for constitutional convention.
And this suggests the possibility.
somewhat less than remote, of the lat
ter action being taken. A study OF
the recent growth of the prohibition
sentiment will indicate that it would
not be a matter of great difficulty to
induce the Legislatures of thirty-one
States to ask for a Constitutional Con-
yention, judging solely by the local
option and prohibition legislation
enacted by the various Legislatures
within the past few years Conserva
tive statesmen would hasten to SUBJ
nit single amendment to the people
rather than have a, Constitutional Con-
vention assemble, Clothed with power.
as It would be, to overhaul and make
over the entire body OF the organic
law.
There is little likelihood that this
Congress, at this session at least, will
enact any of the anti-liquor bills in
troduced. 1t is probable that the Sem
ate Committee on Judiciary Will report
n bill giving the individual States po-
lice powers over interstate shipments
of liquor, and it Is possible, at least,
that such a bill viii pass the Senate.
but there Is much doubt whether It
will pass the House. The COMMITTEES
on judiciary Is understood to be al
ayanly divided on ihh fiOr1 NJ