The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-06
TO PREVENT ABUSES BY
EXPRESS COMP PANIES
Propose TO Stop Shipments
Of Liquor. Consigned to
"JOhn Doe

-----l fLf naN
(sumner in Chicago-Reeord Herald)
Washington, April 6-Pressure due
70 the prohibition sentiment that has
come to control so many of the states
has forced the Senate judiciary com
mittee to prepare measure which in
some degree viii prevent interstate
lorlglnal package shipment from de
Isuoying theforce OF local prohibitory
laws. For weeks the committee has
wrestled N.5h the problem of framing
a measure which will stand the con
lstitational test, and has decided that
all six bills referred to the committee
for consideration ara unconstitutional.
But. despite this, the committee. 1t
was announced, will report a bill Mon
day. IL VIII not go SO far as the pro
lhibitionishts have desired. nor yet SO
far as lawyers in congress represent
ling prohibition constituencies, espec
ialll democratic senators from some Of
1.-The southern states. have held that
"A federal law might SO and still keep
within constitutional bounds. But it
will be something.
Ii is proposed to prevent the ship
ment from one state to another of pack
lages of liquor consigned to John Doe"
and other mythical personages with
tle admitted intent OF evading by STRAIT
egg and trickery state prohibition and
local option laws. one OF the great
complaints has been that the express
companies have come TO act as dis
: tributng agencies for products whose
sale is illegal when carried on in an
lopen and above board manner The
judiciary committee thinks IL has found
q way to prevent indiscriminate John
Does from getting liquor simply by
paying the C. 0. d. charges to the eX-
press companies.
Another provision OF the proposed
measure IS for the labelling of packages
containing liquor 50 that the nature of
the contents can be known 10 local
officials, thereby giving them some
hance to follow the course OF packages
! after reaching destination within a pro-
hibition state. 1t viii not be possible,
In the view Of the majority Of the
judiciary committee. to put all ship
q ments under the police control OF the
+ states borders. but local restrictions
=
(, Once bill on the subject gets on the
+ senate calendar it will open up a live
!, lly debate regardless OF the conviction
Of constitutional lawyers adverse to the
contentious OF the radical prohibition
s senators.
Washington, aside from the agita-
lion in congress, anent prohibition leg
islation In general is at present a cen.
/. tier of interest with respect TO the local
liquor traffic The movement which
has embraced so many states aud parts
a OF states has inspired the refOrmers e.
4. make desperate efforts to put the lid
K ON the national capital II rs a serious
h war that Is being waged, recognized
\ by the liquor interests as such ana
X both sides are keed up To high pitcl
Ie Ia the struggle. The District OF Colum
10 bia committees in both houses OF con
n gress have the question N fore them
d aud there is a possibility u not now al
least before long that the peoide Of IA,
district may be- given chance 10 de
n eide In some way whether the saloon
A II 1t be permitted al all, shall be seq
~ Iregated
The wave Of reform IS working n
other directions also Closely allie,
with the anti-liquOr movement Is tina
to- make the national capital Sunday
is tightly closed day. As things are now
a the Washington Sabbath Is not a riot
an Gus period by any means, bat the Sun
~ dag observance folk are cut for some
thing still more quiet
President Roosevelt when waited M
or on recently by a delegation OF Sunda
N closers. expressed himself as oppose
m. to the establishment of the Puritt
M Sabbath, hut gave some encouragement
TO the movement Dy declaring h
Woul seek 10 prevent unnecessary q
- Dor iu the departments on Sunda.
4 And Postmaster General Meyer Issue
70 an order closing the postoffiee depar
il ment on Sunday 10 AN employees q
!. cept such as are absolutely needed o
duty and having special passes 10 "a
~ nit them. Work al the deparimeu
10 Furthermore. is 20 be reduced 10 a mi
u ifnum
A. seveyal sunday observance bills haN
/. been introduced IN congress, prOhab
:, the most drastic one being thar pr
- scented by Representative Hay ol Nj
10 ginia. q few days ago This bin pT
IS. hibiis performance Of the duties Of aI
nt trade. commercial or manufacture
al pursuit on sunday; prohibits an publ
sports. shows and the creating of al
furblng noises, prohibits an proce
- sions. aud those connected with rel
ID ions Observance
- Works of necessity are nermiiie
"a such as the delivery ol food before
Z O'Clock IN the forenoon On Sunda
~ Street cars are permitted 10 run. Al
+" livery stables 10 keep open. and 5o'
blacks may shine Akaes until 10 a.