Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-25
Senate Sub Committee May Recon-.
mend t To Congress.
BIG AID 10 STATES POWERS
Police Powers Extended to Liquors
Shipped In, With Power to Stop
Such Trafic-wlll be Hard Law to
Got Away From.

WASHINGTON, Feb 24.-Hearings
on the bills to regulate interstate
commerce on Intoxicating liquors. to
prevent shipment into dry" states or
counties, will DO closed by the Senate
committee on the judiciary on Satur
day next.
The arguments are being made be-
fore Il subcommittee consisting of
Senator Knox. chairman, and Sena-
tors Nelson. Fulton, Bacon and RAY
ncr. Probably no question before
Congress, not excepting the currency
problem. has received so much atten-
ton during the present session. L.
Ia OF vital Interest to nearly every
state of the South and to half Of the
Northern and Western states.
Tho indications are that the sub
committee will recommend the pas
sage of the Bacon bill It's author be-
ing member of tho committee. has
Incorporated into the measure numer-
ouR amendments covering nearly
every phase Of the subject rnlscl
during the extended hearings. It pro
vides that Intoxicating liquors within
the borders of any state, shall be
within the lawful police powers of
such state, hut that tho state shall
not interfere with the transportation
OF liquors II provides that the bill
OF lading accompanying the shipment
shall declare the destination and that
the transportation shall not be ar.
rested. nor diverted from the point OF
consignment. In other words the biz,
seeks to prevent any transaction In
shipment which would tend to defeat
The state law in regard to traffic In
lntoxicants. whatever that state law
may be.
Senator Bacon pointed out during
the hearings that It Ia in no sense a
prohibition bill. and IL enacted into
law would not of Itself Interfere with
the sale of liquors in any place The
sole purpose OF the measure is, by
congressional action, 20 SO regulate
interstate commerce in Intoxicating
liquors as to remove the barriers ere.
ated by the operation of the inter.
state commerce law In order TO per-
NIT the state TO exercise full control
of the traffic within It's borders. Sue
chiefly stated It will secure to each
state the right and the power to en-
~ ehN W tuiOiCt WWR winch VII.
regulate and control the liquor traffic
IN such state in such manner Ms f.e
people may elect
The passage of the Bacon bill will
give 10 each state tho right to deter
mine whether there shall or shall not
be within lis borders any trafic in
intoxicating liquors. The same power
VIII extend to county of n state so
that 1t may be determined whethe.
tho restriction shall be wholly or in
part. Under this bill the state could
entirely exclude liquors from its Dor.
ders. or II 1t desired could permit IL.
Quor traffic. Furthermore any statc
would have the power. if It's people so
elected, to permit liquors to be re-
ceiyed tw any citizen for his own use.
and at the same time sale to others
could be prohibited. 1t Is provided
that Congress In the exercise of its
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 regard to traf-
tic OF Liquors within It's borders.