Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-28
CONTROL OF LIQUORS
Bill in Congress Gives In
creased Power to States.
AIMS AT PACKAGE TRADE
Would Cease to Be interstate Trafhc
Upon Entering State Of
Consignment.

Representative James NJ. Miller of the
fourth Kansas District and Senator
Charles Curtis from the same state have
introduced a new interstate commerce
LIQUOR bill at the request OF the Anti-Sa-
loon League of America Rev. S. II
Nicholson, the legislative superintendent
of the National League, with headQuar-
tiers at Washington. made the following
statement concerning this measure.
This measure has been under consid-
Grafton by the Anti-Saloon League Tor a
good while and a good deal OF attention
has been given to its preparation, In
which Mr. Miller and Senator Curtis have
played an important part. The measure
undertakes to constitute intoxicating
LIQUORS as a special class of commodities,
to be admitted to and carried in inter-
state commerce upon condition that the
interstate commerce character OF inter-
state LIQUOR shipments shall cease az
once upon arrival within the boundary VI
the state to which consignment mas oeen
made and before delivery to the con-
eignee.
Gives Control to States.
1.-The measure. If passed. will give the
states complete jurisdiction over all
liquors within their borders, whether do
mestic or interstate. Under the present
law imported liquors are delivered TO
the consignee before state Jurisdiction
can attach In prohibitory or local OPP
ton territory the states meet with serious
embarrassment in the enforcement OF
their state regulations. owing 10 the IaN
that, when liquor once comes into the
possession of the bootieggers. 1t Is well
nigh impossible to guard against the nu-
merous devices which are resorted TO TO
evade the state laws.
Mr. Nicholson said that there was now
a pronounced conviction throughout the
country that prohibitory laws will never
prove entirely effective until Congress
makes it possible for the states. in the
exercise of their police powers to nave
control over interstate shipments before
they reach the consignee.
The National League through its leg1s-
lative department. will appeal to Con-
gress for speedy action by that body upon
this new bin. and. failing to get such
action. will make the appeal to the coun-
try to send men to Congress who Will
support this legislation
What the Bill Provides.
The bill provides that 'all fermented.
distilled or other Intoxicating liquors
shall constitute "a special class of COM
modit.es, and, a special class. shall be
admitted to and carried in interstate
commerce, subject to the limitations ana
restrictions hereinafter imposed upon in
terstate commerce in articles OF Such
class.
That the interstate commerce charac-
ter of all fermented. distilled or other in
toXicatng Liquors admitted to interstate
commerce in accordance with the provi-
sions of this act. and transported from
one state, territory or district of the
United States. into any other state. terri
tory or district of the United States. or
from any foreign country into any state,
territory or district of the United States,
shall terminate upon their arrival i'm
medately within the boundary of the
state, territory or district of the United
States in which the place of destination
is situated, and before the delivery of
said liquors to the consignee: Provided,
That shipments of such liquors entirely
through a state, territory or district of
the United States. shall not be subject to
the provisions of this section while in
transit through such state, territory or
district of the United States"