Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-28
MUST PASS or DEFEAT MOST I'M.
PoRrANr NATIONAL
LEGISLATION.
PROPOSED TO SHUT OFF
INTERSTATE BUSINESS
temperance States Desire to Have
Shipments From Outside Stopped =
Problem to Be Attacked in Both
House and Senate Upon Entirely
New Lines.
1specia, Correspondence

Washington, Dec. 26.-Congress Is
facing the question Of whether to pass
the most important national legislation
touching the liquor question that has
been considered for years.
The legislation proposed is intended
states and territories where prohibition
prevails. If it should prevail an enor-
mour territory in which beer, whisky
and other liquors are sold now would
be made dry in reality.
1t Is commonly known that enor-
nous sales Of liquor are made in states
and territories that are theoretically
dry. This LIQUOR is shipped in and
sold in spite Of local laws. II 1t were
not for such sales, there is no doubt the
consumption of liquor In the United
States would be much decreased.
New Line Of Attack.
Whine congress has had this problem
before it for years and efforts have
been made to legislate on it without
success. it is now proposed, in both
house and senate. to attack 1t in
another fashion.
In the house. Morris Sheppard, of
Texas has introduced a bill the pur-
pose OF which is to make illegal all con-
tracts connected with transaction of
shipment of liquor into a region where
1t is prohibited. In the senate, Sen
ator Kenyon has introduced such
measure. The idea Of reaching the sit
uation thru this legislation is a radical
departure from the idea contained in
such bills as the old one that was be-
fore congress for years and was known
as the Hepburn Dolliver bill That
bill was founded on the principle that
the state should be given jurisdiction
over a shipment of liquor into its Dor
ders. Such a bill passed the house at
one time but the constitutional sharps
on the senate Judiciary committee held
1t was unconstitutional. So it never
got thru congress.
Now the plan is by legislation to
make shipments Of liquor into dry
states or territories outlaws. No con-
tract made with reference to them. un-
der the proposed legislation, would
stand. 1t would be impossible to re-
cover in court on such contracts.
ksnvon Has . Bill.
Senator KENYON has been canvassing
the views Of members Of the senate
and has been much encouraged about
the outlook for passage Of such bill
He is sanguine Of getting his bill re-
ported out of the senate judiciary
committee. If the bill once gets to the
floor 1t is likely to pass.
All the temperance societies in the
United States stand back Of the bill
which Senator Kenyon has introduced
in the senate and the similar bill which
Sheppard has put into the house. They
are going to make an organized cam
paign for 1t. Alraedy. congress is be-
ing flooded with letters and petitions
in behalf Of such legislation.
On the other hand. II is expected
that the influence Of the liquor in
terests will be felt and that from these
interests will proceed efforts to prove
the bill unconstitutional
Southern democrats in both houses
are for the legislation proposed as a
rule This is because Of the strength
Of the prohibition sentiment in the
south.