The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1913-02-20
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
House Passes Bill Prohibiting
Liquor Shipments Into
Dry Territory

Washington.-By a vote of 24O to
IS. the house passed the Webb bill
prohibiting the shipment of intoxicat-
ing liquor from wet" into dry"
states, after several hours of bitter
debate in which the bill was charac-
| terized as IAN anti-saloon measure,
meant to force congressional approval
of prohibition"
The vote was taken only after a
flood of amendment had been sub
mitted, both by enemies of the bill, to
invalidate it, and by friends of the
measure, who wished to broaden its
scope. Humor and bitterness marked
the debate on the measure.
Democratic and Republican ranks
were split in the fight, Ollie James,
of Kentucky, being one Of the leaders
against the measure. Representative
Clayton, of Alabama, chairman Of the
judiciary committee and a prominent
Democratic member, led the fight for
the bill, and Representative Hammel,
of New Jersey, headed the opposition.
Under the provisions of the Webb
bill, no intoxicating liquor may be
shipped by interstate commerce into
dry territory for the purpose of sell
ing it. The measure does not attempt
to regulate the shipment of intoxi-
cants for private consumption. Dis
position of all violations of the law is
left to the states or the county regula-
tons in the territory in which the Of
tense occurs.
Democrats Split Over sattIeships.
House Democratic economists, or at
least 73 of them, who attempted to
pledge their party on the battleship
question, failed to secure quorum in
caucus and were compelled to adjourn.
The Democrats who favor a one or no
battleship appropriation were present
in full strength. The two battleship
| advocates, few of whom were pres
ent, declared that they were in the
majority this year when they cared
| to be present and that the naval ap-
preparation bill when reported to con-
gress will provide for two dread
| naughts.
House Begins to Hurry.
With seven appropriation bills. ag-
gregating over $1,O0O,O 100000, to pass,
in 10 working days, Democratic lead
ers announced that, beginning early
this week, the house would burn the
midnight Observation-Disclosures starting
work at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Should the senate hold up these
bills, Democrats declared that the spe-
cial session might be called immedi-
ately after March 4, SO that the few
weeks might be used in clearing up
unfinished business before the ways
and means committees draft of the
tariff bill was ready to be submitted.
Chairman Underwood, of the ways
and means committee, declared that,
! from present indications, though the
committee was working all day and
part of the night formulating its re-
port, he feared that IT would not be
ready before March Is.
Federal Railways for Alaska Urged.
Alaska's vast resources can best be
brought within reach of the world, in
the opinion of President Taft, by the
construction, with government assist
ance, Of two railway lines from the
! Alaskan coast to the interior, owner
ship of which shall be vested in the
government, but which shall be oper
ated by private parties under lease.
| In a special message transmitting to
congress the report of the Alaskan
Railway Commission, the president
strongly urged legislation along these
lines, asking that the government Ell
Their guarantee the principal and in
terest on bonds necessary to build
| tho roads Or consfrrct thom