Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-02-28

ing question regarding the webb
liquor bill is, will President Taft sign
ity If he does, there will be straight
way an appeal to the federal courts
by those who believe the measure to
be unconstitutional; if he does not, the
bill return to annoy the Wilson. adj
nnnistration for its defeat now does
not mean that its friends will notre.
new their efforts in another session.
Tho fact that the president has re-
fcrred the measure to Attorney Gen
sral Wickcrs,am and to Secretary Of
the Treasury MacVcagh for their op;a-
ions is taken here to indicate that
President Taft himself is dubious as
to its constitutonality.
Senators Root, Sutherland, Pomer-
enc and others, who are among the
ablest lawyers in the senate, believe
the bill is unconstitutional because it
may deprive individuals of their right
to receive consignment shipped from
another state. and they outlined their
argument against the bill on this score
at great length during the recent de-
bate in the body.
Foresees Long Delay.
The signing of the bill by President
Taft will, it is declared, mean the be.
ginning Of litigation that will not
cease until there has been decision
by the court of last resort, and that
will probably mean delay of several
years In making the new law really
effective.
A veto of the bill would mean that
it probably could not be put through
both houses by a two.thirds majority,
and that it would reappear in the early
days Of the coming special session.
The purpose Of theWebb bill is in.
dorsed by many good people in all the
states. It would result inthe break.
ing up Of the "blind tiger" traffic in
nominaily dry states BY prohibiting
the movement of liquor from one state
to another consigned to persons VINO
intend T. IS sell it in violation of state
law. :~H 80
,,yiews ri lts Friends,
There has been Liquidation Of i
similar character in the past, but it
has always run counter to the rights
If interstate commerce. The Webb
bill, so its advocates insist, has been
so drawn as to meet this objection. It
would transfer from the federal gov
eminent to state authorities the pow.
er to regulate interstate commerce, 80
far as this particular commodity is
concerned. The bill is heartily sup.
ported by all the temperance and pro.
hibition forces of the country, and
when the Webb bill went through the
senate the other day the galleries were
filed with mem bers of the ". C. T. U.
many of whom had come long dis.
sances in order to participate in the
rindup Of the campaign they had
been waging for more than a dozen
years.
State prohibition, in the absence of
such provisions as the Webb bill con.
tains, has been attended with "blind
tigers" in places too numerous to men.
ton, and it is with view to correct
ing this defect in the state prohibition
plan, and helping 1t work to the salts.
faction of the temperance people,
that the legislation has been under.
taken.
What the Law Means.
From innumerable messages receiv.
cd here it is evident that q great many
people misunderstood the Webb bill
provisions. It does not interfere with
any prohibition law now on the statute
books or change any Of these provi.
siens. It is not federal prohibition
statute except in giving fuller effect to
state laws.
The Webb bill does not do any Of
che following things: It does not pre-.
vent man from receiving liquor from
other state for his own use, after the
sale Of near beer; affect locker clubs.
1t does not mean that the federal
authorities will try to enforce stase
prohibition laws.
1t does put the whole thing square.
" up to the state, neither adding to
nor taking from prohibition statutes
except as to the time when these state
laws can attach illegal shipments of
liquor.
It permits the seizure Of liquors il