Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-27
'DRYS' PIN HOPE
On WEBB LAW
EXTENSION
Effective Anti-Shipping Bill Is
Probably Only Legislation They
Will Urge This Session.

A fight for the further extension OF
prohibition in Georgia will be made
in the present Legislature, and it Will
center around a bill proposed by Sen
ator Hixon, Of the Thirty seventh
District. in the Senate. and Repre-
sentatives Fullbright, of Burke, and
Evans. of Screven, in the House
This bill will seek to extend the
State laws to doEetail them into the
Webb law. It is understood the Geor-
gia Anti Saloon League will pin its
entire hopes to this law TO the exclu-
sion Of all other proposed legislation.
Senator J. T. Hixon. author Of the
temperance bill introduced in the Sen
ate Thursday, declared that in his
opinion the reports of an alleged liq-
uor lobby, formed to fight his bill.
have been exaggerated to a certain
extent.
II have no definite knowledge" he
said, that such a lobby exists, and
/ doubt very much If the lobby is
formed. Scattering reports have come
to our ears that the liquor men have
established headquarters at a hotel,
but these reports have not been con-
firmed.
Doesn't Expect Flight.
In fact, | do not think the liquor
men will work against the bill I in
troduced yesterday. The bill is more
or less matter of form, and is de-
signed merely to put into force the
Webb bill passed by Congress.
"Of course, If 1t should develop later
that a liquor lobby has been formed
to influence legislation by Illegal
means, the Legislature should certain
ly take some action with a view 20
hating their operations"
Georgia prohibitionists are said TO
be lukewarm regarding another Tip
pins bill" as they believe the State
now has all the restrictive prohibition
law II needs.
The Federal statute prohibits, with
out penalty the shipment of intOXi-
eating liquors into dry" States. A
defendant indicted in a State court
for shipping intoxicants into dry
States can not plead the beneht or
protection of the Federal interstate
commerce laws. as that Is specifically
denied him In the Webb act.
Legislative Attitude In Doubt.
The temper OF the new Legislature
with respect to this proposed read
iustment Of the prohibition situation
in Georgia yet is very uncertain.
The last Legislature enacted fur
Their restrictive prohibition law. only
to sustain subsequently an executive
veto.
Curiously enough, the Georgia Anal
Saloon League appears to have won a
point by securing from both candt-
dates for the presidency OF the Senate
committals to the very measure now
| proposed.
Whether the liquor and beer Inter
ests win line up against the new
mea sure is problematical.
Beer interests Satisfied.
The beer interests are well satisfied
with the present situation in Georgia,
and II there be further prohibition
legislation against the shipment II
beers into Georgia, the local brew
cries may figure that that merely VIII
help them from a financial standpoint.
1t is contended by many that the
breweries really are making more
money in Georgia nowadays than they
ever have made before, and that the
more outsiders are hampered In sell
ing within the State, the better on
the breweries are.
If the liquor interests have made
any effort to block further prohibition
legislation in Georgia. not many leg
islators seem to have heard of 1t. II
is understood. however that they Will
fight the Webb bin in the Federal
courts.