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 viii
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 viii seek to extend .he
State laws to dovetail them into the
Webb law. 1t 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 ]. 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.
Il 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-
hrmed.
Doesn't Expect Flight.
In fact, | do not think the liquor
men will work against the bill l in
troduced yesterday. The bill is more
or less a 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 10
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 1t needs.
The Federal statute prohibits, with
out paDrlty the shipment Of intoxi-
eating liquors into dry" States. A
defends.t indicted in a State court
for shipping intoxicants into dry"
States can not plead the benefit 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
justment Of the prohibition situation
in Georgia yet is very uncertain.
The last Legislature enacted a fur
Their restrictive prohibition law. only
to sustain subsequently an executive
veto.
Curiously enough, the Georgia Anti
Saloon League appears to have won a
point by securing from both candi-
dates for the presidency of the Senate
committals to the very measure now
proposed
Whether the liquor and beer inter-
ests will line up against the new
measure is problematical.
Beer interests Satisfied.
The beer interests are we'll satisfied
with the present situation in Georgia
and II there be further prohibition
legislation against the shipment VI
beers into Georgia, the local brew
cries may figure that that merely VIII
help them from a financial standpoint
II 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 OFF
the breweries are.
II the liquor interests have made
any effort to block further prohibition
legislation in Georgia. not many leg
islators seem to have heard of It. II
Is understood, however, that they will
fight the Webb bill In the Federal
courts.