Evening star., 1915-01-15
Sheppard Motion to Suspend
Rules Comes Up Early
This Afternoon.
SUPPORTERS HOPELESS
OF TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY
Result of Balloting to Govern Future
Action-May Become Sep
crate Measure.

| When the Senate met today 1t wal
| with the understanding that vote on
the Sheppard motion to suspend the
| rules SO as to permit the offering OF q
prohibition amendment to the District
bill would be had before adjournment
if possible. The motion came up early
| this afternoon.
Senator Sheppard said today that upon
the result of that would depend what
further step was to be taken in the
fight to make the District dry"
I've have exhausted every means to
get this amendment before the Senate
| for direct VOTE" said Senator Shep-
pard, land unless the vote seems fav-
| orable to US no further attempt will
be made to add the prohibition amend
ment to the pending District BILL"
Two-Thirds Vote Not Expected.
| He said that the supporters of the
amendment did not expect to get the
necessary two-thirds vote in favor of
the motion to suspend the rules, but
that if the vote indicated that good
majority Of the Senate was in favor
of prohibition for the District, then
another effort would be made to put
through a prohibition measure.
I'VE may offer a similar amendment
to another bill in the Senate" said
Senator Sheppard. "or we may move to
discharge the Senate District commit
tee from further consideration Of one
of the prohibition bills which have been
referred to it. in order to get it before
the Senate for action
| Senator Jones of Washington, one of
the supporters of prohibition, predicted
that, whatever was the result of the
fight for prohibition in the District
during the present session, the next
Congress would make the District dry.
Petition From w. c. T. U. Read.
a petition from the w. c. T. U. of the
District of Columbia was read to the
Senate at the request of Senator Shep-
pard urging the Senate to enact a pro-
hibition law for the District.
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey pre-
sented number of kilograms which
he had received from constituents pro-
testing against prohibition for the Dis
trict. He added that he had received
about 200 such kilograms.
Senator Sterling of South Dakota to-
day introduced in The Senate a joint
resolution providing for an investiga-
tion by Joint congressional committee
the District and also the system of tax
alton here.
| The resolution is identical in word
ing with the amendment offered yes
terday by Senator Gallinger to the
| District bill, and against which a point
of order was made and sustained on
| the ground that 1t was general legis-
| lation on an appropriation bill. The
| resolution was referred to the District
| committee.
Letters From Blair and Larner.
|
up in. the Senate today Senator Gal
Henry P. Blair. president Of the board
| of education. and John B. Larner 8
member of the board. declaring that sc
| far as they knew no member Of the
tract of land selected as q site by the
board of education for the proposed
new Eastern High School.
| During the debate yesterday after
noon a charge was made on the fiool
| of the Senate that a member of the
| board of education was interested II
this site. This statement was amended
| later SO that it was made to appea
| that Mr.. Larner, as counsel for th
| Washington Loan and Trust Company
was one Of the trustees in a deed OF
| trust on part of the property.
| Mr.. Larner in his letter said that h,
| had caused a search to be made at thu
| Washington Loan and Trust Compan.
|
deed of trust on any of the property il
question. He said that he himsel
| had no interest whatever in any prop
erty in that neighborhood.
Sheppard Motion Before Senate.
mittee on the Sheppard motion to suspend
the rules to permit him to offer his pro
hibition amendment came before the Sen.
ate as the unfinished business. Senator
Sheppard declared that he was willing te
have it temporarily laid aside so tha
| other amendments to the District bill
might be completed.
Senator James of Kentucky objected
Senator Sheppard then addressed tn.
Senate in support Of prohibition in tn,
| District.
gress put liquor out of the Capito
building" said Senator Sheppard Sine,
that time there has been no suggestion
that liquor be returned to the Capitol.
| The extension of that prohibition I,
the District of Columbia would NEE
with approval throughout the country
Americans desire that their capita
should be the model city Of the world
How shameful it Is that the liauo
traffic is allowed to exist here. ant
that there are 300 saloons in the capital
why is it suggested that on tn,
liquor question there should be a ref
erendum to the people of the Distric
of Columbia when on every other ques
tion relating to the government of tn,
District Congress Is supreme? The peo
pie of the country pay one-half tn,
expenses of the District and the fed
eral government must be suprem,
here"
| Senator Lee of Maryland gave motto,
that should the Senate order the rulel
suspended he would offer an amend
ment to the Sheppard prohibition
measure providing for referendum
vote by the people of the District.
The Vice President ruled that Sena
tor Lees amendment would be in order
Unable to Amend Bill.
All efforts to amend the District ap
preparation bill by making provision
for an investigation of the relations o
the federal government to the Distric
of Columbia and the system of taxation
in the District were blocked late yes
terday afternoon by Senator Vardamal
of Mississippi, who made points o
order against both the Gallinger an,
!: Gore amendments providing for sucl
an investigation.
When the Senate voted 46 to 2
against the Johnson rider repealin,
the half-and-half plan it was expect
ed that an amendment for an investi
cation would go through by a larR
majority. but when Senator Gallinge