The Washington herald., 1916-12-15
SUFFRAGE LINKED
With PROHIBITION
Lively Debate in Senate-House Re
= ceives Webb Measure.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

vaccillation the last time out on election
day, the issues are separated.
The Judiciary Committee, Of which
REPRESENTATIVE Webb Ii chairman, re-
ported out its resolution for national pro-
hibition. The committee recommends It's
passage. The same committee reported
out the constitutional amendment pro-
viding national woman suffrage without
recommendation.
The two are not twins in the House.
Why? Because the last election demon
strated that prohibition is gaining In
strength and 1t may confidently be ex-
pected that the House majority for the
measure will be Increased. By the same
token, suffrage received several black
eyes in the recent election and therefore
it may be reasonably expected that the
House of Representatives will have the
temerity to swat it when 1t comes up
again.
The debate on the Sheppard bill took IN
most of the Senate. Many Senators de-
fined their position without leaving a
loop hole for escape. Others. oy theie
tactics, showed a disposition to do every
thing possible to ameliorate the condi-
tions of the Sheppard bill, but indicated
quite strongly that the folks at home
will depend on them to vote for the
bill on final passage.
referendum in the District Is gaining In
strength and the vote on It II anticipted
to be close.
The amendment is now being threshed
out from its constitutional phase. Sem
stors are contending that Congress has
no right to delegate its powers and some
went so far as to say, as did Senator
Works, of California. that the people OF
Washington have no rights whatever to
have a voice in the regulation Of the
cdtys affairs. He contends that this IL
the National Capital and that the peo-
pie who live here are under the regula-
ton Of the representatives Of the ma
ton
The exercise of police power Is en-
tireIy In the hands Of Congress, was
the Inference drawn from his remarks.
Most Of the debate of the day was
over the latest amendment offered by
Mr.. Sheppard The Texas Senator now
proposes that the law penalize the pos
session by an individual Of hduor in
any quantity greater than one quart of
distilled liquor and one gallon of wine
or beer q month His amendment pro-
vides against the receipt Of the liquor
from any source OF transportation in any
greater amount and puts 1t up to the
District Commissioners to keep tab on
receipts Great labels on bottles are to
describe their contents, according to the
Sheppard amendment He exempts for
eign Embassies and legations by per
nitting them to have ffve gallons Of
wine per month
Underwood Alleges Trap.
Senator Underwood attacked this pro-
vision. He said It was q trap and that
II in a household q father and son each
got q quart of whiskey without consult
ing each other, both would be liable to
Imprisonment and no discretion would be
left with the trial Judge
The Senator from Texas does not be-
ieve any man should drink a drop Of
liquor" said Mr.. Underwood. why not
be fair and honestf Say what you mean
Either be nsh, flesh or fowl"
Mr.. sheppard retorted that the liquor
interests could have no better champion
than Mr.. Underwood and that the dras-
ttc suggestion made would furnish ex-
ectly what was wanted, an angle which
could be tested on its constitutionality.
There was q hot and acrimonious col
loquy between the two Southern Sena-
tors over Mr.. Cnderwood's positin and
motives, which was ended when Mr.. Un-
derwood said his State had voted on his
integrity and had disbelieved the charge
frequently made in the campaign that
he was aligned with the liquor interests.
5euAIoE NHudIuAu ana senator mar
tine, Of New Jersey. locked horns Mr..
MARITIME was bitter against the bill, be-
ing the lone Senator to vote against TAX
ing It up.
Il would not interfere with the Sem
ator from New Jersey taking a single
drink" said Mr.. Vardaman, when Mr.
MARITIME accused him Of trying Ito regu-
late the morals of humanity" Mr.. Mar
tine resented what he termed q person.
to order. Mr.. Vardaman threw oil on
the waters and In a suave manner
silenced Mr.. MARITIME, save for the oc-
casional ejaculation Of a monosyllable.
Mr.. MARITIME evoked laughter when he
said to Mr.. Newlands that he was glad
he had visited him before the Sheppard
bill became law.
Senator Penrose. from Pennsylvania,
also caused a smile when he wanted to