The Washington herald., 1916-01-29
DRY ISSUE UP
TO COMMITTEE
Members Of House Soon VIII
Go on Record on
Prohibition.
REPORT SHEPPARD BILL
Senate Committee Makes No Recon-
mendahon-Measure Expected
to Pass Senate.
REPORT SHEPPARD BILL
a JosEPH ?. ANNIN.

Dy sOol1E n A-N-N@-Na
The question OF prohibition in the Dis
trict Is virtually up 10 the House Dis
trict Committee as the result Of re-
port without accommodation on the
Sheppard bill, made yesterday at the d.
rection OF the Senate District COMMITTEES.
That the Senate will pass the bin Is e.
most a foregone conclusion. The meas
ure win then go to the House District
Committee. II that COMMITTEES reports
II out, the House viii pass II, sadly but
surely.
As far as the Senate Is concerned, only
4 possibility, believed to be remote. that
q referendum rider will be attached,
submitting the question to the people
OF the District, lends an element OF
uncertainty. II viii be recalled that last
session, the two-thirds vote necessary
to attach the Sheppard bill to the Dis
trict appropriation bin, failed BY mar
row margin, indicating that a straight
majority Is available
The Sheppard bill prohibits the manu-
facture, sale or disposal In any way OF
intoxicating liquors in the District, spe-
cihcaIly bars locker systems" and IN
vokes the interstate commerce powers OF
the government to prevent Its delivery
by express companies or common car
riers to individuals or organizations in
the District
Under the provisions Of the Sheppard
bill, national legislators. diplomats and
al others. Will have to bring what liquor
they desire from Maryland in person, as
the bin places responsibility upon the de-
livery agent and not upon the person for
whom the llquor is destined. Many votes
IN both houses will be cast with heavy
hearts. II the bill is enacted.
VIII Try to Block Action.
From now on, the House committee will
have to bear the brunt Of the fight. The
bill was placed on the Senate calendar
yesterday afternoon, and will be called
I'd and passed with comparative celebrity.
Thence It will 20 to the House commit
tee. where a determined attempt will be
made to block action As at present con-
stituted, II the bill was to be presented
for a vote on Its merits in the commit
tee. the following lineup about repre-
FeDts the relative strength OF the oppOs-
lng factions:
For the bill-Johnson, chairman; Aiken,
Eagle. Ragsdale, Yinson and Lloyd.
Democrats. and HilIard. Republican,.
Against the bill-Lobeck. Hamill.
Pooling. Democrats, and Cary, Mapes,
Focht, Oakley. Gould and Tinkham, Re
pUblicans-9
DoubtfuHCrosser. Bailey and Wilson,
Democrats. and Wheeler and Darrow,
Republicans
II is difficult to Judge what will be the
relative strength OF the two sides, how
ever. after the fight to obtain action
actually opens up. The tremendous pres,
sure Of the prohibition lobby in Wash
ington, which extends throughout tht
country into the districts Of those mem
bers it seeks to influence, may change
several votes It is possible that oppo-
ncnts Of the bill on the committee. Il
necessary, may be able to prevent action
by staying away from meetings and
breaking a quorum. In this they will be
assisted. in all prOba bihty, by severa
members, who, If the bill comes to a
vote, would feel obliged to support it, but
who are willing to do all they can secret
ly to kill il by inactiOn.
The action Of the Senate committee
while described as a surprise by those
"wets" who stayed away, in reality was
prearranged to the extent that tbs
vets" knowing that the "drys'' had
suf1cient votes to put the bill through
decided to let It go through in their alb,
sence, leaving their record blank or
the prohibition question as far as thi,
Congress Is concerned