New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-20
Vets Give Up Struggle
When Senate Ties Vote,
3S to 3S
LIQUOR BAN GOES
IN EFFECT IN 1917
Upper House Refuses Ref
erendum to Capital
City Dwellers
Hmm Tie Trihnn. Ruresn |

Washington. Dec. 10. The capital Of
the United States will he a dry city
before Thanksgiving. 1917.
There is no doubt about this. The
Citizens Of Washington and Americans
and foreigners who frequent this town
may make up their minds to 1t right
now, for the vets gave up the hgnt
early this evening when the Senate IN
committee of the whole divided, 81 to
3s, upon the proposal TO let taxpayers
OF the District say whether they wanted
prohibition. Senator Underwood, whose
amendment embodied the referendum,
may move for a reconsideration OF the
vote tomorrow. but it is the opinion
Of the vets that there is no chance oil
breaking the tie.
Senator Hughes, leader Of the vets
, said that no fight would be made upon
the bill itself when II was placed on
final passage. There will be no roll
call. which will ease the mind of many
a member OF the Senate whose conVlc-
tions do not square with the supposed
wishes Of his constituents.
As The Tribune has pointed out, the
House of Representatives Is certain 10
pass the bill when it comes from the
Senate. Both party whips and several
members who are violently opposed 70
prohibition gave positive assurance
that the bill would be passed. The ma
iority will be so safe that the chances
arc there will be no rollcall in the
House, either. There is no disposition
upon the side of the vets at least to
place their fellow members I'm hole
Question Up to Wilson
This puts the question OF ccry
Washington up 10 the President. MI
Wilson is not a teetotaler and does
not follow his esteemed William Jen-
nings Bryan 20 quite the length stated
by the Nebraskan in MS deciaratloh
OF the issues Of the campaign OF l92O.
However, Trustworthy information from
the White House makes safe the pre-
diction that the President VIII not veto
the Sheppard bill. =.
The Sheppard bill, imposing prohi-
bition law on the District OF Column
bia. will 90 into effect in November,
1917. Briefly, it provides that no
liquor of any sort may De sold WITHIN
the limits of the district. All saloons
and hotel bars will be forced out OF
business. 1t is provided, however. that
residents and visitors may bring IN
liouid supplies "for their own use"
The vote in the Senate this evening
was n painful shock TO those who be
lieved that by means of the referendum
they would be able 70 devitalize the
prohibition bill. There were two chances
first. that the people might vote
against il. and, second, that the SUI
irene Court might declare the bill un-
constitutional because of the referen-
dunn. The vets were particularly
grieved at the vote Of Senator Phelan,
Of California, not a prohibition state.
Mr.. Phelan was counted on particularly
because IL was to please him that the
recent discrimination Of the wine taxes
against California was changed.
Tie Not To Be Broken
The tie vote Of 80 to 80 will not be
changed, because the twenty Senator'S
not voted are accounted for by pre-
viously arranged pairs. Had Vice
President Marshall been IN the chair
he could have broken the tie and passed
the referendum amendment.
The two Indiana Senator'S voted with
the vets. and some say Mr.. Marshall
would have been with them. Others
saw he is a dry. But Mr. Marshall is
leaving tonight for Arizona, SO no help
is to be expected from him.
How Serate Lined Up
II was just before the final vote on
the referendum that the significant d.
vision OF the Senate on the proposal
10 include the women Of the district IN
the referendum occurred. Only fifteen
Senators voted against including the