The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
To the Exclusion of ImpOr- tant Legislation Prohibit tionists to Insist on Con- sideration of Hobby
THE SHEPPARD BILL
 IS ANTI-SALOON LAW
 IT DISCRIMINATES
Bill Denying the Mails to Liquor Literature Is Al most Certain to Pass Aft CT Being Amended
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Washington, December 24. Especial. )-The completion of this session of Congress will be featured by prohibition debate, if not prohibition legislation.
 To the exclusion of important subjects recommended by Pres ldent Wilson, prohi bitio on measures have gained the fore front of the stage.
 Pending at present: In the Senate the Sheppard bill to abolish the saloons in the District of Columbia; pro- posed federal amendment prohibiting the manufacture or importation to the United States of alcoholic beverages; :; a bill to deny the mails to all litera- ture, including newspapers addressed to prohibition territory In the House "a proposed amendment preventing the manufacture or importation to the United States of intoxicating liquors; bill denying mails to literature ad- dressed to prohibition territory.
 THE SHEPPARD BILL
 The District of Columbia prohibition bill is not prohibition bill but an anti l;1 but permit any individual to import for his own use as much liquor as he might desire. The bill would abolish all local plants manufacturing intoxicants except the Corby Yeast company, which makes it business to retail it's by-product of alcohol. It is reported that MT. Corby is a prohibitionist and has subscribed to the anti-saloon league. No charge has been made, however, that that fact is responsible for the discrimination in his favor which the bill would show. Sena- tor Reed of Missouri, has an amendment to eliminate the discrimination in favor Of Corby.
 As a substitute for the Sheppard bill Senator Underwood of Alabama has a piii CihpONylii6 lHc PIluCIpleS or the SH6p- pard bill, but referring the entire ques- tor to the people of the district. On the bill, the substitutes and amendments the Senate will vote on the afternoon of January g. If the Underwood substitute is defeated, the Sheppard bill, in all prob- ability. will pass
 THE LIMIT ABANDONED
 In the beginning, Senator Sheppards s bill provided for limit-similar to the Alabama statutes-on the amount of liquor an individual within a certain time period might import. That provis- ion, however, was so unpopular that the senator. evidently realizing that he could not hold his own forces in hand, threw the gates wide open. Then it was that several who would have kicked, smiling ly walked into line The bill would go into effect January l. 1918. Its provis- ions, it is believed. would make Balti- more the richest city in the union. AL ready, it is said that certain transpor- tation companies, believing the district will go dry, have arranged for the inau- guration of a whisky special" similar to that which regularly operates into West Virginia.
 It would cause little surprise were tho anti-advertising bill, which would deny the mails to liquor advertising addressed to dry territory, when amended so as to exclude from it's provisions, newspapers and magazines, to pass. It would com mand the support of certain states rights democrats who are opposed to prohibit tion as a policy of the federal govern ment. It is generally admitted that na- tion-wide prohibition will fail to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the present session of CODgreSS
 The anti-advertising bill before the Senate was reported by the committee on postoffices and postroads, of which Senator Bankhead of Alabama is chair man. It was passed by six of the 1e members of the committee present The vote of those six members was unani- nous.
 Senator Bankhead has voted in favor of referring the question of prohibition to the people of the District of Colum- bia. and he will oppose nationwide pro- hibition by a federal amendment. As a democrat, however he believes that ter ritory made dry by the vote of the people. should be protected as long as the people of that territory maintain the present policy
 So believing, he will. support the bill which would deny the mails to liquor in circular form. It is not believed, how ever. that he would go so far as to ex- clude from circulation in Alabama met ropolitan newspapers and magazines