The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-09
Temperance Champion Conf
dent Bill Will Win by Good
Majority
HOUSE BELIEVED
DRY BY SAFE VOTE
Senator Underwood Will Offer
Substitute to Have Refcren-
dum-Nation's Capital Soon
to Be Rid of Saloons

washington, Dec. s.-What lis View
ed by many as first move in the dl-
rection of a constitutional amendment
for nation wide prohibition failed to-
day only because of the death of
member of Congress. Adjournment Of
the Senate out of respect to the late
Representative Tribble. of Georgia.
prevented a vote on Senator Morris
Sheppard's bill to make the District
of Columbia dry. Senator Sheppard
Will renew his fight for the bill on
Monday and claimed tonight to have
enough votes to pass II.
Indications are that II also will
pass the House
Senator Sheppard stole a march on
the opposition today by moving to
take up bill while only few wet
Senators were in the chamber. A
loud chorus Of ayes" greeted the put
ting of his motion and only several
voices protested. The wet" Senators
sent out IS, q. s." calls and in a few
minutes were strongly REINFORCED
All amendments offered to clear np
the phraseology of the bill and to
slightly hheralize 1t were agreed to
without objection during the after
noon. Senator Underwood, OF Ala
hama, gave notice he would offer a
su Institute proposing a referendum SO
as to give the citizens of the District
OF Columbia a chance to vote on pro-
hibition.
The bin prohibits the manufacture
and sale Of alcoholic liquors in the
District but does not prevent fmpor-
tation Of alcohol for personal use.
story of the Days Contest.
The motion to take up the bill was
adopted on viva voce vote. the
ayes from both sides OF the cham
Der drowning out the noes"
Senator Sheppard asked that the
reading OF the bill be dispensed with
and that the Senate proceed at once
to the consideration OF the amend
ments proposed by him. The bill has
zen printed showing these proposed
amendments. he explained, and a copy
of the bill was on each Senator's
desk
Senator Hughes, of New Jersey, OBJ
iected to this request and insisted that
the bill be read There are twenty
six pages of the bill
Amendments Arc Explained.
As soon as the reading of the bill
was finished the amendments were
taken up. Senator Sheppard explain
ed the purpose of number Of amend
ments offered by him. which would
make the prohibition apply only to
the manufacture or sale Of alcoholic
or malt liquors in the District He
said that with these amendments the
personal use of liquor would still be
permitted. and it would still be pos
sble to give liquor away.
Amendments were rapidly adopted,
ILL., 4, lAIo H. .1uA~
upon which the bill Is to become ef-
feetive was changed from November
i, 1915. to November /. 1917.
Minimum Penalty Retained.
Senator Shafroth, of Colorado. Of
fercd amendments to strike out the
minimum penalties attached to viola
fions Of the law. saying that it had
been the experience of prosecuting
officers that IL was easier to get con-
victions. He urged that only tho
maximum penalties be included. and
rely upon the court 20 impose the
proper penalties.
Senator Nardeman. of Mississippi,
objected TO this. saying that q judge
who was so inclined, might permit
violators of the law to escape with
little or no penalty. Senator'S Curtis.
of Kansas. and Norris, OF Nebraska
agreed with Mr.. Vardaman. and Sem
ator Shafroth finally withdrew his
amendments.
Exemption for Diplomats.
An amendment was adopted which
would permit the members OF this
diplomatic corps to import into the
District such liquors as they desired
for use in the embassies and legations
Senator Underwood. OF Alabama.
questioned Senator Sheppard as 10 the
aim of the bill
rs importation of alcoholic liquor
into the District prohibited?" he
asked.
only the importation for sale az
a beverage replied Senator Shep-
pard. &
III the Senator sends to New York
or Baltimore for liquor to be used a.
beverage in his own home. he viii
not violate the law, them" said Sem
ator Underwood.
Senator Sheppard said that this
was correct interpretation Of the
proposed law.
Manufacture Of Alcohol.
Senator Underwood pointed out that
grain alcohol could be manufactured
here under the proposed law II 1t was
not to be used for beverage purposes
in the District.
what want to know is' he said,
whether grain alcohol manufactured
here can be exported from the District
to be used as n beverage elsewhare.
Senator Sheppard at first said he
thought that this could be done. On
reconsideration, however, he pointed
out that the bill prohibits the manu-s
facture OF alcohol for beverage pur-
poses In the District OF Columbia, and
that he thought this would prevent ~
use anywhere for beverage puFpose1s
Senator Works. of California, in~
terrupted to state that he was oppCee6
to permitting the importation az alco-
hol into the District for personal -.