Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-15
|HREE BIG BILLS
BEFORE HOUSE
hrly Vote Looked For on Pro-
hibition, Living Probe and
Suffrage

Washington, Dec. 15.-The House
ldiciary Committee acted yesterday
three of the paramount issues be-
re Congress-nation-w prohibl-
pm, woman suffrage and the high
st of living.
The committee reported favorably
Q resolution. providing for an
nendment to the Constitution for
ktional prohibition and the Borland
solution for an inquiry into the high
Pst of living. 1t reported without
recommendation the constitutional
nendment for woman suffrage.
Action on these three measures
me as a surprise. Advocates of
tohibition and woman suffrage have
BEN trying for more than two years
get these resolutions out of the COM
ittee that a vote on them might be
ken in the House. The decision to
lrust the responsibility for them on
9 whole body of the House instead
carrying 1t on their own shoulders
r another session Is thought to have
BEN the motive which inspired the
embers of the committee to report
hem.
Chairman Webb, one of the leading
Fohibitionists in the House, haid he
ould bring the prohibition amend
lent to a vote at an early date. but
ould not ask for action on the suf-
fage amendment Representative
ard, of Ohio, an opponent of suffrage
as selected to write the report on the
lffrage amendment, while Represen-
ktive Carlin, of Virginia, a supporter
the prohibition measure, is to re-
ort that resolution.
rTPUf nf I1r0t,iI,iti0u Amendment
The proposed prohibition amend
lent follows:
Section 7. That the sale, manufac-
Ire for sale, transportation for sale
nd importation for sale of intoxicat-
hg liquors for beverage purposes in
be United States and all territories
3lbtect to the jurisdiction thereof and
'Sporation thereof are forever prohi-
|ted.
Section 2. That the Congress and
he States shall have power independ-
*ntly or concurrently to enforce this
|rticle by all needful legislation.
How far the resolution will progress
Trough the various legislative stages
Il this session is problematical. but
administration leaders doubt that It
|ill reach the Senate in time for ac-
on at this session. Prohibition ad-
|ocates are tubilant and predict ref
|rence of the amendment to the legis-
atures fthe various States at q much
|arlier date than they heretofore had
|oped for. A two-thirds majority in
10th houses Is required.
Coincident with the committees ac-
ion on the amendment the prohibi-
4 on issue was brought directly to the
|ttention of the Senate when the
Fheppard bill to prohibit the manu-
|acture and sale of liquor IN the Dis
|rict of Columbia became the unfinish-
Id business, to be kept before the Sen
[te until disposed Of.
Seven members of the Judiciary
Fommittee voted against reporting the
prohibition amendment. They were
Fard of Ohio, Dyer of Missouri, Igo
II Missouri, Graham and Steel of
pennsylvania; Walsh OF Massachusetts
md Danforth of New York.
Suffragists Also Pleased
Both suffragists and anti-suffragists
development. Though anxious that
he suffrage resolution be reported
avorably, the suffragists were pleased
because the committee which gener-
lily was regarded as hopelessly
Igainst their cause, went as far as 1t
lid. On the other hand, their op-
,onents declare an opportunity to have
he House vote on the issue inevitably
means a defeat for suffrage which will
iettle the question nationally for
many years. The vote in favor of re-
porting the resolution, eleven to eight,
ioes not represent the sentiment of
he committee on the issue. Some of
is bitterest enemies voted favorably,
most Of them confident of seeing it
,eaten on the floor and desirous of
luieting charges of "smothering" in
committee.
The suffrage resolution follows:
Section /. The right of citizens of
he United States to vote shall not be
ienied or abridged by the United
states or by any State on account of
lex.
Section 2. Congress shall haveI
,ower by appropriate legislation to
the provisions of this article.