The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-16
Conferees on Army Bill Agree
and Clean Army Camps Are
Assured
PRESIDENT AND WAR
SECRETARY GIVEN POWER
Still Further Moral Protection
May Be Extended If 1t Shall
Be Found Necessary-Great
Improvement Anticipated

t Especial to The Richmond nireinian.} J
Washington, ID. c., May 1.-The
conference committee on the army
bill met today, completed its work and
reported back the result of their la
bors to the senate and the house. The
prohibition provision, which author
t ICES the president to place such re-
stric.tons upon the safe of tnt11icants
in the neighborhood OF army camps
as he may deem necessary, which also
prohibits the sale or possession of in
toXicants in any military post or camp,
and which prohibits the sale of intoxi-
cants to soldiers in uniform. is retained
in the bill. The anti-yi provision,
which directs the secretary of war to
suppress and prohibit the establish
ment of houses Of ill-fame in the
! neighborhood of army posts or camps,
/ also remains in the bill.
| While the positive prohibition in
the bill is not as sweeping as many
desired It should be. yet 1t is believed
that there will be great Improvement
/ in the moral conditions surrounding
the camp. and Xe president and the
secretary of war are given authority
! to extend still further moral protec-
ton II it shall he found necessary.
Reversal OF Action.
/ The action of the senate in adopt
, ing on last Saturday evening the
| amendment offered by Senator Cum
4 minis. forhidding the manufacture of
intoxicants from foodstuffs by vote
of 3s TO 80, showed once more the
great prohibition sentiment there ia
L.. -
niZed by the prohibition leaders that
many senators who would vote for
/ the Cummins proposition as an inde-
pendent bill did not believe II to be
+ wise to attempt 10 attach such a pro
vision TO the espionage bill. Sena-
tors Barahl Nelson. Thomas. Oyernnan..
simmons, Fletcher, Robinson and
others opposed the Cummins amend
ment on the ground that II was not
germane, and several of them stated
in debate that they favored the prin-
/ cipie of conservation of food prod
! ucts and would vote to prohibit the
use Of such products for the manu-
facture of intoxicating liquor as an
! independent measure.
4 The two Virginia senators voted for
the Cummins amendment and on
Monday, when the amendment was
taken up again in the senate, after be-
ing reported from the committee OF
I the whole, notwithstanding the great
! efforts which were made to secure a
reversal of their attitude, they stood
4 firmly by their original position Sen. :
. ator Martin was approached by 4
leading member in the senate and
urged to vote against the amendment
on the ground that IL it should be
adopted it would result In the loss OF
about $500, 100000 OF revenue.
/ He replied without hesitation that
~. ,rztz Ia
u1ent for two reasons: First because
it was moral question. and he aid
not think that revenue should be con-
sidered in the determination OF a
moral question: second. 1t was a cues
! ton OF bread or booze and he did not
see how any man could hesitate In
casting his vote when that was the
issue.
Senator Martins action is directly
+ in accord with the position taken BY
the Virginia Council of Defense in It's
resolutions urging congress to pro-
hibit the manufacture and sale Of In
toxicating liquor during the war. That
action taken with such prompt
unanimity at the first meeting Of tho
council of defense has produced ffue
impression in Washington and has
been the cause of much favorable
comment.
The prohibition leaders in Wash
ington will press with undated vigor
for the passage of the legislative pro-
gram already outlined in the columns
of The Nirginian No opportunity Will
be lost to secure the adoption OF
needed prohibition legislation. Tho
sentiment for the prohibition of grain
beino used to make liquor is sweeping
over the country. The evidence Of IL
is manifest from the appeals which
are focused on congress. 1t Is gen
orally conceded that a measure In
some form to accomplish this end Will
he adopted. Several congressman have
expressed the belief that it will be the
most popular and salutary measure
passed bv this congress.
! The brewers are opposing thio
measure at every step Thew are the
object of much ridiL lie as the tempeTs
ance leaders point out the discrepancy
t.. their figures about the amount n
grain which they now claim that they
use and compare it witE the figures
to-