Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-25
FIGHT TO SAVE BEER
AND WINE IN SENATE
Strong Sentiment Exists There
Against Absolute Prohibition
in Food Bill.
WHISKY BAN SEEMS SURE

With absolute prohibition staring the
country in the face, as a war measure
in the food control bill as it passed the
House Saturday, the interest centered
today in the attitude OF the Senate to-
ward the matter.
Ihere is strong feeling among many
OF the senators that the House provi-
sion for prohibition will be adopted by
the Senate. Senator Chamberlain, in
charge OF the bill in the Senate. ex-
pressed such an opinion today. The
prohibition sentiment in the Senate is
strong. and while attempts will be made
TO modify the bill so as to have the
prohibition apply only to distilled
spirits and not to beer, ale and wine.
the rrohibitionists believe they can
defeat these attempts.
on the other hand. strong opposition
TO the House bill prohibition provisions
VIII come from members Of the Senate
nnance committee. including Senator
The committee has been drafting the
war revenue bill for weeks. 1t is
planned in this measure to raise some
soIoOO0.0OO through taxation on alco-
hollc beverages. II the manufacture of
these beverages is prohibited by the
food control law, then the revenue will
not be forthcoming, and some other
source will have to be found for taxa
ton.
Senator Gore Thinks Action Unwise.
Senator Gore of Oklahoma. a SUD-
porter Of prohibition. and at the sa
time member of the Senate finance
thbdhmittee. th said today that he doubted
.ne ti wisdom of forcing absolute prohibit
tion on the country during war time by
such means as those adopted by the
Rouse in the food control bill.
ronloition, he suggested, was a mat
na rs .hat shouid be settled in normal,
peace tunes. He Is the author of an
amendment to the war revenue bill now
pe1ore the finance committee, which
would place prohibitive tax upon the
use OF grains to manufacture distilled
Splits Splits he Is also the author of a bill
which would give the President power
70 commander all distilled spirits in
bond for the purpose Of redistillation.
the alcohol so obtained to be used in
the manufacture OF munitions and mill
tary and hospital supplies.
The original liquor provision in the
food control bill as reported to the
House, placed in the hands of the Presi-
dent the control of the situation. I'm
der 1t. the President would have had
the right to prohibit the use of food
stuffs. in the manufacture of alcoholic
beverages when he deemed Il necessary
as food conservation measure. 1t Is
likely that an effort will be made by
soiHc Ol the SendCOrS 10 nave Such a
provision. restored to the bill by the
Senate, with the execution, perhaps,
that the use Of foodstufYs for the manu-
facture Of distilled spirits shall be pro-
hibited. The use. of foodstuffs in the
msa9ufa;ture Of beer, ale and wines. un-
with by the President.
Much Anti-whisky Sentiment.
There seems to he pracffca1fv m on-
position in the Senate to prohibiting
the use Of foodstuffs in the manufac-
ture OF distilled spirits during the war,
and very little opposition to authoriz-
ing the President to commander dis
titled spirits for redistillation purposes.
The most ardent advocates of prohi-
bitlon among the senators today well
coined the opportunity to make the
food control bill as it passed the House.
They contended that not an ounce Of
food should be used in the manufac-
ture' Of alcoholic beverages. whisky.
beer. ale or wine. during the war. il
the food emergency was SO great as
has been indicated by Herbert c. Hoo
yer. chosen by the President as food
for the country.
War Tax Bill Not to Be Held Up.
At the meeting of the Senate finance
today the prohibition
to the House food control
bill were not discussed, though mem
bers OF the committee realized that if
adopted by the Senate there would be
necessity OF revamping the revenue
bill.
should Congress finally accept the
House provisions Of the food control
bill. shutting Off the manufacture of
alcohoifc beverages. this committee
will have to lind other sources of rev.
enue. Of course" said Senator Sim
mons after the meeting. However, 1
10 not think that the committee will
be delayed in reporting the revenue
bill to the Senate on this account, We
probably will submit our report before
the Senate acts upon the House food
control bill"
House Bill Referred,
The House food control bill was re-
ferred to the Senate committee on ae-
riculture without any discussion. Sena-
tor Chamberlin said that he hone,l the
would report the bill back
to the Senate as soon as possible as a
substitute for the pending Senate bill
He said he thought it would be report
ed without any material amendment.
although the committee. of course,
would take what action it saw fit.
Lewis Substitute Places
Control of Food Supplies