The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-25
HOUSE DRYBILU
FACING DOUBLE
FIREIN SENATE.
ProhibitiOnists Angered
and Finance Committee
Fears Loss of Revenue.
GORE SEES DEFEAT
Asserts Action Has Impeded
Passage of National
Food Measure. =
SIMMONS AN OPPONENT
---
Will Attempt to Save Half,
Billion in Liquor Taxes
to Country.

hatioHa! prohinition into the food az
ministration bill. passed at last nieht'a
session, has stirred leaders OF the Sem
ate TO wrath. The measure as it passed
the House is in the LAST degree unsatis.'
factory 10 large group Of Senator's
among whom may be numbered some Of
the most persistent advocates OF ulti-
mate complete prohibition for the nation.
The Lever bill as it will come to the
Senate tomorrow will face a sturdy,
strenuous and steadfast opposition fro0
leaders in the Senate who IL the ques-
tion OF prohibition for the whole United
States came before them as n general
enactment and not as a special feature
OF bill designed and drafted for Q
wholly different purpose, would give q
ungrudgins support.
Gore IL Dissatisaed.
Criticism OF the Lever bilrs prohibi-
tory features is not confined either By
partisan lines or by previously *
pressed opinion Of Senator's One Of the
frankest critics Of the prohibition Sec
ton OF the Lever bill is Senator Gore,
Oklahoma, radical prohibitorist Of the
nationwide type Senator Gore said to.
night regarding the Lever bill:
1T must be first said In Offering
criticism Of this measure that am o
believer in nationwide prohibition. I
hope to participate ultimately In the en-
actnent OF a law which Will drive alco-
hol and the drink ha bit forever from the
United States. but do not approve a
the methods pursued by the House, and
the prohibition section of the bill is un-
timely and unscien;ific II ie a piece
OF iegtslat ton which l believe cannot be
satisfactory 10 the Senate.
Already the Senate Committee On
Agriculture has considered the restric-
tion OF Americas grain in the manufac-
ture OF distilled spirits The Senate
Committee on Finance has adopted a
prohibitive tax on grains 70 Ne used In
the production Of distilled spirits, which
VIII put an end ID the manufacture sf
whiskey
Predicts n Hard Fight.
The House action ie not timely. II
is not called for by the exigencies OF
the case. II will be fought tooth ana
nail in the Senate am not prepared
70 estimate the measure OF support
which the prohibition section will re-
ceive in the Senate. hu; l do not think
IL can possibly prevail.
The Houses action has not improves
the situation with regard to the speedy
passage of the food administration bin
in the Senate II has presented another
dfnculty for the measure 10 meet in itD
course through the upper house"
The apparently complete disregard on
the part Of the House OF the revenue
raising problem which confronts the ma
tional legislature is another occasion
for annoyance and anger in the Senate
The Senate is prepared or was prepared
10 vote into the law measures which
would stop the manufacture Of whlskey
and other ardent spirits, leaving the
manufacture OF beers and wines TO be
carried on under an approximately
double taxation. II was willing to leave
the bonded warehouse supply of whiskey
untouched and 10 permit the Govern
ment TO derive such revenue as II might
from this source. 1t realized that tho
advances in the price Of distilled drink
able spirits in a small measure would
restrict the consumption and while this
was in progress the less harmful drink
ables would be manufactured and sold
and the Government would receive the
revenue therefrom for the period Of the
war.
Hits Foreign Centres.
II was pointed out that the conserva-
ton OF the grapes which SO into wine
and the barley which goes into beer
would nave only negHRlnie erect on
the food markets of the nation. The
saving in grains through complete pro-
hibiton will be scant per cent. Of the
grain supply OF the nation and the con-
servation OF barley IL not valuable
item OF this conservation. In all ap-
proximately 500, 600, 0o0 bushels of all
sorts Of cereal products can be saved
through enforcement Of the prohibition
OF manufacture completely upon tho
nation.
Another feature Of the situation which
IL giving deep concern 10 the Senators
Is the possible effect Of a dry nation
upon certain Of the population in regions
where the temperance or prohibition
propaganda has not spread freely 1t Is
pointed out that the regions In which
the war is least popular are those where
mild use Of alcoholic beverages, particu-
larly beers and wines, is part Of the
daily life OF the community. Some OF
the Senators from the agricultural and
even from the radically bone dry States
recognize this situation.
sheppard Is Jubiiant.
Senator Sheppard OF Texas, author OF
tho bin which made the national capital
dry and also author OF the pending con-
stitutional amendment for complete pro-
hibition, is jublant over the action OF