Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-22
Lower Body Adopts Amend.
mont Making Over Score Of
Commonwealths Abso-
lutely Arid.
NEBRASKA IS AFFECTED
Derisive Laughter Greets the
Members Who Hesitate Be-
cause of States Rights
SLOAN IN THE NEGATIVE
Hrom a STAFF Correspondent,

VI Iun d Stdh ''iltSpohuVh'''
Washington, Feb. 2l.-(Specia
Telegram)-"Bone dry, bone dry
echoed throughout the house of rep.
resentativcs today and bone dry" il
is, so far as prohibition states are
concerned, for by "a vote of 52l to Y
the house voted to concur in the Reet
amendment to the postofficc appro-
priation bill making it CRIME to i'm.
port liquor into dry states.
With the exception OF Representa-.
tive Sloan every member from Ne
braska voted to concur in Senator
Reeds amendment. the result being
regarded as a triumph for the "wets'
on the theory that al rigid enforce
ment OF prohibition laws and the ex-
clusion OF liquor for personal use will
bring a revulsion OF sentiment in
favor OF a larger personal liberty.
1t is counted as one of the most
far-reaching prohibition measures i'll
YEAR, because it will make absolutely
dry states which now permit ship
ments in limited quantities.
Every effort to change the amend
meut was defeated overwhelmingly
Cries OF bone dry rang throughout
the house and the sentiment swept
the house until the last vote for con-
currcnce was cast. Members who at
tempted to explain that they were
prohibitionists at heart, but stood for
states rights, were greeted with
laughter.
The amendment, incomparably the
most far-reaching prohibition legisla-
ton ever approved by either house of
congress, would raise an absolute bar
rier against the shipment of liquor
into fifteen states where it can be i'm
ported legally now and where millions
of dollars worth is consumed an
nually. 1t would add to the bone
dry territory about one-third of con-
tincHtal United States.
Affects Twenty-Five States.
OF the twenty-five states which will
be prohibition territory on July |,
when the amendment would be effec-
tive. only eight have forbidden im-
portation of intoxicants for personal
use. The fourteen around which the
provision would erect non-importa-
ton barrier are Alabama. Colorado,
Georgia. Iowa. Maine, Mississippi,
Nebraska, North Dakota, North Caro-
lima, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia.
Most of these have set no limitation
on the amount that can be brought
in f,or individual use, but in several
cases the amendment would nullify
directly state statutes expressly per-
mitting importation OF stipulated
amounts per capita.
In addition, Michigan, Montana
and Indiana have enacted prohibition
laws which will put them into the
prohibition column, subject 10 the
provisions Of the Reed amendment.
The amendment marks virtually
tie only step ever taken by the fed
eral government, aside from the in
terual revenue laws, to extend its con-
troll over the liquor traffic through
the states 1t is the only important
federal legislation affecting liquor
shipments excepting thS Wcbb-Ken-
yon law, which merely gave federal
force to state regulations by provid-
ing that no liquor shall be imported
into states which forbid its importa-
ton.
Text of Amendment.
Whoever shall order, purchase or
cause Intoxicating liquors TO be trans
ported i'll interstate commerce" the
amendment stipulates, except for
scientific, medicinal or mechanical
purposes into any state or territory
prohibiting the manufacture or sale
therein of Intoxicating liquors for
beverage purposes, shall be punished
Continued on Page Two, Column seven.)
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