Evening star., 1917-05-13
SENATE BARS GRAIN
IN LIQUOR MAKING
Votes SO to so for Measure
Which Marks Long Advance
Toward Dry Country.
sMAsHEs CURB OF PRESS

SMASHES CURB OF PRESS
The first legislative step toward con-
servation of the nations food resources
and a long advance toward an absolutely
dry United States was taken last night
by the Senate in approving, 50 to 80. an
amendment to the administration espion-
age bill forbidding during the war the
use OF cereals or grain in the manufac-
ture of intoxicating liquor.
By majority Of one vote the Senate
also threw out Of the bill the adminis--
tration's press censorship section and
then voted overwhelmingly not to put in
a modified section, as was done in the
House. This action is expected to throw
the censorship fight into conference,
where the influence of the adIninistra-
ly. What will be the outcome no senator
would predict with confidence last night
Refuse to Forbid Sale.
The prohibition amendment was adopt
ed under q rule limiting debate sharply,
and there were only brief speeches on
each side. Just before the Senate had
voted down. 81 to rs. a proposal to for
bid sale OF intoxicants during the war.
!. Effective September /. the amendment
Is calculated to conf1ne sale and con-
sumption to whisky and other grain
liquors already in stock and to wines.
brandies or other drinks that depend
upon other materials for their main con-
stttueiits. Another opportunity to vote
upon 1t will be offered when the Senate
takes the bill with the amendment from
the committee Of the whole, but oppo-
nents Of the prohibitory provision are not
confident that they will be able to over
az
Estimates during the debate were
that at least $500. 100000 in annual
internal revenue would be lost if the
amendment stands.
Ends Long, Bitter Fight.
Elimination of the press censorship
section ended a long and bitter fight.
eight. Opportunity will come also for
another vote on this section, and the
administration fs expected to make an
effort to have the Senate reverse itself
The prohibition amendment. proposed
1y Senator Cummins. republican, Of
Iowa, reads as follows: THAT on and
after September 1. 1917, during the
period OF the war with the imperial
government Of Germany, 1t shall be
unIawfu1 70 use or employ. directly or
sirup in the production Of intoxicating
1iquor I'm any form or Of amy, kind; |;
provided that nothing in this section
shall prevent the use OF sugar Or sfrup
authorized by existing law: provided
further. that this Eectfon shall not be
eoH1tfu6d TO make unlawful the man
t1e4ctufe ks,zacuisol ssor Intoxicating
'ata4 for IND tstrial. mechanical. medi-
poses under rules and regulations. to
BE- estahfisiisd by the Secretary Of the
a vi yisiasscu 81 this section viii be
nuu511ed by due OF note more than
than three years or both
Vote on the Amendment.
Senators who voted for the amend
Democrats: Ashurst. Beckham. Gore.
Kendrick. King. Kirby: McKeilar. Mar
Sheppard. Shields, Smith (Georgia). .
Swenson. Thompson. Trammel. Tarda-
man. Walsh. Williams and Wolcott--ee.
Republicans: Brady. cumrnins. Cur
tbs. GelIinger, Hale. johnson Cali
fornia), Jones (Washington), Kenyon,
Norris, Page, Poindexter. Sherman,
Smoot, Sterling, Sutherland and Town
send.
Against the amendment:
Democrats: Bankhead. Broussard,
Fletcher, Gerry. Hardwicks Hollis.
HuSting, James, Jones tNew MexicO) +,
Lewis, Overman, Pomerene, KansdeIl,
Reed, Robinson, Simmons, Smith (South
Carolina), Stone and Uaderwood-19.
s Republicans: Brandegee. Calder, Fall,
France. FreIinshuysen, Harding. KeI-
logg. La Toilette. Lodge. Nelson. New,
Wadswo orth and Weeks-i3.
Two Proposals Defeated.
An amendment by Senator Gronna
prohibiting the use of grains and other
necessities of life in the manufacture
OF beverage alcohol was beaten A6 to
"a. Another by Senator Weeks to per-
NIT use Of grains and cereals in the
manufacture of alcohol used in the
manufacture Of tobacco was beaten SO
to 81.
There was much discussion Of the con-
stitutionality OF the Cummins amend
ment and many senator's complained
that the Senate was undertaking the
most important sort of legislation un-
der limited debate rule Supporters
Of the proposed amendment emphasized
strongly the fact that the nation and
it's allies need every bushel of grain
they can nnd to carry on the war.
Discussion Of the censorship and pro-
hibition sections prevented final vote
To r.