The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-28

the senate. but 80 loaded down with
amendments as to. IL the hopes Of a
majority of the District committee
prevail, defeat the measure.
1 The main amendments are the
bone-dry feature and the referendum
proposition. The others mean, In
fact, nothing, and consist OF provis-
ions for eliminating this section or
that section. all aimed to bring about
delay through the medium of roll
calls If the latter can be forced.
Will Pass When Vote Reached.
All Of these amendments will be
voted down, however, and the Shep-
pard bill will pass when 1t comes to
vote. AS the time draws nearer
for the measure to come up, less and
less talk is heard from those vets
living in big Eastern cities who had
threatened to absent themselves and
defeat various appropriation bills; to
stay away from the meeting OF the
| organization of the next house SO that
the Republicans could organize with
out trouble, etc.
Wet agttators still continue busy
| trying to arouse opposition to the
District bill by assertions to the eff
feet that a new rules committee will
be demanded; that Majority Leader
Claude Kitchin Is to be punished for
| supporting various prohibition meas
ures: that Representatives e. Y.
webb, of North Carolina, and A w.
Barley. OF Kentucky. will be put
ha az herouce af THAR
prominence In connection with active
support Of prohibition measures
throughout this session. but all talk
OF this kind simply spells defeat
| for the hackers of booze.
Like the wet members OF the house
committee on District OF Colum bia,
now that they see absolute and hope
less defeat staring them in the face.
despite the fact that they have re-
sorted to every hook and crook to
stay of the dry measures, they are
house, and in the senate. however.
who have stood up for the prohibit
ton cause. and who could have gained
the goodwill of the wet hackers by
sacrificing their principles, are now
worrying in this day Of prohibition
rejoicing over threats OF a political
boycott, or like empty talk.
Much bitterness Shown.
The interesting feature OF the pres
emit situation is the bitterness being
shown by the brewers and the distil-
lers. respectively. towards each other.
Representatives of the national organ
I tzattuus of both are now here. md thy
are breathing terrifying threats as 10
getting even" The distillers are de-
clarfng openly that the brewers "dou-
ble-crossed' them In putting over the
Reed bone-dry amendment. and She
brewers are saying the distillers have
been double crossing" them for a year
or two in efforts to force them to bear
heavier share of the internal reve-
nue. tax than they are now or have
been bearing
The distillere say that from now on
they will go II entirely alone, and that
whenever they have chance to put one
over on the brewers they viii do so.
Brewers are boasting openly that Sem
ator Reed, of Missouri. from the big
sest brewery state in the union. un-
loaded the bone-dry amendment on the
heads of the distiilsrs. and that II is
their time TO laugh.
Naturally. the prohibition forces are
enjoying this falling out of their enc
mIes. and are willing to help II along.
The situation therefore. today spells
chaos" for the vets. and victory" for
the drys
WIN Report Rule wednesday.
Tho house rules committee met this
afternoon and. In view OF the report
ing Of the District OF Columbia pro-
hibition bill by the District committee,
changed its rule so as to eliminate that
| feature calling for the discharge OF the
| District committee The rule provid-
cd for but two hours OF debate. instead
| of three one hour TO each side. The
resolution introduced by Representative
| Barkley called for three hours debate.
one and one-haIf hours TO each side.
| The new rule also call for voting zen
bloc" on all referendum amendments.
| Voting on other amendments will be
| expedited as much AS possible. Tho
rule will be reported Wednesday morn
Ing.
| CONGRESSMAN Harrison, OF Mississip-
| pi. who has charge OF the rule callin <
up the District prohibition bill said
! this afternoon II had not been de-
cidsd Just what hour the rule will
be reported The District bill" said
| Mr., Harrison, will be considered,
whether or not the international situa-
| ton measure Ia taken up before or AZ
ter District prohibition"
The report of the District committee
on the Sheppard bill Is matter-of-
fact document. and does not comment
on the merits or dement's OF prohi-
| bition.
1t merely presents the Sheppard bill
to the house with the numerous amend
ments written into 1t by the District
| committee yesterday and Saturday.
| Except for the amendments relating
! to a bone-dry'' District and a reteren-
dunn the amendments are of a minor
| character. and are regarded by the
| "drys' as "time-kiilers." The vets"
will make a last desperate effort 10
| defeat the Sheppard bill by house
nlibustsr, but this may be cut short
at any time by an arbitrary rule.
| 1t is still n safe guess that no amend
ment whatsoever TO the Sheppard bin
will be approved by the house because
the lower body will not take the risk
Of sending the dry" bill back to the
senate.
| Passage of tho Sheppard bill within
the next forty-eight. IL not the next
twsnty-four hours. seems fairly GER
4 tain this afternoon.
nColpT nE[lQlpc