The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-07-12
BONE DRY CLAUSE FOR FOOD
BILL BEATEN.
TIE FINAL VOTE WAS So TO "a
Amendment to Prohibit the lmporta.
ton Of Liquor or Withdrawal Of
That Held in Bond is
Accepted.

the senate rejected, % to "a, a food bill
amendment by Senator Myers TO pro-
hibit manufacture of beer and vinous
beverages along with distilled liquors.
The senate recessed without dispos-
ing of the prohibition provision of the
bill.
An amendment by Senator Cum
Minis of Iowa prohibiting imports of
distilled liquors during the war and
withdrawal of those now in bond for
beverage purposes was adopted by a
vote of 81 to 80.
Upon reconsideration the senate
voted, 40 TO 10, to retain the provisions
Of the Cummins' amendment.
Text of Amendment.
Senator Cummins' amendment fol-
lows:
''No alcoholic beverage shall be i'm
ported into the United States during
the existing war, and no part of the
distilled spirits now in bond in the
United States shall be Withdrawn dur
ing the said war, 10 he used as bev-
erage."
Ii was estimated that there are
about 220000000 gallons OF distillers'
spirits now in bonded warehouses.
and prohibition upon their with
drawal for beverage purposes would
cause loss in revenue estimated at
around $3.50 100000.
Adoption of the Cummins amend
ment complicated the situation. The
leaders said that should the senate
adopt the Robinson substitute the
Cummins amendment would not be
effective unless again adopted.
Senator Myers then offered his
amendment TO the Robinson substitute
so as to cover beer and wine as well
as distilled liquors. That brought to
a head the controversy over President
Wilson's suggestion that beer and wine
be excepted so as to expedite passage
of the bill.
Senator Pittman declared certain
senator's were voting for prohibition
as an excuse TO filibuster and kill the
bin, and he said he would vote
against the prohibition proposals in
order TO get eloture rule to force
the bill through. In reply Senator
Norris asserted that no filibuster is
contemplated.
Senator Sherman announced that he
favored the 'bOne dry proposal of
Senator Myers. He provoked laughter
by presenting kilograms from Chicago
constituents with foreign names asking
that no action be taken upon beer.
Senator Stone warned the senate
that adoption of the Myers amend
ment would cause prolonged debate.
He called on the senators TO heed the
request of the president.
Many Delicate Questions.
Senator Chamberlain. in charge of
the bill. said he would vote against
the Myers amendment because there
were enough delicate questions al
ready In the bin without interfering
hone dry" prohibition.
Senator Jones of Washington re-
iterated that the prohibition interests
are not opposing the bill, declaring the
records will show where ''the rebel
lion" against the measure comes from.
Opposing the bone dry" proposal,
Senator Phelan declared it would de-
strOy large revenues and interfere with
fixed habits of the people.
"The president Is of the opinion"
he said that the masses of the peo-
pie. without spokesman here, are
against invasion of their daily habit
and what they regard as their right
TO drink a little beer with their din
ners or lunch"
Senator Sheppard, a leading prohi-
bition advocate, announced that he
would Support the hands Of the pres
ident" and yield TO the request for de-
ferring action upon beer and wines.
Uphold Vice President
Following a parliamentary tangle
over precedence of various prohibition
proposals, the senate also voted, 50 to
%, to sustain ruling by Vice Presi-
dent Marshal that before the Gore and
Robinson amendments should be voted
on, the senate should first dispose of
a bone dry" amendment by Senator
Curtis of Kansas, virtually Identical
with the original house provision.
10 Stfulelilcll Out lllc parliamentary
snarl, the senate afterward, without
a record vote, adopted Senator Curtis
amendment, which merely rearranged
and perfected the house text for bone
dry prohibition.
That placed the revised house pro-
vision In position for further amend
ment, either by approval of the Gore
amendment, the Robinson substitute or
others held In readiness by several
senators.
Senator Gronna Of North Dakota
urged national ''bone-dry' legislation.
contending that President WILSON'S POI
sition was mistaken one.
Senator yardaman declared that his
reasons for supporting prohibition
were TO conserve food and save the
race"
Senator Sterling. declaring his sup
port OF the house prohibition section,
declared:
"A bread riot is more to be feared