Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-29
PROHIBITION ISSUE j
MENACES FOOD BILE
President Wilson Seeks to
Harmonize Differences to
Insure Prompt Enactment.
SEES DANGER IN DELAY

President Wilson has begun a series
or conferences with senators in an e.
fort to straiShten out the prohibition
clause Of the food bill now before tn.
Senate. He has been Informed that
unless this feature of the hill is settled
10 the satisfaction OF many conflicting
interests the result Will be that the
FOOD bill. which should he passed by
July l in order TO he effective, will not
be passed for a month In other worda
hlibuster is in plain sight
The result Of the Presidents confer.
ences. 1t is believed. will bring about
a modification OF the bill which wifi
teaVe to the discretion of the President
me question of whether the people OF
tne country shall be supplied with light
wines and beer. There is said to be no
nope whatever that whisky can be
saved
PRESIDENT Wilson saw Senator Gerry
ana senator Martin today and had a
short conference yesterday afternoon
with Senator Phelan Of California on
this subject while they were attending
the unveiling of the Emmett statue at
the New National Museum He is also
to see other senators.
President Aware of Danger. 7
ne PRESIDENT Is reported to be aware
oI a grave danger confronting the
country In connection with the prohibi.
tlon legislation in the food bill. as ~ in
now framed The strike reported YES.
N,erday In the plant of the International
N,ckel company at Bayonne, N T.
~ because they could not get beer, was
.oday cited as an example Of what might
happen in various plants all over the
country IN case workmen are deprived Of
peer Ihis danger. 1t is understood. 10
not confined principally to the poasi.
oiity or strikes in various manufacture
ing plants. whose output might be need.
ed as part of the conduct of the war. II
is SAID the President believes that the
legislation. as II is now framed. woufd
have actually bad effect on business
generally throughout the country.
Many important businesses, such an
real estate. depend upon various forms
OF the wine. beer and liquor industries.
buildlng and finance are affected by
them Farmers who grow hops. bar.
ley and other crops. now in the ground
nearly ready to harvest, to say noth-
ing OF the great grape industries. are
by the proposed legislation.
Some of the Presidents advisers be,
feve that II the legislation as II il
now framed is put through business
industry will wonder what Ii to be-
come of their various interests, DOS
sibly creating an atmosphere in which
men might draw in their money fron
industry and prepare themselves fee
a coming storm.
Question Of Revenue Considered. >
The question. Of revenue derived
from taxes involved, It is pointed out,
Is broader one than of federal taxes.
In many cases state governments and
city governments derive much revenue
from taxes on wines. liquors and beers.
This feature Of the proposed legisla-
tion is causing the administration much
anxiety.
There is some belief among those
who have talked with the President
that Congress ought to take the re-
prohibition. especially as many mem-
bers of Congress have charged the
President with being a dictator: but
inasmuch as Congress has not 80 far
has shown a disposition in some Of iss
deliberations toward putting 1t up to"
the President, 1t is believed the Presi.
dent has decided that he will be able.
IN his own discretion. to say whether
the country shall have beer and light
wines. II Congress decides that it wants
to leave the question that way.
Reasons Governing the President. :
The Presidents view is reported to be
that he will accept such a responsibility
II Congress decides that way-prin.
cipally, almost solely, in fact-in order
to get the food bill through Congress
at once. It has been heretofore pointed
out that II the food bill is not passed
by July l. grain and other commodities
viii be In the elevators and in the
hands of speculators. in view Of the
harvests now going on in the south, before
the government can get control Of IL.
The President is therefore said to feel
that the bill must be passed at once
Then. too. reports have reached TIM
President. 1t is said, that IL the prohibi.
tion question is not settled now. on the
food bill. it will almost certainly come
up again. with the war tax revenue biIi.
There is 1t is believed. no way to handle
the prohibition question as a separate
measure. and In the general interest the
anxious to get it settled now-on the