New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
Senate Votes
To End Sale
Of Whiskey
President Directed to Take
Over All Now Held
in Bond
Price Fixed at Cost
Plus 10 Per Cent
Farmers Grow Angry at Fall
in Wheat Due to Delay
in Food Bill
lBy The Associated Pressl

[By The Associated Pressl
Washington, July THE Senate
went on record to-day in favor Of
"bone dry" national prohibition dur
ing the war, so far as whiskey and
ether distilled beverages are con.
cerned.
Liquor legislation was written into
the food control bill in one Of the
Senate's bitterest contests which
would strike at the consumption oil
distilled intoxicants by Communicating
stocks in bond, in addition to abso'
lutely prohibiting their manufacture
or importation. The beer and wine In
dustries would be left undisturbed.
In lieu of the section of the House
bill to prohibit the manufacture o'
foodstuffs into beverages of any de-
scription, the Senate substituted, by
vote of 40 to 81, provision prohibit
ing the manufacture and importation
of distilled beverages during the war
and added, 65 to ~, q further clause
directing the President to take ovel
ell distilled spirits in government
bonded warehouses and pay for them
on the basis Of cost plus 10 per cent
While the final prohibition legisla'
= L
tween the two houses, it is generally
regarded as possible that the House
will accept the Senate's change afteI
fight in behalf of the original sec
ton.
Vast Stock on Hand
The Senate provision would limit
consumption to stocks in retailers
hands or withdrawn before the Law
goes into effect. Stocks of distilled
beverages in bond were estimated to
night at between 200,000,0O0 and 800,
600 900 gallons, and the annual norma
consumption at 120.000,00O gallons. It
purchase this enormous quantity OF
liouor, or what is left of il after with
drawals in anticipation Of the legisla
ton, il is estimated tnat the govern
ment would have TO spend from $500,
900, 900 to S1,0O0,000,000. The probable
loss in Federal revenues IS placed al
from S200.000,000 to S4OO.OOO,OOO, al
though this. as well as the cost OF pur'
chase, would depend entire upon no"
much liquor was Withdrawn tax
paid before the Communicating.
The Senates action promises IN
definite delay in enactlng the war ta>
bill. further delay on the 1000 con
troll bill, and indefinite postponemen'
of adjournment Of Congress. Inc re
vised S1.670,000,000 war tax bill wa'
withdrawn Immediately following th'
final vote upon the liquor question &c
seek new sources OF revenues III case
taxation on distilled liquors is eiin'
mated.
The Senate's vote to have the gov
ernment virtually buy FOR lndus'ria
purposes, and thus withdraw from con
sumption or revenue purposes, tn'
great stocks of distilled liquors heI'
in bond followed rejection OF pro
p6sal TO deal with beers and VINES
proposal to authorize the President I,
suspend manufacture OF these IlghI
/ intoxicants being defeated.
Another Day of Speeches
Another day of impassioned speeche,
under a fve-mnute limit, INSIDE
/ Congressional maneuvring ana par
! liamentary tangles preceded the zen cen
/ ate's action in the liquor contest. NJ
+ result was hailed as partial victory
3 by both "wets" and "drys.' frohlbltloI
advocates were more elated, however
because they had won their hght q
stop or at least greatly restrict con
sumption rs well as manufacture o.
distilled beverages.
The "wets" were successful, how
ever. in confning the Senate's actor
: TO distilled beverages without inter
/ fering with beer and wines.
The contest ragged about the so
! called administration compromise" o.
| Senator Robinson, originally providing
/ for probibiting manufacture of dis
/ TILED beverages during the war. A
finally amended and substituted TO
the House prohibition section, !
reads:
Tbo. from and after thirty days from
the date of the approval of this act no
nerson shall use any foods. fruits, 1000
/ materials or feeds in the production OF
! distilled liquors, except for governmental
/ Industrial. manufacturing, scientinc or
medicinal purposes. nor shall there oe I'M,
I norted into the United States during said
Gar any distilled liquors provided. that
! the President of the United States be and
hereby is directed to take over for ana on
/ Lehalf of the government Of the United
! States ali distilled liquors that are held in
/ bond at the time this act goes into effect
/ I'D he Is hereby authorized 10 pay 20 the
owners of such liquors the actual cost of
the same. plus profit not exceeding u
\ percentum.
/ Liquor Tax Suspended
! And nrovided further that the collection
/ iii errise tax on distilled spirits in bond
a, M the time of the passage Of this act shall
/ hc snspendcd so long as this act is in force
| and the distiler, In event that said dis
| .utaJ s,irits shall be taken over by the