The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-10
SENATE PASSES
SHEPPARD BILL
ABOLISHING SALOONS
IN NATIONAL CAPITAL
Vote Was s. to 32--Coes to
House Where 1t is Sure to
Pass No Referendum.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The Shep
pard bill TO abolish saloons in the ma
tional capital after November l, 1917,
was passed late today by the senate
and now goes TO the house, where its
friends claim it is assured Of passage.
The vote in the senate was 80 to 81.
While the measure prohibits the
sale OF liquor in the District Of Colum.
bia, it permits importation for per
sonal use. An amendment which
would have submitted tlne proposal to
Il referendum OF citizens of the dis
trict was defeated just before passage
by tie vote, 43 to 43.
Neither the vote on the referendum
amendment nor that on the passage
of the bill was on party lines. There
were 26 Democrats and II Republi
cans voting for the referendum and %
Democrats and 21 Republicans voting
against it, Most of the Republicans
of the so-called Progressive group
voted against it,
For the bill itself. there were IS
Democratic and 81 Republican votes,
with % Democrats and 10 Republi-
cans against It. All the Progressives
voted for passage. w.
All common carriers bringing in.
toxcants into the district are re-
Quired 10 keep a record. of the shipper
and consignee, who must make affi.
davit that they are for personal use.
The law declares that no property
rights shall exist in alcoholic liquors
illegally manufactured or brought into
the district, makes every place that
violates the law common nuisance"
and gives the right to any citizen to
sue to enjoin such nuisance.
Heavy Penalties Provided.
Heavy penalties are provided for
violations, including a provision aimed
at physicians who prescribe liquor for
patients without cause. A right TO
sue for damages from the person who
sells liquor to person who is injured
in person or property" in conse-
quence Of intoxication is given to
blood relatives.
Efforts 10 absolutely forbid manu-
facture in'the district and export from
it were beaten without record vote.
An amendment by Senator Phelan
which would permit sale Of wine, ale,
beer and porter" also was defeated.
The vote was preceded by little
debate on its terms, but many explain:
ations were given by senators of their
Underwood referendum amendment.
Under the agreement for the vote to-
day, speeches were limited to a few
minutes There was evident spirit
of bitterness on the part of many SEN
ators and a feeling Of tension that
was only broken a few times when
amendments were offered or sugges-
tions made that the senate and the
galleries n ought humorous. The
crowd was particularly pleased with
an amendment proposed by Senator
MARITIME to forbid the use or manu-
facture of tobacco in any form in the
district. There were loud laughs
when it. was read by the clerk and
once. again when. after Senator Reed
had made a technical point against IT,,
the New Jersey senator replied: Il
know you're against it, you chew
tobacco"
During the several hours after the
bill automatically came up and before
the vote was taken. every seat in
every gallery except that reserved for
the diplomatic corps was filled and
scores were standing or sitting in The
aisles. About half the spectators
we're women.