The sun., 1917-02-16
CONGRESS- ACTS
AIM AT DRYU.S.
The National Prohibition
Amendment Reported Fa-
vOrably to House. .
SENATE HITS LIQUOR ADS.
Furry Caused by ReOpening
Question of Raising Second
Class Mail Rate.
SENATE HITS LIQUOR ADS.

SltSS MuIl hUNCs
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-Prohibition
took a step forward to-day in both
branches of Congress.
In the Senate drastic amendments to
the postal appropriation bill were agreed
to which would make criminal the i'm
portation of liquor into States which
prohibit it's manufacture and sale for
beverage purposes. and which would ex-
clude liquor advertisements from the
mails in States which legislate against
such advertising II finally enacted the
bill as 1t now stands would make all pro-
hibition States bone dry
on the House side the national prohi-
biton constitutional amendment was IA
vorably reported from the Judiciary
Committee. with a prediction by Chair
man Webb that it would be passed
within week. Champions of prohibi-
ton greeted this announcement with en-
thusasm. in spite Of their realization
that passage in the House will end ac-
ton on the amendment in SO far as this
session of Congress is concerned There
is no thought of action by the Senate
before March 4. when the SiXty-fourth
Congress dies.
Fines for P.blishers.
The Senate in the consideration of the
post office appropriation bill. after vot-
ing down an amendment proposed by
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey to en-
clude cigarette advertisements from the
mails. adopted an amendment by Senator
Jones of Washington excluding from the
mails newspapers carrying advertise
ments for liquor addressed to dry ter
, ritory.
The fines and other penalties pre-
scribed in the bill for offences against
the statute were modified somewhat by
an amendment offered by Senator Reed
confnii.g them to the publishers and
making it impossible that any innocent
offender should be punished who might
violate the law without intent so TO do
by mailing a newspaper containing the
offending matter to friend in dry"
territory.
But the important feature Of the con-
sideration of the bill was the adoption OF
an amendment by Senator Reed OF Mis-
,
! direction of bone dry prohibition than
anything Congress has attempted hereto
! fore This amendment was in the ma
ture of modification or enlargement of
the Jones amendment to exclude liquor
advertising from the mails.
! Text Of Amendment.
! The whole amendment as it now ap-
/ pears in the bill is given below. the Reed
amendment baing printed in italics:
"Sec. 3. That no letter, postal card.
! circular. newspaper, pamphlet or publi-
! cation of any kind containing advertise
ments Of spirituous. vinous, matted. fer
mented or other intoxicating liquors Of
any kind or containing a solicitation of
| an order or orders for said liquors, or
any OF them. shall he deposited in or
carried by the mails of the United States
! or be delivered by any postmaster or let
| ter carrier when addressed or directed
| to any person. firm. corporation or as
sociation OF other addressee. at any place
or point In any state or Territory of the
United states AZ which it is by the law
in force in the state or Territory at that
time unlawful to advertise or solicit Or
ders for such liquors or any OF them re-
spectvely.
May He Sent TO Prison.
"It the publisher Of any newspaper or
other publication or the agent Of such
publication. or II anu dedier in such
liquors or his agent shah knorin9ly de-
pOsit or cause to be deposited or shall
kno,cinolu send or cause to be sent any
thing to be conreyed or delivered by mai
in rioldtion Of the provisions Of this sec
ton, or shall knOcin1lU deiirer or cause
to be dekcercd by mail anything herein
forbidden to be carried By mail. such per
son shall be fined not more than $1,000
or imprisoned not more than sir months
or both. and for dny subsequent offence
shall be imprisoned rot more than On'
uedr. Amy person riOinting any prori
sion of this section pdy be tried aud pun
ishcd either in the district in ichiCh tn,
mlauful matter or publication na'
mailed. or to Thich the nnld,cfW matter
or publication Tds mailed. or to tchicl
il ras carried bU mail for delivery, nc
c0rding to directions thereon. or in whicI
} il ,cas caused to be deIirercd By mail Il
the person to Thom il ros addressed.
} "Whoerer shall order, purchase o
cause Intoxicating liquors to be trans
pOrted IN interstate commerce, orcept JO
scientific, sdcrdmcntdl. medicinal or me
chanicdl purposes, into auu state or Ter
ritory the idws Of Thich Sidtc or Terri
torn prohibit the manufacture or sal
therein Of Intoxicating liquors for berer
aoe purposes SHAH be punished as afOre
said Provided that the Postmaster-Gen
eral Is hereby authorized and directe,
to make public from time to time in suit
able bulletins or public notices the name
OF States in which 1t is unlawful to ad
r yertise or solicit orders for any sucl
liquors"
, Opposed by Only Eleven.
{ Only eleven votes were cast agains
= the Reed amendmen, and forty-five i
, favor of il. Senator Reed has not bee
classed as an advocate of the extension
of dry territory and his advocacy of tn
amendment was viewed by some Sena
tors AZ an attempt to make the Jone
!. amendment so drastic that it would
killed IN conference. The fact tina
many Senators heretofore classed a
( wet" voted for It, was also regarded a
: significant.
= Following this action the Senate di
Q another surprising thing by reopenin
j the matter OF second class and drop Ie,
ter postage. This amendment was sur
= posed to be dead During a lull in tn
u proceedings. when interest had Jagged an
: there were only about a dozen Senator
: in their seats, Senator Smoot offered "A
. amendment reducing drop letter postag
:, to one cent. II was part of the genera
" amendment which the Senate had pre-
yiously disposed of. the rest Of whic
= related to the increase OF the secon