The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-07
Decree Making Bars Beer
less Has Full Approval
of the President.
PURELY A WAR MEASURE
Prohibition Legislation Now
I. Before Congress Antici-
pated by Drastic Act.
Special Despdtch to THE Sun.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 6.-The bars of
tho nation will be beerless next year
regardless of whether the wartime
prohibition measure. passed by the
Senate to-day as part Of the agricul-
tural stimulation bill. becomes a law.
An order, which had the full ap-
proval of President Wilson. went out
tonight from the Food Administra-
ton closing all breweries in the coun-
try on December /. This Is the very
action which the original Randall!
rider. passed by the House, sought to
fcrce upon the President in providing
that no appropriations for the stimu-
lation Of agriculture should be avail
able until the President had stopped
the use Of foodstuffs for this purpose
under the authority conferred upon
him by the Lever law.
Warning that the production OF beer
substitutes and other soft drinks and
spring waters is also to be materially
curtailed was given with the announce
ment tonight that the brewing was to
be STOPPED and the brsweries shut down
for the period OF the war; -e.
siGnihcanee was sect, In the fact that
the announcement Of the Admins
trative action followed closely upon the
passage by the Senate this afternoon OF
the food production stimulation Bill with
its rider enforcing nationwide prohibi-
tion as a war measure.
Anticipates DRY" LeGislation.
In effect the action by the President
and his advisers anticipates the dry
legislation which has been hanging FIRE
In Congress The dry rider would en-
force nationwide prohibition by June 30.
All whiskey dstilling In the United
States or the distilling OF other spirits
for beverage purposes was stopped by
order Of the President just a little short
Of year ago. With the ban on brew
ing the nation is certain to go dry within
a year. whether the nationwide dry rider
becomes a law or not.
Beer is not aged like whiskey and the
stocks carried are comparatively small.
The order issued by the food admins
tration curtailing the brewing Of beer
fifty per cent July 3 has resulted in a
depletion OF the stocks on hand.
1t will be matter OF few months
only before the beer drinkers will be
out Of supply. AS the entire whiskey
stock of the nation will be consumed
within a year. according to the esti-
experts. this means a dry nation with
or without prohibition legislation.
War Conservation Mea.ure.
The bans placed upon both distilling
and brewing are put down as war con-
servation measures. Distilling was
stopped to save the large amount OF
grain that was converted into alcohol
Brewing is to be stopped TO save not
only the grain that was matted but fuel
consumption and transportation as we'll
A big saving In coal consumption and
in freight car capacity of the nation is
anticipated.
The beer drinking population scarcely
felt the fifty per cent curtailment order
which has been in effect two months
This was because the breweries COM
bined in coal saving to keep up produc-
ton. but 1t will be a comparatively
short time now before the pinch is felt
For a year the food and fuel ad-
ministrations have been cutting in upon
the beer supply Of the nation. Restric-
ton OF the alcohol. content of beer was
ordered a year ago. making n saving In
matted grain Coincident with Fuel Ad-
ministration orders limiting brewing an
order was issued by the Food Admins
tration prohibiting the further mailing
of In for hrawinp nnruoSes
All Amendments Voted Down.
Before the Senate passed the food
production stimulation bill with its rider
enforcing nation wide prohibition an Of
fort, defeated in the course OF the last
hours OF the discussion, was made to
provide that subsequent to the proposed
law going into effect the President
should be empowered to appoint a COM
mission OF three men to determine upon
the value OF the remaining liquor in
bond and to arrange for the reimburse
ment OF the owners OF these stocks.
Senator Bankhead (Ala.) proposed the
amendment. and 1t was debated for a
brief while. only to follow into the ruck
OF discarded amendments all OF the
modifying predecessors.
On the final passage Of the bill there
was no recorded vote. but Senator Fall
IN. M sought a record vote on the
prohibition rider. II having been evaded
when the bill was In committee OF the
whole last week, and II was passed by a
vote of 40 to s.
Senator Ransdell (La), one of the
men who voted against the measure, ex-
plained his vote on the ground that the
measure was in his opinion absolutely