New-York tribune., 1918-03-22
The Federal Amendment
Beaten, Prohibitionists
Yield a Point
Would Bar Whiskey
After December 81
Tammany and City Saloons
Opposed; Passage Is
Predicted
Especial Co1respcndencel

ALBANY, March 21.--The prohibit
t;onists. with full knowledge that it
would be impossible to get the present
legislature to ratify the proposed bone
drv amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition, to-day got behind temperance
kill prohibiting the sale of all intoXi-
eating beverages excepting light wines
and 5 per cent beer after December 81.
The bill has an excellent chance of
passing.
This pleased the rural vets. who,
through one of their leaders, senator
James A. Emerson, of Warren. chair
man of the Committee on Taxation and
Retrenchment, introduced light wine
and beer bill. which was advanced to
second reading. The bill will come up
for vote either Monday night or Tues
day.
Ihe rural vets found another morsel
of consolation in the Senate's adoption
OF the proposed bone dry amendment to
the state constitution. This res6ution.
also fostered by Senator Emerson's
committee. if adopted by the Assembly,
must be passed by the next Legislature
before it can be submitted to vote
of the people. The drys voted solidly
against its adoption.
Ratification Measure Not Touched
The amended Hill-McNab ratification
resolution. providing for a referendum,
although the general order. was not
touched to-day. The drys are against
it and the vets are not for it, SO there
is a possibility of the measure dying
where it lies. This would please the
Assembly, which by an overwhelming
vote on Tuesday Indefinitely postponed
consideration Of the measure.
The rural vets and the drys are
elsted over the temperance bill Sena-
tor Emerson. whose county has been
protesting about his stand against pro
hibtion, believes this viii paclfy his
constituencies And other rural vets
are happy for similar reasons.
Assent blyrian H. Edmund Mach old,
y of jefferson County, who led the fight
Of the vets in the lower house which
resulted in Transforming the Hil|Mc-
Nab ratification resolution into ret-
erendum, said that he would gladly
introduce the temperance bill in the
Assembly.
The bill, il it passes. will be signed
by the Governor. 1t is similar to the
original light wine and beer bill in
troduced earlier in the session as
war measure, except that instead OF
limiting its effect to the duration of
the war. the law will remain on the
statute books until some succeeding
legislature repeals 1t.
Opposed by Saloon Interests
The saloon interests and Tammany
Hall are solidly opposed to the light
wine and beer bill. Saloon men here
to-day declared that if it became law
practically every saloon in New YORK
City, Buffalo, Rochester and every
other city in the state would have TO
close.
"The light wine and beer bill has the
Endorsement of the Anti-Saloon
League said Robert G.. Davey, coun-
sci for the league. "It is not Just what
we wanted, but it is a step in the right
direction
The measure was drafted after
conference in Senator Emerson's room.
At this conference besides Mr.. Emer-
son were Senator William H. Hill, lead
er of the drys, and Mr.. Davey.
I'VE can pass the bill easily in the
Senate" said Senator Hill tonight
I'VE have twenty-eight votes pledged
! for it. And we have assurances from
!! Speaker Sweet that it will pass the
Assembly"
The bill reduces the liquor license
tax one-third. Saloonkeepers and
9ther holders of liquor licenses will
have thirty days grace after the bill
becomes law to dispose Of contraband
intoxicants
When the resolution indorsing a
bone dry amendment to the Federal
Constitution was reached on the cal
endar, the drys attacked it as insin-
eere. Senator Henry NJ. Sage, of Al
oany. said he could not understand the
position Of the drys.
WHY they Wouid have vfyen their
eyes last session to get this measure
through" he said.
Motion to Recommit Is Lost
A motion offered by Senator George
:. thompson, Of Niagara, to recommlt
tne resolution with Instructions to re-
port II on April IT, the day after thirty
option, was lost.
The vote on the state bone dry reso-
luton was 27 TO %: All the Demo-
crats except Senator Bernard Downing,
o. o. New York, voted for the resolution.
ine vote was:
For state prohibition: Senator'S
ErIgetsinger. f.. r. Brown, Cromwell,
nniiehrist, Lockwood, Newton, Nicoll,
vstnger, Robinson, Sage, Slater, Wal
nnfs, Walton and Wicks, Republicans;
iDoyian, Carroll, Cotillo, Cullen, Dow
ING, Dunnigan, Farrenkopf, Foley,
AosniY, Ramgperger, Sheridan, Wagner
and walker. Democrats.
nyainSt state prohibitions: Senators
H. brown, Burlingarne, Carson, En-
m;m,, ImI;smoh, Fowler, Gibbs, Graves, Hewitt,
Nj, Knight, Lawson. Marshall, Mullan,
TT,ufpny, Stiyers. &. r. Thompaon, G.. l..
anompson, Towner, Wellington, Whit
ps5 Y,.5 and Yelverton, Republicann, and
ooTninx, Democrat.