New-York tribune., 1918-03-05
Senate Committee
Wants State Vote
on Dry Amendment
Also Reports Favorably on
Plan for Prohibition
During War

ALBANY, March A referendum
on the question of statewide prohibit
ton in preference to ratification Of the
Federal prohibitory amendment was
recommended to the Senate tonight in
the report Of the Committee on Taxa
ton and Retrenchment.
The committee also reported favor
ably on the bill designed to pring about
statewide prohibition during the war.
After considerable pickering the Sen
ate voted to recommit the referendum
resolution and the war emergency pro
hibition bill to the Taxation and Re
trenchment Committee for hearing
next Monday afternoon. March L.
The resolution. as introduced, was
far more stringent than the proposed
Federal amendment. The committee,
however, has amended it so as to con-
form exactly to the provisions Of the
Federal amendment.
"The first concern Of the Legislat-
ure," the report says, SIS in relation to
the state rather than to the nation. II
it desires. New York can have prohibi-
tion through an amendment to the
state constitution a an earlier date
than it can through the Federal amend
mcnt.
Voters Decision Wanted
"In the absence OF satisfactory evi
dence as to whether prohibition for the
state is favored by q Majority OF the
electors, the committee favors the sub
mission Of tine state prohibition amend
ment If passed by this and the neX'
Legislature referendum can be haC
at the general election Of 1919
"If the proposal is defeated, the is
sue in this state viii be disposed Of a
least for the present. rs to both STATE
and national prohibition. If it is
adopted the Legislature can then con
slider the Federal amendment on it.
n x..its. This seems to be the wise
course. because Of objections put for
ward against the Federal amendmen
on grounds unrelated to prohibition ii
this state.
of New York has prohibition, are
we as state desIrous OF forcing pro
hibition on states that object to it
Is prohibition amendment to thf
Federal Constitution within The pur
view Of the Constitution forming thi
union Of the states? If adopted, vii
IS adoption set dangerous preceden
IN matters rot properly pertaining t
our Federal government, or weaker
the union Of the statos2 These i'm
portant questions. temporarily oD
scured by The controversy over pro
hibition, win stand i'm their prope
light if the issue is settled by refer
endum.
State Would Lose Sl2,000,000
.'Tn way restraint Of the abuse G
spirituous liquors in the interests O.
efficiency rests upon stronger ground
than in time Of peace. he nationa
government has prohibited the manu
facture Of spirituous liquors during th'
var, and acting in harmony with th
national government, the committe
proposed to prohibit the sale Of spir
ituous liquors for the period Of the wa
and six months after, only beer an'
vine being permitted"
The report points out that the Stat
Treasury viii receive $12 600, 600 fror
excise taxes this year, and a simila
amount VIII be distributed among tn
localities.
"If prohibition be adopted,7 the re
port concludes. "an aggregate annua
ircome of S5l 900, ,000 VIII be with
drawn from Federal, state and munici
ral treasures, and viii have to be me
by other taxes