The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-10-02
AGREEMENT ON
PROHIBITION BILL
Liberal Changes By the Senate Still
Stand-Burden of Proof On
the Government.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.-Breaking
three weeks deadlock, senate and house
cJnfefees reached an agreement late
yesterday on the prohibition enforcement
bill Quick approval of the conferees'
rerort is expected by leaders and the
measure may go to the President early
next week
The bill. which establishes one-half of
one per cent as the maximum alcoholic
content of beverages, was passed by the
house July p and by the senate Sept. 5.
The conf. renee report will be acted on
first by the senate, to which it will be
reported Friday, and then sent to the
house.
The bill will be returned from confer
ence without fundamental changes in its
plan for strict enforcement both of the
wartime prohibition law and the con-
stitutional amendment by the commits
sioner of internal revenue and depart
ment of Justice. Provisions for manu-
facture and sale of industrial spirits and
of spirits for sacramental and scientific
use are retained.
The senate conferees succeeded in re-
tanning virtually every one of the 2S5
''liberalizing" provisions adopted by the
upper house, which comprise mostly ad
ministrative features The principal
liberal" amendment of the senate per-
hitting home manufacture and consump
ton of cider and light wines was APP
proved, as was another senate amend
ment extending application of the con-
stitutional amendment to the Panama
| Canal Zone.
In the principal conference dispute
=. IL. & ofss
in prosecutions, the senate managers
were successful. The bill, as agreed on,
provides that the government must bear
the burden of proof" in prosecuting
those selling beverages by showing that
the beverages concerned contained more
than the alcoholic limit. Manufacturers,
as provided both by the house and SEN
ate bills, must bear the burden of proof
that their products contained alcohol
| only within the amount prescribed.
! No change was made by the conferees
| in the provision which would allow a
man to have and consume in his own
home liquor acquired before the law goes
/ into effect.
Another senate amendment accepted
was that striking out the clause penaliz-
| ing drunkenness on trains, street cars,
automobiles, ferries or other public con
yeyances.
The conference struck out the house
provision requiring physical examina
lions by physicians of patients before
issuance of prescription for intoxicating
beverages and retained the senate amend
ment providing for consumption of in
toxicants by patients in establishments
for the treatment of alcoholic addicts.
For expenses in enforcing the bill, the
conferees reduced the senate appropria
ton of 50 100000 to $2,000,000.
The senate amendment authorizing
manufacture and sale of near beer and
similar malt beverages containing under
one half of one per cent alcohol, were
retained, but it is stipulated that other
names shall be used for their designation
than beer, ale or porter.
Another senate amendment written
| into the bill regarding the exemption of
| intoxieants stored in homes from seiz-
ure, was that providing residences and
homes shall include apartments and hotel
rooms used by such possessors of liquors,
who are exempt from the requirement to
report to the government stocks on hand
Feb. /, 1920.