Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-27
BILL To ENFORCE
WAR-T |ME LIQUOR
LAW NOT TO PASS
VoIStead Admits Defeat of
Drastic Measure But Claims
Sufficient Means to Enforce
Law Already Exist,
lsv MORNING younnAL srselAL LsAeto WEI

washington, June Zp.--N af-uHle
prohibition will become effective next
Monday at midnight without enact
ment meanwhile by congress of addi-
tional legislation for its enforcement
Out of a mass Of confusing devel-
opments this fact stood out clearly
today with the decision of the house
judiciary committee, charged with the
duty of preparing and submitting en-
forcement machinery, to report three
bills in one, each standing on it's own
legs, and capable of holding it's own
in the event the others were made
invalid by congress or the courts.
Chairman Volsteah of the commit
tee, declared tonight there was no
possibility of the passage of the Joint
measure before July /, but that there
existed ample means of enforcement.
and ample penalties for violation Of
the war time act. The full and eX-
plicit definition of intoxicating
liquors-any beverages or product
containing more than u of l per cent
alcohol-set by the bureau of Internal
revenue, left no doubt, he said. as to
how the courts would construe the law
or deal with the offenders. No at
tempt was made by prohibition mem
bers of the committee to conceal their
satisfaction in having ordered three
bills sent to the house in one so as to
prevent more than one fight. Some
members intimated that the title one,
the wartime enforcement measure,
would still be unpassed when actual
wartime prohibition was declared
ended 1t was pointed out by others
That the Law Inaug II mandatory on
the president to say when domobili-
zation was completed, which would
automatically permit saloons to re-
sumo operations until January 16,
when constitutional prohibition will
become effective.
Do Not Fear President.
Members of the judiciary commit
tee said it was inconceivable that de-
mobilization would be delayed beyond
the middle of January. While they
did not look for action by the presf-
dent this week or next, the general
view was that the signing of the
treaty by Germany and government
assurance of speedy rehabilitation,
issuance of the presidents proclama-
llUIl IIlISIll llOl Dt lltll u IOlSCl Nliull
Labor day at the latest. Indeed. 1t
appeared to be the opinion among
many members of the house that sa-
looms in cities where the sale of
liquor now is permitted, will be serv-
ing drinks much sooner than the pub
lie imagines.
AS the prohibition enforcement
measure finally is put in shape for
the house il will be divided into three
parts, or titles; first. general enforce
ment of wartime prohibition effective
on the approval; second. constitution
prohibition: third, regulations for the
manufacture of industrial alcohol the
latter two effective January 16, 1920.
For the first part the committee
decided to substitute bodily the bill
introduced yesterday by Representa-
tive Gard. democrat of Ohio, this be-
ing the measure prepared last winter
by Mr.. Gard. Chairman Volstead and
Representative Whaley of South Car
olina. 1t stands alone and its pro-
visions are less drastic than the con-
stitutional bill.
Committee Changes Policy.
Title two is the straight Volstead
BILL endorsed by anti-liquor organi-
zations and regarded as the most
drastic measure of the kind ever put
before congress. Title three, the Dyer
bill, relates to Industrial alcohol, its
manufacture and regulation.
In one respect the agreement of
members as to the policy to be adopt
ed today changed over night. When
it came to a straight vote on the pro-
posal by Representative Walsh. re-
publican Of Massachusetts, to report
out the Gard bill separately the COM
mittee refused. 10 to 8. A. moment
later It voted 10 to to substitute the
Gard measure bodily as the wartime
enforcement plan. and to bunch all
three bills.
The fact. however. that the COM
mittee finally reached definite
agreement as to the procedure doeC
not mean that a solid front will be
shown in the house, for 1t was said
tonight that a minority report would
be submitted. Just what this which
members declined to state, but It was
reported that anti-prohibition mem
bers would attack provisions in the
constitutional prohibition measure
and others would attempt to exempt
light wines and beer from operations
of the wartime act.
''The house is dryer than the
committee" as some members ex-
pressed it. (which was taken to mean
that there would be no let down and
that while a fight was to be expected
eul 'MgI lusmeoJoJue IeIeues 9ql no
radical provisions would stand.