Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17

took full control in the House to-day.
refused to permit a vote on straight
out motion to repeal the wartime act,
defeated Overwhelmingly an amendment
providing for the sale of two and three
quarters per cent. beer and stood solidly
against all attacks on the general en-
forcement measure.
Just as fast as one liberal amend
ment was offered by opponents of prohi-
bition, it was voted down without cere-
mony. always by a triple vote. for the
minority, fighting every inch of ground,
demanded a division after the ayes and
nays were called and then asked for
tellers. Before the House got through
with the first section of the first part of
the three-part bill there was more dis
order on the floor than at any time this
session.
The disturbance arose first during an
| attempt by Representative Blanton,
democrat. of Texas to speak a second
time against an amendment which would
have given a jury the right to define
| intoxcants and was increased during an
address by Representative Gallvan.
democrat, of Massachusetts. who de-
clared members voting dry should print
| in the Congressional Record exactly how
much liquor they had stored in their
| homes and offices.
DOOM OF 2% PER CENT
| The real battle of the day, however
was over the amendment to define an in
| toxicant beverage containing more
than two and three quarters per cent
alcohol instead of more than one-half Of
one per cent. written in the bill. Repre-
! sentative Missouri
author Of the amendment. did not ask for
this definition in the constitutional pro-
hibition amendment, but simply In the
wartime law. In pleading for its adoption
Mr.. Dyer declared 1t was what President
Wilson had recommended to Congress and
would permit, during the remaining period
Of wartime prohibition, the sale Of light
wines and beer, and might delay issuance
of a proclamation by the President which
would restore the sale of hard" liquors.
There was a round of speechmaking on
this motion, an hour of it with the "drys"
assailing it as an entering wedge, and
the VETS asserting that 1t merely per-
NIT the very thing the President, as COM
mander in chief of the army had said
was best for the country for the next
six months.
After two and three quarters per cent.
|
vote of Isl to 90-and this was about the
relative decision on all amendments-the
prohibitionists went after another amend
ment by Representative Igos. democrat,
of Missouri, which would have stricken
out all definition of intoxicants. killing
the proposal 12s to SO.
HOUSE IN CONFUSION
There was the utmost confusion at
times, despite vigorous whacks with a
gavel and some Of the prohibition lead
ers applauded every move in their favor.
The galleries. filled Largely with women,
and officers of anti-liquor organizations,
broke into applause when the house roar
ter per cent beer.
And then, when it seemed the majority
was weary Of voting down every proposal
by the other side, points of order were
raised and some motions designed to
, make the law less drastic were picked up
, by the nape Of the neck as members ex-
pressed it and bodily thrown out This
, happened to an amendment by represen-
tative Lea, democrat, California, in the
/ interest of grape growers, who stood to
3 lose twelve million dollars this year, he
said. 1t provided for the manufacture OF
. wine containing eleven per cent alcohol
. by weight. A point of order against II
t was sustained by the chair.
There were other points OF order or
3 other proposals but the one by Represen
tative Pell, democrat, New York, which
I would put determination of intoxicating
qualities of certain beverages up to q
jury, was ruled in order. only to be knock
ed out on an aye and nay vote, a division
and again after the call for telers and
the slow march of members through thu
center aisle of the chamber to be count
ed. This was the usual proceeding, thu
VETS always being able to muster
enough Of their number to support thu
demand.
When the House got through will
the jury proposal it went after al
amendment by Representative Long
worth. republican, of Ohio. to strik
out the whole of the first section o
. the wartime enforcement bill, will
it's one-half of one per cent. alcohol