Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-29
Reports Measure Covering
War and Constitutional Dry
+ Laws as Independent Acts

: A general enforcement measure. en-
bracing both war time and constitutional
prohibition. put together in such a way
to let one stand independently OF the
IL to 2 after the committee had refused
to split il into two separate and dis
tinct parts.
Backed up by representatives from
districts outwardly hostile to wartime
prohibition. the minority will attempt a
flying wedge fight in hope Of 50 amend
ing the wartime enforcement bill as to
permit the manufacture and sale of ~
per cent beer. While the prohibition
leaders claim to have sufficient votes to
put the bill through without substantial
change. they conferred informally upon
q plan of action. The general BELIEF IL
that the President will not issue proc
lamation declaring rehabilitation and
wartime prohibition ended before Aug
:: Anti-prohibition forces in the House
counted heads and agreed to put up q
desperate battle for wholesale modifi-
Cations Of several sections There is
wide difference of opinion among
members as to how soon the fight may
begin. After the bill was formally re-
ported out late yesterday. Chairman
yoistead announced that he would ask
for q rule giving it the right of way.
but strong objection developed. The
general view was that the bill could
not be called up in the House until
July Z. at the earliest, and how long
che fight would last no one would VEN
ture a prediction. There was little
disagreement, however, on the bill
ultimate passage, for the House is
counted dry" by a big margin.
:. Definition Of Intoxicant.
= Some of the prohibition members
pointed out that there was no great
division except on the definition OF
TntoxicatinS liquor. and. while they
expected a strong effort to raise the
percentage from one-half OF I per
cent. they expressed every confidence
That in this respect the bill would be
passed a. drawn by the committee and
rs Endorsed by all of the anti-liQuor
organizations. The real battle will be
Tor IN per cent beer.
?. Refusal of the House majority lead
.ers to give the bill a special rule for
Immediate consideration as due. they
,expained. to failure of the committee
to send in . wartime prohibition en-
.fercement bill by itself. Had this
stesRs passsd IN, e. day, bat they de.-
sGlafoa unwfliingness to: rush thxNMGt
= 4AN joint measure wftho0t kfVrhg
ample opportunity for debate on its
Sas~reaching sections.
= u In not at all unlikely that an ef-
-Eort will be made to separate bodily
Sahe wartime and constitutional meas
Ires. described by some members rs
the Siamese twins Of prohibition leg
-8lation." and endeavor to pass the
CORNER measure, for which there 10
pressing demand. and let the other
Nait. Even as the joint measure
: stands 1t contains one part or title
which would take effect after it's ap-
proval. and two that would not be-
come effective until January 1s. 1920.
There will be ample time for men,
hers to outline their plan OF attack and
3ourn early next week, after disposing
% the last of the supply bills until
1ily z.
The minority report will be signed
n Representatives Gard. Ohio: Igoe,
Hissouri. and Steele. Pennsylvania. all
souri,. and possibly others. While
voting with the majority. Mr.. Gard
announced that he would prepare q
minority report, attacking principally
lfhe provision that a citizen shall not
possess" liquor. and other features.
House Members Undecided.
There has been no attempt to dis
guise the fact that members Of the
House are very undecided as to the
whole prohibition situation. There
are 30 many angles to 1t that they
frankly admit their confusion. much
of which has been due. they declare.
20 reiterated reports that the Presi-
dent would lift the wartime ban before
the law takes effect Monday night.
= Chairman volstead and members of
me judiciary committee were kept
busy all day explaining to persons
here and elsewhere that the failure of
Congress to enact additional wartime
enforcement legislation Immediately
did not mean that the government
Has without authority to deal with
-persons who sell liquor after Monday.
Some of the committeeman expressed
genuine satisfaction whom informed
Ahat the liquor fight would be deferred
until week after next.
= Both advocates and opponents OF
drastic prohibition laws said senti-
ment in the House would be swayed
ID . considerable extent by the atti-
.4nde Of the public. and particularly
-f1quor dealers. in the period beginning
next Tuesday. Reports that saloons
tn some Of the larger cities would re-
main open for the sale Of 2 y per cent
heer brought renewed warning Of the
penalties now existing without addi-