The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-05-09

On Wednesday, May 21, the law en-
Forcemcnt bill and the Prohibition
commissioner bill will be voted on in
the Illinois House OF Representatives
The law enforcement bill passed the
Senate on May ! by vote OF % to II.
The real test OF wet and dry
strength is expected to come in the
House when the enforcement meas
ures come to a vote The ratification
vote in the House was "a to 90.
Because Of the strong sentiment in the
state in favor of adequate and ap-
propriate state laws TO carry out the
provisions of the Constitution, it is
expected no one who voted for rati-
hcation will fail to vote for the law
enforcement bills. As the question
of prohibiting Intoxicating liquor
had not yet been settled when Hi
nois voted on ratification, some who
opposed the dry side then may now
favor law enforcement. 1t would
not be surprising if men who like
Ex-presidcnt Taft did not believe
Prohibition the best method will
nevertheless agree with Taft's pres
ent attitude that since Prohibition
has become a part of the National
Constitution it should be properly
enforced. Practically no opposition
to the bills has developed outside of
the out and out wet opposition which
was expected regardless OF the mcr-
its of the enforcement measures.
The Prohibition commissioner bill
has been amended to eliminate vari-
Gus minor objections and to further
perfect the bill. The bill as amended
was re-introduced in both the Senate
and the House. 1t is now Senate
bill No. 45l and House bill No o20.
Public opinion in general as far as
can be learned is favorable to the
passage of both the law enforcement
and Prohibition commissioner bills.
The Commissioner bill is receiving
the support of the people because of
the good results accomplished by
similar measures in other states. In
five states, namely Michigan, West
Virginia, South Dakota, New Hamp-
shire and Virginia, the commissioner
plan has been in effect and has given
very satisfactory results. About
fifteen other states in addition to
Illinois have either passed or have
pending bills creating a Prohibition
commissioner. The chief provisions
OF both the law enforcement and the
commissioner bills have been pub
lished in the Illinois American Issue.
Briefly reviewed they are, as fol-
lows:
The law enforcement bill (H. B.
16l and S. B. 1907 provides for legal
methods of handling Intoxicating Ii
quors for purposes permitted under
the law safeguarding such handling
to prevent violations. 1t prohibits
liquor Advertising; requires proper
labelling: sets forth regulations for
legal transportation; gives rules for
handling by doctors and druggists;
provides for keeping of records of
liquor handled; provides for the
abatement as nuisances of places
where Intoxicating liquor is made,
sold or used illegally; provides that
under proper safeguards premises
known to be used illegally as blind
pigs or places of public resort may
be searched and liquors removed. 1t
furthermore provides methods of pro-
cedure, and, penalties for various viola
tions.
The law enforcement bill con-
forms to the state and national laws
and is the result of long experience
and careful study in connection with
Prohibition law enforcement both in
Illinois and the various states of the
Union.
The Prohibition Commissioner
Act provides for the appointment by
the Governor, with the consent OF