New-York tribune., 1919-10-03
Saleof2.75Beer
May End Next
Week Say Drys
Anderson, Of Anti-Saloon
League, Discusses the
Enforcement Measure:
Treaty Offers Way Out

William X. Anderson. superintendent
Of the Anti-Saloon League, declared
yesterday that the sale of PTS per cent
beer may end next week.
He said that as the wartime regula-
tions of the prohibition enforcement
bill reported out by the conferrees at
Washington specifically established
one-half of l per cent as the maximum
alcoholic content Of beverages, if the
bill is signed by President Wilson next
week and becomes Immediately effec-
tive, as the Senate and House leaders
expect, the further sale of the 275 per
cent product will be illegal.
There is still a chance. he admitted,
that the treaty of peace may be signed
and the war officially declared over by
President Wilson before January IS,
1920, permitting the sale of liquors
until the constitutional amendment be-
comes effective. Attorneys for the
vets also point out that the President
may consider it inexpedient to with
hold much longer his proclamation
formally declaring the Rehabilitation
OF the army at an end. as commercial
and other important interests are also
awaiting the proclamation.
Suits now pending in states with
referendum laws, Mr.. Anderson as
serted. will have no effect upon the
constitutional amendment, as in sur-
ticlent number OF states unaisputed d
ratification has been made. The vets
/ in court proceedings have assailed
time prohibition as unconstitu-
tonal because the war is over. They
allege Congress has no right to legs-
late on what is Intoxicating. The is
sue will conc up in the local Federal
court on October A.
William H. Hirst, counsel for the
New FORK State Brewers Association.
SAID that the particularly irritating
feature Of the enforcement bill was
tho provision throwing the burden Of
proof upon the householdc when called
upon to justify his possession of
liquors
"Ths clause said Mr. Hirst. mill
tatcs against the fundamental princi-
pies of the common law which has
always held man innocent until
proved guilty by the state. consider
1t an entirely arbitrary provision"
Mr.. Anderson says the provisions OF
the bill are entirely satisfactory to his
organization.
"The Anti-Saloon League" he said
has never been in favor Of the bulk
Of the so called radical provisions sug-
gested Some of them had been pro
posed in good faith by ovcr-zcalous
prohibitionists and some in bad faith
by avowed vets in an effort to overload
the bill and make it odious
"As near as can be told in the alb
sencc of printed copies Of the entire
text. the measure. except in few
minor particulars. is Just about as the
aati-saloon forces wanted it. If there
Is any feature necessary in any Of the
states that has been left out it vii
unquestionably be added IS soon as
experience proves the need. 1t is not
as drastic as tho laws in some Of the
states. 1t is about as rigid as it was
considered wise to propose IN the
country as q whole, including some
states that had not yet adopted state
prohibition.
"The specific issue in New York now
is to pass q state enforcement Jaw in
harmony with the Congre ssional enact
mcnt.'
Some liquor dealers said financial
institutions are accepting certificates
calling for bonded liquor stocks il
warehouses as collateral. Officials o'
several banks said that while such col
lateral had been accepted before july
! it has been generally cleaned ou
} and looked upcn as too great a isr
a. this time.