New-York tribune., 1919-06-26
Effort to Get Quick Ac.
don by Separating War
and Constitutional Pro.
hibition Faces Defeat
Lawmakers Sure
To Debate Act
If Any Measure Is Passed
in Time 1t Will Be
One Far Less Drastic
Ne.c York Tribune
Wnshim1to1s Bureau

WASHINGTON, June 25.-Slightly
modified in some particulars, but still
retaining many drastic provisions, the
prohibition enforcement bill, to back
up constitutional and wartime prohibi-
ton, was practically ready tonight for
consideration by the House.
It is generally agreed, however, that
i. will not be passed by July l.. Not
only is the House expected to debate
the measure at length and modify the
bill as reported out of the committee,
but the Senate has yet to report on the
bill.
A final effort to separate the en-
forcement of national and wartime
prohibition will be made in the Jn-
fore the bill is f0ru,ollE 1xAported. hu:
shia attempt is believed foredoomed to
defeat.
A motion by Representative Walsh,
Of Massachusetts,, to substitute the
wartime enforcement legislation passed
by the House, but not considered by
the Senate at the last session, for the
wartime enforcement provisions of the
present bill is before the committee.
This bill has been reintroduced in the
House by Repre- esentative Gard, Of Ohio,
committee.
Less Drastic Bill Possible
Should this plan carry, it is possible
that the wartime prohibition act,
whose provisions are far less drastic
than those written into the omnibus
bill, could be passed in both houses be-
fore July /, when wartime prohibition
Is scheduled to go into effect.
rd 1r
the manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors, and carries no definition
Of what intoxicating liquor is, while
the enforcement bill drawn by the Ju-
dietary Committee makes it unlawful
ITO manufacture, sell, barter, give
away, transport, import, export, deliver,
furnish, receive or possess" any intoxi-
eating liquor. Intoxicating liquor is
defined in this bill as any liquid that
may be used for beverage purposes
containing more than Ia per cent of
alcohol.
Anti-prohibitionists on the Judiciary
Committee scored a point to-day when
. provision written by Representative
Steele, Of Pennsylvania, that would re-
quire ratification of the enforcement
legislation by the states before it be-
came effective in interstate commerce
under constitutional prohibition was
adopted by vote of to s. The COM
mittee later reversed itself, however,
and defeated the Steele amendment,
10 to Z.
Predict Wilson Will Act
Anti-prohibitionists continued to
predict to-day that the President would
manufacture Of wines and beers before
July l. Prohibitionists asserted he
would not. Neither side seemed to
have any definite information.
Proposals for the creation Of a new
governmental agency under prohibition
commissioner for prohibition enforce
nent were rejected by the Judiciary
Committee in writing the omnibus bill.
Enforcement is left to the Commits
sioner Of Internal Revenue and the De-
partment of Justice. Three and half
million dollars is appropriated for en-
forcement work.
Until the bill is finally passed it is
probable that no definite announcement
enforcing the law. II anything like
comprehensive violation of the law
occurs, it is admitted that the govern
msnt at present has no adequate force
70 cope with the situation.
Liquor stored in private dwellings
"t personal use before prohibition
sytsc"nes effective is not affected by
she act. Neither arc liquors used for
mealcinal, scientific or sacramental
purposes.
Limits Medical Sales
Liquor may be secured only once on
ons physician's prescription, however,
.s mu sucn prescriptions may not be is
nIo nrseo more than once in every ten days.
s,aalmacists filling liquor prescrip-
s.ns must be licensed and must keep
record OF all prescriptions filled.
ehaities Tor violation Of the act are
ascn Ess q not less than 800 or more than
NV for FIRST offenders; fines of 5000
Si,oOo and thirty to ninety days
spfisonment for second offenders and
nss OF not less than $500 and six
ontns 70 two years Imprisonment for
tso sose VINO have broken the law more
Manufaeturers Of proprietary and
sssnt medicines containing alcohol are
ss9ntred by the bill to estabjish 70 the
sssNs1sction Of the Commixxioner Of
essn1 ensI Revenue that their products
sanot bs used for beverage purposes.
Advsstisements Of INTOXICATING linuors
= kiling where or how thew NAV be
rsd ere forbidden by The act. All
0sDoard advertisement Of Honor mnst
81 II = i - -
ssS CoMf{4,sxHd - 49,. x.