Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-31
CONGRESS PROVIDES
81, 100000 FUND FOR
DRY AND PRICE WAR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Congress
today gave final approval to a bill
appropriating money necessary to
carry out the provisions Of the pro-
hibition enforcement measure which
became a law over the presidents
veto yesterday.
The measure in which the appro-
priation was carried was a deficiency
bill. The house passed a conference
report on the measure following SINH
lar action by the senate yesterday.
The bill gives the department of
was told will be used for prohibit
ton enforcement as well as to
finance the campaign to bring down
prices.
The first work of enforcing war
time prohibition, according to the
law, lies with the bureau of internal
revenue. Evidence concerning viola
tions of the law will be collected by
the bureau to be turned over to the
department of justice for criminal
prosecution. Much information con-
corning violations particularly in the
large cities already has been col
lected, and the attorney general Is
expected to start wholesale proSecu-
tions in the next few days.
Daniel Roper, commissioner Of in
ternal revenue, in public statement
made it plain that he plans to make
the nation bone dry.
First Fight on 2.75 Beer
The immediate effect of the law
probably will be the stopping of the
sale of 2.75 beer, since the enforce
ment bill prohibits any beverage
containing on If Of one per cent
or more Of alcohol.
Dry /, ers in both hovses today
denied the pts that any effort
would be made to pass a bill making
the nation dry between the time the
preside declares wartime prohibit
ton at an end and the beginni of
Constitutional prohibition, January
16, 1920. Euch action could be &C
complished only by a constitutional
,.nendment, which is impossible, be-
cause Of a lack Of time, and the ex-
ercise of war powers which would be
void after the proclamation of peace.
At the same time dry leaders here
believe that wartime prohibition and
constitutional prohibition will merge
known that he will not lift the war
time ban until the ratification of the
peace treaty.
Interest here is centering in the
efforts of liquor dealers to force the
government to allow them to dis
pose of the supplies now on hand.
If the supreme court should sustain
the action of the federal court at
job
act unconstitutional because it de-
prives holders Of bonded liquor the
right to dispose Of their supplies, 1t
would offer liquor owners relief. The
position of the judge that the proht-
bition legislation would deprive the
owners Of their property without just
compensation seems to carry consid-
cradle weight here.
1t was pointed out also that in
case the government does not allow
bonded liquor to be sold a loss of
more than $30O,0O0,OO0 in revenue
will result. About 6O,00O,00O gal
Ions are now in bond and the tax
of $6.40 gallon has been paid on
only 100000 gallons of this large
supply.
Dry leaders in congress today saw
the end of the long legislative battle
that has revolved about prohibition
for fifty years.
"It has been long, hard fight, but
this is the end" declared Senator
Morris Sheppard today.
Some idea Of the struggle that was
waged in the effort to enact national
prohibition legislation is shown by
| the fact that in the bill just passed
| 284 amendments were made before
| sufficient votes could be obtained to
effect its passage.
Whisky to Castor Oil
The salient points of the bill are
as follows:
Everything from whisky to castor
oil having more than one-half of l
per cent alcohol comes under it's pro-
| visions, while persons" who prob.
ably might violate its provisions in
clude natural persons. associations.
co-partnerships and corporations"
! No one but a physician may pre-
| scribe liquor, and he must keep a