Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-16
MOVE TO END
WAR DRY LID
HIT IN HOUSE
Congress Committee Re-
jects Proposal by Over.
whelming Vote.

Washington, Dec. 16.-An unfa-
vorable report on the bill to repeal
the wartime prohibition law was
ordered today by the house agri-
cultural committee by q vote Of 16
to 3. Representatives John T.
Rainey, Democrat, Illinois, and
Voight, Wisconsin, and Ward. New
York, Republicans, cast the Mega
tive votes.
The only argument for the re-
peal was made by Representative
Rainey. who urged . wet" r ,od
until Jan, 16, when the cons.,tu-
tional dry" amendment becomes
effective. 90 that people Of small
means might lay In stock for
medicinal use, and the government
might get $500, 0,000, 900 in revenue
taxes.
May Try Again.
Washington, Dec. 16.-Permis-
sion to institute original proceed
ings to have the national prohibi-
ton amendment declared unconsti-
tutional and New Jersey and fed
eral authorities enjoined from en-
forcing it, was asked Of the su-
preme court today by the Retail
Liquor Dealers association Of New
Jersey.
This was the first question ~ to
the validity of the constitutional
amendment to reach the supreme
J court. George W. Tucker Of New
York, presented the motion togeth.
er with q printed brief prepared by
the association, and the court will
announce later whether permission
to institute the suit will be
granted.
Wants TIVE Iniunc4ions.
In addition to enjoining enforce
ment OF the 18th amendment thu
association also would ask an in
junction against enforcement Of
the volstead prohibition enforce
ment act.
Defendants named in the pro-
ceedings were the state of New
Jersey, which refused to ratify the
constitutional amendment, Attor-
ney General Palmer, Joseph L. Bo-
din, United States attorney for New
Jersey, and Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue Daniel c. Roper.
In Many Faults.
The associations brief alleged
sthat the constitutional amendment
was an interference with the state
police powers, violation Of the
fifth constitutional amendment
which prohibits the taking of pri-
vate property without Just compen-
sation, that neither congress nor
the state legislatures had authority
to propose or ratify tlIe sNnendment
and that the amendment, when
passed by the house did not re-
ceive the support Of two-thirds of
the membership a. the constitution
provides, but only two-thirds Of the
members present.
Dfstillers Worry.
Louisville. KY. Dec. 16.-Watch-
ing one Of their last remaining
hopes for . brief wet" spell dis
appear by the decision yesterday
Of the federal supreme court mp
holding the wartime prohibition
act. Kentucky distillers and for
mer saloon proprietors today were
deeply troubled.
How to lawfully dispose of ap-
proximately 3S,000,0O0 gallons Of
liquor worth at wholesale approxi-
mately $400. .000, 900 was the prob
lem while expectation is allowed
until national prohibition becomes
effective Jan. is, 1920, a scarcity Of
ocean tonnage preventing exporta-
tion Of all Kentucky whisky BY
that time. It was said. Distillefs
here professed to see no chance of
President Wilson lifting the war
time ban soon.
Close 1900 Saloons
Chicago. Dec. 16.-Four thousand
Of Chicago's 5000 saloons will close
their doors or go into other bust
ness on Jan. 1, according to m
. estimate today by M. J. Mccarthy,
secretary Of the Illinois Liquor
Dealers Protective association.
I'VE really expected to see the
, saloons open after the supreme
court action" he said. and the de-
cision upholding wartime prohibi-
ton took the pep out of the own
ers."
Most Of the saloon keepers had
retained their leases and operated
soft drink establishments with
their regular corps of bartenders
. since July 1. Mccarthy said the
closing Jan. would throw $4,000
, men out Of employment
Mayer Still Fighting.
I The statement Of Levy Mayer
. chief counsel for the liquor inter.
ests Of the middle west, that ''the
real fight has not begun" brought
some cheer to the saloon owners
and distillery heads.
"This decision Is Just . scratch
ON the surface" he said. The con.
stitutionality Of the 18th. or prohi.
bition, amendment will be attacked
I in q few days. None OF the ques.
tions involved In the case Just de.
: cided has any relation to or any
: bearing on the momentous hght
) that will be made on the amend
ment.
'That fight will involve funda
mental. controlling and far-reach
ing questions that 60 to the yer,
/. atructurA and formn tann nf oN,r Sfsv