New-York tribune., 1919-07-03
Double Enforcement
Bill Planned by Drys
House Leaders Ciue Up Scheme
to Put Through a Separate
Var Prohibition Statute
Special Corresponde;

~ Ue ~ ONS' u oCl1H UeC
Var Prohibition Statute
Special Correspondcnce
WASHINGTON, July 2.-The mud
died prohibition situation was further
complicated day when Chairman
/ Volstead, of the House Judiciary Com
mittee, announced that the "drys" had
gone back to their original plan and
/ had decided not to attempt the passage
of a separate war prohibition enforce
rlent measure next week. Instead, they
will seek action on an omnibus bill for
the enforcement Of both national and
war prohibition, believing the absence
IRE to force. the whole programme
through N approximately the same time
that would be required for the passage
of separate measure.
Meanwhile, the Department Of Jus
tce, confronted with contradictory
court decisions on the legality of o.75
per cent beer, let it be understood that
special test cases would be made by
arresting persons selling beer of that
strength in various parts of the coun-
try. 1t was indicated that the first
arrests would be made at Atlantic City,
where wholesale violations of the war
prohibition act are reported
Dry members Of Congress said
that the Senate Judiciary Committee.
having already completed its hearings,
will give prompt report on the en-
forcement bill as soon rs it is passed
by the House. Senator Norris, a mem
ber of this committee said that there
will be strong minority fight to
knock out those provisions of the bill
defining ''intoxicating liquors" ds any
liquid containing more than onehalf
of one per cent of alcohol.
Wants Courts to Decide
"Wets" have argued that the def
inition of Intoxicating liquors"
should be left to the courts. Some
Of the "drys" believe that since the
Eighteenth Amendmtnt prohibits in
toxicating liquors only the enforcem ent
legislation might be held unconstitu-
tional if it were established that beer
containing more than one-half of one
per cent Of alcohol was not in fact
Intoxicating
Senator Norris pointed to the posi-
bility that future Congresses would be
controlled by the "wets." Such a Con-
gress, he said, would be entirely justi-
fed and in line with precedent in decd
ing that per cent beer was not intoxi-
eating.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is
expected to amend those sections of
the enforcement bill prohibiting the
shipment. of wines in interstate com,
merce. A process has been discovered
whereby alcohol can be extracted from
wines without destroying their original
taste or fragrance. This process calls
for an expensive plant, and cannot be
used at every winery. The committee
is inclined to favor amendments to the
enforcement bill which would allow the
shipment of wines containing more
than n of l per cent of alcohol in
to plants that would extract the excess
alcohol and bring these wines within
the law. This would help solve the
problem of enforcement by providing q
lawful substitute for wines, and also
would save the vine growers Of Califor-
MIA and other states who are confront
ed with the prospect of great financial
losses because of prohibition.
Majority Leader Mondell announced
that enforcement legislation, in what
ever form it is to be pressed, will be
given the right of way in the House
when that body reconvenes on July 8.
Chairman Volstead expressed his be-
lief that the bill as framed would be
given prompt onsideration. 1t may
take day or two longer to pass it
with everything sewed together, he
SAID, hut with Congress sommitted to
prohibition he sees no reason for fur
ther delay in the House.
Members of the committee report
themselves avalanched with propagan-
da designed to reinstate what the COM
mittee considers whiskey masquerad-
ing under the name of tonics. These,
it was stated, will be fought to the
last.
On the other hand, not a single
article now allowed in the drug stores
by the collector of internal revenue
will be prohibited under the Volstead
law. The committee also declared that
there is no basis for fears that ex-
tracts and necessary drugs contain
ing a high alcohol content will be
barred. These, it is stated, will be
adequately safe if they are not bever-
ages.
''It is the saloon we are after, not
| legitimate medicinal use of alcohol"
declared Chairman Volstead.
Whiskey Stays in Bond
While the country remains dry,
whskey may be kept in bond indef-
initely under new ruling by the
Treasury Department
1t is estimated that there are now
100000 gallons of distilled spirits in
bond. Under the law these spirits may
De WitHuIdWH IoI SApOTt. OuL WHEN
withdrawn the tax of s6.40 a gallon
must be paid. Upon receipt of evi-
dence that the spirits have been sold
in foreign territory the Treasury will
refund all but one per cent of the
tax.
The eight-ycar term for which large
quantities of liquor had been bonded
expired yesterday, and many distillers
were compelled to withdraw their
liquors and pay the tax without having
market in which it could be sold. I.
was to avoid the. recurrence of this
situation that the new Treasury ruling
was made.
There is little possibility that the
government will buy any large quanti-
ties Of redistilled liquors. The process
Of manufacturing straight alcohol has
been so perfected that alcohol can be
made at fraction OF the cost of the
liquor now in bond, plus the cost of
| rehabilitation