Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-26
THE ARID LANDS ARE
NOW IN PLAIN SIGHT
\ Bone.Dry Nation on July Is Likely to
Remain Permanently SO Thereafter


WITH the passage of the state Senate
w yesterday OF the resolution ratifying
the prohibition amendment to the Federal
Constitution, Pennsylvania puts itself IN
limo with the rest of the nation as repre-.
sented in the Legislatures Forty-1ve of
the forty-eight states have now indorsed
national prohibition
The federal amendment does not become
effective until next January. In the mean.
time we have wartime prohibition by act
of Congress, to take effect on July I. Rules
for enforcing that law arc embodied in
bill reported to the House Of Representa-
tives by the Judiciary Committee last Mon.
day An attempt is to be made to secure
the passage of this bill before Congress
adjourns next Tuesday. The Importance
of taking such action in order that con.
fusion may be prevented is so great that
it is expected a way will be found to bring
ii about
The act Of November q, or the wartime
prohibition law, provides that after June
80 of this year and until the conclusion
Of the war and the rehabilitation of our
armies. the date Of which is to he de-
termined and proclaimed by the President
it shall be unlawful to sell distilled spirits
for beverage purposes, and that after May
! and until the end of the war no grains
cereals, fruits or other food products shall
be used in the manufacture of beer, wine
or other intoxicating liquor. The act also
forbids the sale. Of malt or vinous liquors
to be drunk unless they are sold for
export. The importation of ntoxicants is
forbidden after May I.
The bill now before Congress defines an
intoxicating liquor as a liquor which con.
tains one.half of l per cent of alcohol. This
is so broad that it includes everything
which could by any possibility be regarded
as exhlarating. The bill still further
declares that any person who is guilty of
assisting in the sale of intoxicants in dis
regard of the law is guilty of maintaining
a common nuisance and is punishable by
a fine of not less than 500 or imprson
ment for not less than thirty days. An
attempt was made to authorize the revenue
officers to search private premises for in.
toXicants but as the bill now stands no
search may be instituted unless there are
good reasons for believing that the owner
OI tle premises is engaged III llllClt traue.
This measure is merely intended to
remain in force, if it is passed, until the
war is ended and our troops have returned
to their homes. But Congress will have
to consider in the near future an act to
make the constitutional amendment effec.
tive. That amendment is not self
enforcing. 1t specifically provides within
its text that Congress and the states shall
have concurrent jurisdiction in passing the
necessary laws to put it into effect. The
bill now before the House deserves the
serious attention OF those who will partici-
pate in framing the final prohibitory
statutes. If il works when passed II will
doubtless form the basis of the permanent
legislation. If it proves defective it will
point the way to such legislation as will
carry out the intent of the amendment to
the Constitution,