The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
DRY ENFORCEMENT
 MEASURE WILL BE REPORTED TODAY
Decision to Separate War Time From Constitutional Prohibition Enforcement
 Measure Is Reached
sy Associated Pres.

Washington, June 25.-A straight, cIearcut bill for enforcement of war time prohibition will be reported out tomorrow by the House judiciary com mittee.
 The decision to separate the wartime from the constitutional prohibition en- forcement neasure--said to be the most drastic liquor bill ever presented to Congress-wa reached after an all-day session, which was much like march~
 ing up the hill and then down again. A proposal that two distinct bills be drafted was rejected yesterday, but it was brought up again today by Rep resentative Walsh. republican of Massa- cnusctts and was pending when mo- ton to adjourn abruptly ended the dis cussion that was animated and heated There was no indication al to how the committee would have voted, but sev- eral of the leading prohibition mem- bers agreed to<psht that in view of the manifest differences between the two issues and the possibility that the sale of beer and light wines might be per. mitted until January bv presidential proclamation, the wfsest thing to do was to report out the wartime bill the first thing tomorrow and the constitu- tional bill later in the day. In this way there is every assurance, they said, tha he wartime bill would be passed of the month, at which time the dry" act becomes effective.
 An amendment by Representative Steele, democrat, Pennsylvania, which, it was admitted later, would have nulli- fled the entire law, got through by a vote of 9 to 8, subsequently, was recon sidered and defeated 10 to '. The amend ment stipulated that provisions of the enforcement act, except as they relate to interstate and foreign commerce, should not be effective in any state until ratified by the people.
 VOTED AS A JOKE" It was said tonight that one or two l members voted for the amendment as a joke
 When the committee adjourned with out acting o nthe Walsh motion for sep arate enforcement bills. Representative Gard, democrat. Ohio. returned to the House and introduced the enforcement bill offered at the last session. The com
 
 is considered much more simple and more direct and far less drastic than the general bill. During the day demo- cratic leaders in the House made in- quiry of Chairman volstead as to when the liquor bill might be expected and were informed that it might not be ready before Saturday.
 After more than dozen committee roll calls on various provisions. none of gen eral public intarest. MT. Walsh, MT 1 Gard and others jumped actively into 1 the fight with vigorous demand for separation of the measures, notwith-
 standing the previous action of the com 1 mittee Mir. Walsh declared that the l committee ought to take the bull by the horns, get the wartime enforcement bill | introduced at the last session before the l House and urge quick enactment Then | If the President wanted to lift the ban 1 it would only be necessary, he said, to suspend the act providing for war-time ! enforcement and not interfere with legis- | lation affecting constitutional prohibi- l tion.
 MUST SEPARATE QUESTIONS l The committee. MT. Walsh added, then | could go ahead and make ready ma | chinery for permanent prohibition. Un. | less the questions were separated there would De no possibility of enacting any | law before July l. MT. Walsh stated l adding that he would go before the rules l committee and get a rule by which the l measure could be passed promptly and without extended debate.
 I Several members of the committee, tn.
 cluding Chairman volstead, took part in
 tContinuea on Pare Twelve)