The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-04-25

By agreement all wet and dry bills
will come to a vote in the House OF
Representatives in May or June. The
most important dry measure is known
as the law enforcement bill. This bill
sets forth the various restrictions and
regulations to govern the manufac-
ture, possession and use OF liquor
within Prohibition territory. The bill
is drawn in harmony with state and
national laws. 1t sets forth exactly
how alcohol must be handled by ply
sicians, druggists, manufacturers and
dealers for the purposes permitted
under state and national Prohibition
laws. 1t provides in detail the pro-
cedure to be followed in securing evi-
dence against and prosecuting violat-
ors of the law.
Enforcement Law Needed
The passage of the law enforcement
bill is. absolutely NECESSARY to give the
state adequate power to carry out the
provisions Of the national Prohibition
amendment in cooperation with the
federal government.
The law enforcement bill is House
Bill No. 16l.
The other dry bill Of major impor-
tance is known as the Prohibition
commissioner bill. This is House Bill
No. 420 and Senate Bill No. 3l3. 1t
is printed practically in full in this
number of the Issue The main pro-
visions of the law enforcement bill
mentioned above were given in the
preceding number of the American Is
sue. In writing to representatives and
senators relative to the above bills
they should be referred to by number
as we'll as by name.
Wet Bills Introduced
A number of wet bills will also
come up for vote in the House in
Tune or near future These bills are
similar to the proposed measures be
ing introduced in various states by
the wet forces in an effort TO make
Prohibition ineffective to the great
est possible degree. The liquor bills
were introduced by Representative
Thomas Curran OF Chicago They are
House Bill 367--Provding for
compensation to persons injured OF
damaged by voting out saloons.
House Bill 36S-Dcfnes the term
Intoxicating liquor to include liquor
which contains more than per cent
OF alcohol
House Bill 800 - Amending the
anti-s saloon law by defining intoxicat-
ing liquor TO mean liquor which con-
tans more than per cent of alcohol.
House Bill $40 = Amending the
anti saloon law by providing that in
cities which have the city election law
it shall be the duty OF the election
board to compare the list of names
on dry petitions with the books OF
registration OF voters.
The vote on ratification in the Illi-
nois House gave the drys margin
OF seven votes over the II required to
pass a bill The vote on the law en-
forcement measures may show con-
siderable increase in dry strength.
Since national Prohibition has been
made a part of the constitution the
legalized liquor industry will be large
1y removed from the field of politics,
making it impossible for the vets to
deliver political strength in future
campaigns to the extent they were
able to do so in the past. This re-
moves to great degree the chief rea-
son for wet votes in the legislature.
Vets Fighting Desperately
But the vets are still fighting des-
perately and, regardless of their in
ability to deliver wet votes i'll the
future. they are making, a terrific ef-
fort TO discrcdit Prohibition through