Evening journal., 1919-03-14
Stan correspondent.

]
STATE HOUSE, Dover, March i4.--For
the Grst time IN the history Of Della
ware the state win have a Statewide
prohibition law as to the sale and
manufacture OF intoxicating liquors.
should Representative Klair's House bin
which was passed by the Senate yes
terday afternoon be signed by the Gov
ernor and there is every reason 10 be-
leve that the Governor Will pnt his sig
nature 10 the measure at the proper
! time.
The Senate passed the bill by a vote
Of "A yeas 10 6 nays as follows:
Neas-Allee, Brown. Handy. Latta
Long, Palmer, Pool, Price, Robertson,
Walker and President Pro TEN Short
Nays-Bennett, Gormley, Hollett, Muir
ply. Richards and Webster-6
Efforts were made to amend the bin
on The floor Of the Senate, but they
were all voted down. This Is a much
different bill, however. nom the one
originally introduced in the House by
representative klalr One Of the most
important amendments placed on the
bin IN the House was that chang
ing the time that IL was TO become ef-
fective. The original bill provided for
10 20 become effective July : Of This
year. but il was amended in the House
Temperance Committee TO make IL ef-
fectivo when the Federal Amendment
goes into effect January i6 Of next year
and 10 be effective only so long as the
Federal amendment remains in effect.
oh a Taf
when the bin was called up yesterday
afternoon. Senators Alice and Bennett
made strong speeches for amendments
10 the bill but they were deefated and
Senator Gormley made an able speech
against the bill An amendment was 10
be offered 10 allow hospitals TO have
alcohol ia certain quantities but after
the other amendments were defeated
that one was not brought up.
The bill as passed contained the thir-
teen amendments that had been tackled
thereto by the House, the most import
ant Of which were the ones making IL
legal to possess and give away intoXi-
eating liquors, and excluding proprie-
tary medicines and similar compounds
from the one-half Of one per cent limit
AANfl NilE NNAA MuW nAfA HlhNN AlAuA &c VI
ing. Senator Long. chairman Of the
Temperance Committee, declared that u
had been examined and the committee
believed 70 10 be in the proper form 10
be passed He pointed out that IL did
not need extensive remarks on its merits
as the bill had been on the calendar
for several weeks and had been discuss
ed from one end Of the State 10 the
other. lie explained that the purpose
Of the measure was TO make the Eieh-
ieenih Amendment 10 the Federal Con-
effective as applied to the
state Of Delaware. we cannot afford
10 let that amendment become inefiec- /
live through the failure Of this bin to |
become q law he exclaimed in con- !
'lusion.
senator Bennett then offered an
to the bin, which changed
the penalty clause by substituting the
word "or" for "and" where i appeared
between the designated fine and prison
sentence. In It's original form this Sec
tion makes II mandatory upon the
courts to impose a prison sentence as
well as o fine for all violations, and
Senator BENEFITS amendment gave the
court discretion TO impose imprison-
ment. In presenting The amendment,
Senator Bennett pointed out that un-
less amended the bill would make jail
birds OF all victims of the drink habit,
His speech follows:
mr.. President: want lt distinctly
just what / am about TO
,ay and do not want 10 be misunder-
.tOod or misquOied
IL come from Sussex county which is |
Try and / believe IN local option. Dur /
ng the last campaign certain interests /
ought me at the polls and Just pre-
ious TO election In a way which ! con-
ldeged very unfair. ] offer this amend
leht 10 the proposed bill in good faith,
ecause this part Of the bill is not
ight. If this bill had been prepared
long the proper lines. | could have
Imported it without raising any OBJ
ections. We find in Section 10 OF This
IN where 70 reads it shall be unlawful (,
or any persons TO drink intoxicating
liquors OF any kind in any street, alley /,
,r public place or interurban or street
'ar or upon any railroad passenger
rain coach. automobile dining car or
yestihle thereof. etc, shall be deemed
guilty OF a misdemeanor.' We also find 4
in Section % any one found guilty OF
Of any provisions Of this act n
wherein no specific penalty is provided
shall be deemed guilty OF a mlsde-
meanor and shall be fined not less than
$50 and not more than $500 and inn.
prisoned ia Jail or the New Castle
County Worwhousc for a period of not
less than thirty days or not more than
one year.
Vow. Mr. President, we have IN This /