New-York tribune., 1919-07-11
Ban to Stay
OnBeer Until
Ratification
Keeping of U. S. Troops in
Germ many Also to De-
lay Full Demobilization.
President Wilson Saws

WASHINGTON, July 10.-"No peace.
no beer" is the way Congress inter
preted the President to-day on the
prohibition question. The President
told visitors he could not issue the
proclamation declaring demobilization
completed until after he had issued his
proclamation declaring peace
= This means there can be no lifting
Of the wartime prohibition ban until
after the Senate has ratified the peace
treaty. The President made it clear to
visitors that several other obstacles
stand in the way of speedy demobli-
zation proclamation. One is that it
may be necessary to keep troops in
Germany for some time, so as to pre-
vent any one being nervous about pos
sible outbreaks. This is especially
necessary because Germany not only
has millions of trained veterans, but
has very large supply of munitions
still, which she will gradually sur
render until she has only enough to
supply the number of troops allotted
by the Allies.
Despite the depressing effect of this
news, House vets to-day renewed their
assault on the Volstead prohibition
bill. Representatives Steel, of Pennsyl-
vania; Curry, of Michigan; Newton of
Missouri, and Siegel. of New York, pre-
seatatives Blanton, of Texas; Tincher,
Of Kansas, and Vale, of Colorado
Dyer Rebukes Volstead
Representative Dyer charged Chair
man Volstead of the Judiciary Com
mittee with misstating the attitude of
the Internal Revenue Bureau on the
question of intoxicating liquor in his
speech on Tuesday when he said: Let
Government Of the United States has
treated and taxed everything that con-
tanned more than one-half of one per
cent of alcohol as Intoxicating LIQUOR
and has treated everything below that
as Notwithstanding.
Mr. Dyer then quoted from the rec
ords of the hearing before the Senate
Judiciary Committee when Deputy
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Gaylord, in response to a question as
to how the revenue bureau determines
whether liquid product requires pay
ment of tax, stated: 'It is deter
mined according to the percentage of
alcohol. Of course, the percentage of
one-half Of ! per cent was fixed origi-
nany when near beer began to be
made. Before that beers had always
been cassed as fermented liquors
The standard was not reached at all
by considering really whether that was
or was not intoxicating The standard
was placed low with the intention Of
saving as much revenue as possible'
State Laws Needed, Says Steele
Representative Steele, of Pennsylva-
MIA, argued that the Volstead bill, even
If passed by Congress, cannot be en-
forced in any state unless the state
first passes a bill embodying similar
provisions.
The correct definition of the word
resentative Steele's attack. Citing a
dictionary definition ar@<various court
rulings, he said the concurrent power
ef Congress and the state to enforce
meant virtually working together 20
enforce
But Wayne B. Wheeler. counsel for
the AntiSaloon League. had different
definition, according to Mr.. Steele. This
was that concurrent power to enforce
if state should refuse to enforce the
Voistead bill. the government still
would have the right to enforce it.
Mr. Steele then pointed out what
he said was the fallacy in Mr.. Wheel
er's Interpretation of the word con-
current.
Suppose" he said, chat the Vol
stead bill is passed. Then Rhode ISL
and, where a state law already legalizes
the sale of 4 per cent liquor. would
be in a strange position. If the state
should refuse to prosecute persons
selling liquor with more than one
half of 1 per cent alcohol, the govern
ment could step in and prosecute"
Not Equal Power
"In other words, there would not be,
as Mr.. Wheeler says, equal power.
The government would be supreme
Then what becomes of his definition of
concurrent power?
Il do not believe the people of this
government will stand for any such
Interpretation of the prohibition law
Ii the word concurrent means what it
means, the Folstead bill cannot be en-
forced in any state in the Union that
does not agree to the provisions of that
bill"
Representative Blanton, of Texas,
and others disputed Representative
Steele's contention. Representative
Blangon pointed out that State Circuit
courts and United States courts, with
out consulting each other, could grant
citizenship under concurrent power
granted them
representative Newton, of Missouri,
between tilts with Representative Blan-
tor, OF Texas, demanded to know why
Congress did not. specifically mention
hight wines and beer in the constitu-
tional amendment if it meant to bar
them
NO one but the courts" he said,
has the right to decide what is an
Intoxicating liquor If Congress tries
to do that, prohibition will be an is
sue for years, but il the courts decide
me matter will be settled at once and
forever
You cannot enforce the Volstead law
unless there is public sentiment to that
.e.eet,' declared Representative Siegel,
ol New York. "If person gets sick
sn tram and is given whiskey he
VIII be liable to imprisonment"