Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-01
DECLARE QUESTION
Of ALCOHOL LIMIT
NOT UP TO COURTS
Judiciary Committeeman
Claim Intoxicating Per-
centage Issue of Fact.
ASSERT RIGHT OF CONGRESS
TO FIX SPIRITUOUS CONTENT
Point to Prohibition Laws in
Many States as Precedent
for Stand.
ANY uNFAlRNESS IS DENIED
Say There Is Good Chance War
Measure VIII Operate Until
January.
ASSERT RIGHT OF CONGRESS
TO FIX SPIRITUOUS CONTENT
ANY uNFAlRNEss IS DENIED
Say There Is Good Chance War
Measure VIII Operate Until
January.
INV Associated Press

WASHrNCiTON. June 3o.-Contend
ing that no court may say, as a mat
ter Of law, what percentage OF alcohol
in liquor makes it intoxicating. the
Judiciary Committee, in a report TODAY
TO the House on prohibition enforce
ment legislation, declared this was
question of fact and not law, and as
such was clearly within the province
of Congress.
The committee held that the ris-h.
OF Congress TO define Intoxicating
liquor as ? beverage containing more
than one-halt OF l per cent alcohol
was in full accord with its constitu-
tional powers and that every State
In dealing with alcoholic liquors had
named products OF that percentage as
Intoxicating and had either prohibited
use of suoh liquors or subjected them
TO heavy tax.
ITO define what is Intoxicating does
not trespass on the province of the
court" said the majority report pre-
court can say, as matter OF law.
what Ipercentage of alcohol in liquor
makes it Intoxicating, NOR what toxic
tons .ofHfact and not law and as such,
are clearly within the province OF
Congress; An equal quantity of the
dead drunk and but slightly affect
another.
Has Different Effects.
AS some contend there may he per-
sons who have become so tolerant of
beer containing . IA per cent Of alco-
hol by weight, which. by the way.
contains only onc-half OF per cent
OF alcohol less than the ordinary beer
But we are not lesislating for spe-
cial class This amendment was in
tended 10 apply generally and to pre-
vent pne sale OF any Liquor that will
anSbOdN &c ,,,I>
intoSication that this amendment seeks
to prohibit; but the useless waste as
we'll of the uncounted millions In
luNuries. comforts and conveniences in
the home"
The general enforcement hill as re-
day was split into three parts. each
separate and distinct. with the war
time section as part one. The report
of the committee on the bill as made
today explained that the war time act
itself provided no machinery for its
penalty for the manufacture and sale
of intoxicating beverages.
Need More LeEIslntIou.
II was brought out that Attorney
General Palmer, answering request
for his views. said when war, prohi-
bition went into effect some lcgisla-
tion for its enforcement would seem
TO be necessary" The Secretary of
the Treasury also recommended addi-
ton the report said that law prohib-
itinG traffic in intoxicating liquors
that could not be enforced was worse
than no law"
The report said that so far as the
committee was advised there was no
reason for the assertions often heard
that war prohibition would be ter
minated in the near future.
in this connection. "iha, there is
effect in January Of next year. which
is only little more than six months
'believc in prohibition this is iicsirc BILE
and will. no doubt. meet the wishes
OF the vast majority Of our people"
Deny Any UnfnirncsS.
prohibitionists that under the consti-
tutional amendment there were given
a year in which to dispose OF their
"s not at, all persuasive" the com
nsis and ndded rns aae
against Congress; is simply a plea that
70 unload on the public its stock Of
liquors, commodity that the nation
as inmicai to its welfare" ''"''e"
The report dealt extensively with
the thrcc-headed bill-war-time en-
and regulations affecting the manu-
facturc and use of industrial alcohol
With respect to constitutional prohi-
btion II said this was the cuiminat ion
or a bitter and persistent struggle
that had heen going on for years
against the liquor traffic. In dcscrib-
ing some Of the provisions to make
Shat law effective the committee said
no one who supported the constitu-
tionai amendment had in mind that
there could he any question as TO the
meaning Of Intoxicating liquor
Point Out Meaning.
1T means TO them. as it meant 10 all
the people the report added, that .aii
The liquor that has been treated and
taxed as Intoxicating should forever be
banished. and they are asking Con
gress to carry, out in good faith wha,
everybody understood was the man.
date written into the Constitution
With respect TO the bills provision
for medicines. toilet articles and flavor-
1ag extracts the committee contended
the restrictions were not so severe ns
those in force In many States and we're
as liberal as 1t was believed safe to
make them. w
AnHnIukfn