The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-06-27
WAR TIM {
DRY LAW
Committee Sends All Three of
the Prohibition Enforce
ment Measures to
HOUSE FOR ACCEPTANCE

will become effectivel
next Monday at midnight without
enactment meanwhile by Congress of
legislation for its enforce-l
ment.
Out of a maze of confusing devel-
opments this fact stood out clearly
today with the decision of the HouseI
Judiciary Committee charged with
the duty of preparing and submitting
enforcement machinery to report
three bills in one, each standing on
is own legs, and capable of holding
it's own in the event the others were
nade invalid by Congress or the
courts.
Chairman Volstead, of the COM
mittee, declared tonight there was |
no possibility of the passage of the
joint measure before July 1, but that |
there existed ample means of en-I
forcement and ample penalties for
violation of the war time act. The
full and explicit definition of intoxi-
eating liquors-any beverage or prof.
duct containing more than one-half
or one per cent alcohol-set by the
Bureau of Internal Revenue left no
doubt, he said, as to how the courts
would construe the law or deal with
| offenders.
| No attempt was made by prohibi-
| ton members of the committee to
conceal their satisfaction in having
ordered the three bills sent to the
| House in one so as to prevent more
| than one flight. Some memberes in
| timated that title one, the war time
| enforcement measure, would still be
unpassed when actual war time pro-
hibition was declared ended. 1t was
pointed out by others that the law
made it mandatory on the President
to say when mobilization was com
pleted, which would automatically
until January 16, when constitu-
tional prohibition will become effec-
tive.
Members of the Judiciary Commit
tee said it was inconceivab1e that de-
mobilization would be delayed be-
| y
they did not look for action by the
President this week or next, the gen
era1 view was that with the signing
of the treaty by Germany and the
government assurance of speedy de-
mobilization issuance of the Presi-
dents proclamation might not be
held up longer than Labor Day at
The least. Indeed, it appeared to be
the opinion among many members
of the House that saloons in cities
where the sale of liquor now is per-
mitted, will be serving drinks much
sooner than the public imagines.
AS the prohibition enforcement
measure finally is put in shape for
the House it will be divided into
three parts, or titles: First, general
enforcement of war time prohibition
effective on its approval; second, con-
stitutiona1 prohibition; third, regula-
tions for the manufacture of indus
trial alcohol, the latter two effective
January 16, 1920.
For the first part the committee
: | u6CIuOu " SUBSTITUTE UOu1ly IHS U11l
introduced yesterday by Representa-
tive Gard, Democrat, of Ohio, this
being the measure prepared last
winter by Mr.. Gard, Chairman Vol
stead, and Representative Whaley
of S. G. 1t stands alone and it's pro-
visions are more drastic than the con-
stitutiona1 bill.
Title two is the straight Volstead
bill, endorsed by anti-liquor organ
4 izations and regarded as the most
. drastic measure of the kind ever put
t before Congress. Title three, the
2 Dyer bill, related to industrial alco
z ho1, it's manufacture and regulation
/ In one respect the agreement Of
: members as to the policy to be adopt
ed today changed overnight. Whe1
it came to a straight vote on the pro
posa1, by Representative Walsh, Re
e publican, of Massachusetts,, to repor
e out the Gard bill separately, the com
: mittee refused, ten to eight A mo
e ment later it voted ten to eight tt
IS substitute the Gard measure bodil,
as the wartime enforcement plan