New-York tribune., 1919-10-08
Austrian Treaty
Is Made Issue
In Dry Fight
Prohibitionists Contend
President Cannot Lift
Ban Until Second Pact
Is Ratified in Senate
.New York Tribune
Wdshinoton Eurec;f

''N'''''tSt'fe
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.-War-time
prohibition may be lifted November !.
November 10, just before Christmas
or not at all. The date depends en-
tlrely on the peace treaty situation. as
viewed by President Wilson.
The presumption is that the ban will
oe lifted by the proclamation OF neace
by the President, which would follow
'he ratlication Of the treaty with Ger
many The prohibitionists, however
say that the Presidents proclamation
Will follow the ratification of the treaty
with Austria. since this country will
sun be technically at war with Austria
even after peace has been declared
with Germany.
If the President should support tn.
prohibitionists in this contention tn,
vets admit they would be hopeless
! senator Penrose. who is eager TO,
/ spe@y ratification OF the German
treaty. said. when asked about n,
Austrian complication. that the fjum,
| problem made it certain the debate or
1he Austrian treaty would be a length,
one ny
Lengthy Discussion Expected
senator Moses, Of New Hmpshire.
! said that besides Fiume other phases
OF the Austrian treaty will require dis
cuSslon. Some OF these he thinks verv
dangerous. Senator Moses expects
ratification of the German treaty Inv
about November 10. He expects dis,
ussion OF the Austrian treaty 10 70
on Tor long time. certainly until after
January Is. when the constitutions
prohlbltlon amendment viii go into ef
fect. This would mean, if the President
agreed with the prohibitionists. that
there could be no lifting Of the wartime
prohibition until this country were
legally at peace with Austria, var
time prohIbltlon merging into Federal
prohibition. without any intervening
vet spell. p
1t would mean, further. and this
question is botherins The legislators
considerably. that the government viii
lose the S4c0000, 900 in taxesw which
would be paid on the liuuor now in
bond if d short wet spell should be
provided, in which the liauor could
be taken out Of bond and sold. This
loss OF revenue might easily resul.
IN The necessity for increased taxes,
1t IS SAID, or at least the failure 70
scale down the income taxes next yenr
as provided in the present law.
Palmer and Lansing Differ
Attorney General Palmer told a
Democratic Senator who is concerned
aDout the liquor revenue that his
opinion was the wartime prohi-
bition would be lifted Immediately on
ratification by the Senate. without
waiting for the deposit Of .he treaty
IN Paris. Secretary of State Lansing.
however is Just as convinced that the
! lifting Of the ban could not take place
until the treaty had been de-
posted. This would make d diff
ference Of about seven days. whether
applied to the German treaty. which
both Mr.. Lansing and Mr.. Palmer we're
discussing or The Austrian treaty,
which tho drys insist will furnish the
test.
Assuming Senator Penrose 70 be
right abou, tho vote in the Senate on
the German treaty b. November ],
Attorney General Palmer TO be right
about lifting the ban Immediately on
ratification, and the d,ys to be wrong
about the necessity for ratification Of
the Austrian treaty, the ban would be
lifted November !.
If Senator Penrose is wrong on the
date, and Senator Moses is right. that
would delay it until November TO- II
Secretary Lansing is right about the
deposit Of the treaty az Paris being
necessary this would delay it until No
vember X. If the prohibitionists are
right about the Austrian treaty thcre
VIII not be any wet period.