The Washington herald., 1919-07-20
Ho,USESTUMpED'
BY DEFINITION OF.
Term BEVERAGE
Wfangle Between Vets and
Drys Results Only in
Loss of Time.
PERSIFLAGE HAS DAY
Sharp Exchanges Come
When Prohibitionists
Block Money Bills.

me House labored long and in
vain yesterday in an effort to solve
the problem of what constitutes .
beve age under the Volstead pro-
hibition enforcement bill now under
consideration.
Representative Denison complain
ed that the bill does not define the
term, ''for beverage purposes" al
though 1t goes into minute detail
to. clear up the mysteries Of every
thfng else on the face Of the globe
which may come under the sweep
ing prohibition legislation.
The Illinois member stated he had
meyer understood that the making
Of a little cider or a little grape
juice for family, use was to be con-
strued as for beverage purposes
under the terms of the proposed law.
IF you can make cider with more
than one-half Of one per cent of
alcohol. why shouldn't yoS make
whisky" Representative Walsh in
ouired when enlightenment was
sought from the dry" leaders.
Walsh Has His QuIp.
"But suppose it is made for bev-
erage purposes" Mr.. Denison re-
sumed. when Mr.. Walsh interposed:
You don't wash in it,"
Then We are to understand" Mr..
Denison retorted. that anything
that can be swallowed and you don't
have to chew is to be construed as
a beverage"
Soup might be exempted" Mr.
Walsh suggested.
Under that ruling" Representa-
tive Gard inquired. would clam
chowder be treated as beverage
OF as a food?'
That depends upon where it is
made" Mr.. Walsh thought I'm
Ohio it probably would b a bev-
erage."
Nolstead ForestalIs Decision.
Representative VoIstead forestaM-
ed a decision on the vitally inn
portant question by moving to shut
OH IuEIntE ulSCuSSlOn. ne pro-
tracted debate "on this stuff,"' he
declared. was delaying the bill.
Uncle Joe" Cannon added another
ingredient to the stuff" by defyinS
the dry leaders to say the law
would be enforced against buttermiIk.
Congressman Fitzgerald sought to
arbitrate by Offering an amendment to
exempt from the operation of the Law
the making and possession Of beer,
wines and cider in the homes for the
makers own use or his family"
The "drys' spurned the effort with
a point Of order. which Congressman
Champion. one of the "driest of the
drys." in the chair. sustained.
Mr.. Fitzgerald then further aroused
the ire OF the ''drys" by reading sta
tistics OF the Public Health Service to
disprove the oft-repeated charge that
the morals and character of the peo-
pie in the wet" sections of the East
are on a lower standard than those
OF the people of the dry" sections OF
the South and West. The figures he
produced showed the congested cities
OF the East have a far better record
I'm the matter of loathsome diseases
than the sparsely populated districts
IN dry territory.
Congressman Clark resented this
charge.
Drys Block Appropriations.
The dry" steam roller continued to
f1atten out all efforts to modify any
Of the drastic provisions Of the bill.
Notwithstanding the renewed assault
on it, The only amendments of any
importance adopted were those sub
mitted by Mr.. Nolstead. in charge of
the bill. to permit the manufacture of
fiavorinS extracts. syrups, etc, which
contain more than one-half of one per
cent of alcohol.
Still smarting under the defeat of
their pans for a session Friday night.
the 'drys" made 1t plain at the out
set that they would not let anything
interfere with the progress of the
bill Carrying out this plan. they
blocked an attempt by Chairman
Good. of the Appropriations Commit
tee 70 secure immedia late consideration
OF joint resolution to ratify and
cor frm obligations incurred by gov
eminent departments between the be-
ginning Of the fiscal year. July |. and
the passage of bills carving appro-
pratt for these departments.
Nr. Good served notice that he would
Set special rule and more time would
be lost than II the "drys" had per-