Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-27
BILLS TO ENFORCE
WARTIME AR|D|TY
WILL Be DELAYED
Law Going Into Effect July
/ Without New Pro-
visions.
GENERAL BELIEF is LABOR
DAY WILL SEE OPEN BARS
Washington Confident Wilson
Will Soon Proclaim Demobili-
cation as Completed.
pROHIBITIONISTS SEEM HAPPY
Three Acts in One to Be Submitted
10 House by Judiciary
Committee.
GENERAL BELIEF is LABOR
DAY WILL SEE OPEN BARS
pRoHIBITIoNIsTs SEEM HAPPY
Three Acts in One to Be Submitted
10 House by judiciary
Committee.
IBv Associated Press-l

WASH1NGTON. June 26.-War-tire
prohibition will become effective next
Monday at midnight without enactment
meanwhile by Congress of additional
legislation for its enforcement.
Out Of maze Of confusing develop
ments this fact stood out clearly to-
day with tho decision of the House
judiciary Committee. charged with the
duty OF preparing and submitting en-
forcement machinery. 10 report three
bills in one, each standing on its own
legs. and capable OF holding its own in
the event the others were made invalid
by Congress or The courts
Chairman Volstead. Of the committee,
declared tonight there was no possi-
bi!ity or the passage OF the joint meas-
ure before July |. but that there ex-
isted ample means OF enforcement and
ample penalties for violation Of the
wartime act. The fun and explicit
definition Of intoxicating liquors--any
beverage or product containing more
Than ne-half of per cent alcohol
set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Iet no doubt. he said. as TO how the
with offenders.
Prohibitioni.tH Happy.
No attempt was made BY prohibi-
tion members OF the committee to con-
ceal their satisfaction in having ord
cred the three bills sent 10 the House
IN one so as 10 prevent more than one
hEht Some members intnated that
!itlc one, the wartime enforcement
measure. would still be unpassed when
actual wartime prohibition was de-
clared ended. IL was pointed out by
others that the law made II manda-
tory on the President TO say when de-
would automatically permit saloons TO
resume operations until January Is.
when constitutional prohibition Will
become effective.
Members OF the judiciary Committee
said Il was Uncomfortable that de-
mobilization would be delayed beyond
the middle OF January. While they did
not look for action by the President
this week or next the general View
was that with the signing OF the treaty
by Germany and the government as
surancc OF speedy decentralization. is
suance OF the Presidents proclama-
tion might not be held UP longer than
Labor Day at the latest. Indeed. IL ap-
peared TO be the opinion among many
members y. the House that saloons in
cities where the sale OF liquor now is
permitted. Will be serving much sooner
than the public imagines.
Bill to He Divided.
AS the prohibition enforcement
measure finally is put in shape for the
House IL will be divided into parts or
titles: First, general enforcement, OF
wartime prohibition effective on its
approval: second. constitutional pro-
hioition: third, regulations for the
two latter effective January l6 1920.
For the first part the committee de-
cided TO substitute bodily the bill in
troduced Yesterday by Representative
the measure prepared last winter by
Mr.. Gard. Chairman Volstead and Rep-
resentat!ve Whaley. OF South Carolina.
1t stands alone and its provisions are
less drastic than the constitutional
bill.
Title two is the straight volstead
bill. endorsed by anti-l!ouor organi-
cations ano regarded as the most dras-
tic measure OF the kind ever put be-
fore Congress- Title three the Dyer
bill, relates 10 industrial alcohol. its
manufacture and regulation.
Policy Changes Quickly.
In, one respect the agreement OF
ed today changed overnight. When it
came 10 straight vote on the pro-
posSai by Representative Walsh. Re-
out the Gard bill separately. the com
mittee refused, ten TO eight A moment
later II voted. ten to eight, to substitute
the Gard measure bodily as the war
time enforcement plan. and to bunch
all three bills.
The fact, however. that the commit
tee finally reached a definite agree
that solid front will be shown in the
House. for ii was said tonight that a
minority report would be submitted
Just what this was members declined
prohibition members would attack
provisions in the constitutional pro
hibition measure, and others would at
tempt 10 exempt light wines and beer
The House is dryer than the COM
mittee," some. members expressed it,
which was taken to mean that there
would be no let down. and that while
fight was to be expected on the gem
eral enforcement law, the radical pro
visions would stand.