The Washington times., 1919-01-17

also probably be drawn up by the
bureau.
To Fix Heavy Penalties.
Internal Revenue Commissioner
Roper will face one Of the most diff
fcult tasks in the world should the
work of enforcing the new law de-
volve upon that bureau, 1t was point
ed out. Heavy fines and imprison-
ment penalties for Importation, man
ufacture by Illicit stills or otherwise
of alcoholic beverages, transporta-
tion. sale, gift, or any other dispo-
sition Of such beverages must be
provided and carried out
II have not carefully planned the
work of administering prohibition,
and do not know what we shall
need" said Commissioner Roper to-
day. I'VE do not know under what
kind Of an organization we shall
| act, the number or character Of men
we shall need. Or where they will be
The new law does not interfere
with the manufacture and distribu-
ton Of alcoholic liquor for legitimate
| scientific, pharmaceutical, and sacra-
mental purposes, which will doubt
less be provided for in careful rules
and regulations which Congress will
authorize. Dinwiddie pointed out.
| And while distillers are prepared to
wage a 1000 900, 900 fight to prevent
the operation Of the law, have ap.
pointed a committee to carry on the
night, and have announced, through
their chief OF counsel, Levy Mayer,
that twenty-five States have const;-
tutions requiring a referendum vote
| OF citizens to ratify a constitutional
infa 70
| tight into the courts on the ground
| that this provision of the State con-
| stitutions was violated in the ratifica-
| ton of the amendment, prohibitionist,
here are confident that all efforts to
| sidetrack the operation Of the law
will be unsuccessful.
Calls Amendment Vafd.
article 8 of the Constitution says
that an amendment shall be valid to
all intents and purposes, as part of
this Constitution, when ratified by the
| legislatures OF three-fourths of the
| several States" said Dinwiddie state
| constitutional amendments providing
| for initiative and referendum, and
similar State laws, do not control in
| matters arising under the Constitu-
| ton Of the United States, and laws in
pursuance thereof, and, therefore, the
1
legislature has acted and does not de-
pend upon any subsequent action by
the voters Of the States. do not
hesitate to believe that the courts will
| hold that no State law, whether statu-
! tory or organic, can change the plain
\ meaning of the Federal Constitution.
which is the supreme law Of the
land"
Denial was also made by Dinwiddie
Of the statement Of State Department
officials that the amendment will be-
| come effective one year from the date
Of a proclamation by the Secretary Of
State announcing that the amend
ment has been ratified by the re
quired number of States. Only four
teen Of the thirty-slx States that have
! ratified have notified the Secretary Of
State officially of their action, and IT
! is held in some quarters that delay in
such notification will equally delay
the date on which the amendment be-
comes operative.
Under the Constitution, however.
| according to Dinwiddie, an amend
ment becomes valid as part OF the
| Constitution when it is ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the
States. and that. therefore, the prohi-
| bition amendment became part Of the
Constitution yesterday, when this ac-
tlon was completed, and becomes op-
| erative one year from yesterday.
Tho result Of yesterday Is the cul-
mination of generations of effort in
| favor of temperance, total abstinence
and prohibition by individuals and
organizations throughout the coun-
| try" Dtnwiddie said.
''The first suggestion Of a national
| prohibition amendment. OF which
| there is any record was made in a
| Grand Lodge of Good TempIars about
forty-six years ago. and the first joint
resolution of Congress proposing to
submit such an amendment to the
States was introduced in the House
of Representatives., December 27, 1875,
| by Henry w. Blair, of New Hamp-