New Britain herald., 1919-03-13
RHODE ISLAND WILL
 QUESTION DRY LAW
Assembly Would Test Amendment
 in Supreme Court
Providence, E. l., March 13.-A

Providence, E. l., March 13-A proposal to have Rhode Island dis pute the legality of federal prohibi- tion was made in the General As sem bly, yesterday. A resolution was introduced in the lower branch which would authorize the attorney general to take steps necessary to obtain prompt determination by the supreme court of the United States of the constitutionality of the act of con- eress proposing the prohibitory amendment
 The resolution. introduced by Rep resentative Jacob A. Eaton of this city, was referred to the committee on judiciary. It is understood that it will have the support of leaders in the lower branch.
 The resolution reads in part:
 'Whereas, There has been pro- posed by congress an eighteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States, which amendment has been submitted to the legislatures of the several states. and, according to a. proclamation of the secretary of state. has been ratified by the neces- sary three-fourths of the states in aC- cordance with the provisions of the constitution of the United States;
 And, whereas, the State of Rhode
 Island from the earliest days of it's
 history has fought the battle of
 human freedom, declaring by legis-
 lative acts it's independence of Great
 Britain two months before the action
 taken by the national congress, and
 compelling the inclusion in the con-
 stitution of the United States of the
 first ten amendments constituting the
 national bill of rights, and has never
 failed to take it's stand in defense of
 constitutional government and in the
 safeguarding of American liberty.
 And whereas. it believes that this
 attempted amendment of the constitu-
 tion by congress has created the fol-
 lowing among other grave questions of
 Constitu tional rights, to wit: in that it
 does not amend the system of govern
 ment erected by said constitution, but completely alters and transforms
 said system; in that the amendment invests congress With police powers in the states, hitherto exclusively eXer- cised by them, and thus constitutes a revolutionary transformation of the governm entby by reason of the exten- sion of the power of the United States and compulsory acceptance by the states of a national police rule to he enforced within their borders; and in that such an amendment is contrary to the spirit and system Of the dual form of government erected by the constitution, and instead of being a proper amendment of the constitution is destructive of it.
 And, whereas, two successive leg islatures of the state of Rhode Island have refused to ratify said eighteenth amendment,
 benefit alike to the state and nation, of his individual opinion concerning l the subject of prohibition that there should be a prompt, definite, and con- l elusive determination by the highest 1 courts of the issues involved, that ] public sentiment thus directed into orderly channels may patiently await 1 ceedings. and sane submission to legal ! processes be substituted for dangerous unrest; therefore, be it
 ! Resolved, That the attorney gen. l eral of the state of Rhode Island be
 and is hereby authorized and direct 1 ed, in the name of the state or other l wise, to commence such suits or pro- cecdings, or to take such other steps ! as may be necessary in the premises l for the purpose of securing a $ prompt , lv possible a determination of the ] supreme court of the United States l upon, the question of constitutonality l of the action of. congress in proposing ] the said eighteenth amendment to the 1 constitution of the United States.'