Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-26
DRY FORCES SEEK
To BLOCK LIGHT
DRINK PROPOSAL
Bill for Enforcement of War
Time Prohibition to Be In
tr0duCed in Effort to Pre-
vent Presidential Action.


Washington, June 25.-A straight
clear-cut bill for enforcement of wal
time prohibition will be reported out
tomorrow by the house judiciary
committee.
Decision to separate the war time
from the constitutional prohibition en-
fOrCement measure--said to be the
most drastic liquor bill ever present
ed to COngreSs-was reached after an
ali day session. A proposal that two
distinct bills be drafted was rejected
yesterday, but it was brought up again
today by Representative Walsh. re-
publican, of Massachusetts, and was
pending when a motion to adjourn
abruptly ended the discussion
There was no indication as to how
the committee would have voted, but
several of the leading prohibition
members agreed tonight that in view
of the manifest differences between
that the sale of beer and light wines
might be permitted until January by
presidential proclamation, the wisest
thing to do was to report out the war
time bill the first thing tomorrow and
the constitutional bill later in the
day. In this way there is every as
surance, they said that the war time
bill would he passed probably by both
houses before the end of the month,
at which time the dry act becomes
effective.
Joker Discovered in Time.
An amendment by Representatives
Steele, democrat, Of Pennsylvania,
which it was admitted later would
have nullified the entire law, got
through by a vote of nine to eight,
subsequently was reconsiderpd and
defeated, ten to seven. The amend
ment stipulated that provisions of the
enforcement act, except as they relate
to interstate and foreign commerce,
should not be effective in any state
until ratified by the people. 1t was
said tonight that one or two membersI
voted for the amendment as a Joke"
When the committee adjourned
without acting on the Walsh motion
for separate enforcement bills, Rep
resentative Gard, democrat, Ohio re-
turned to the house and introduced
the enforcement bill offered at the
last session. The committee measure
that will 90 to the house Is COnstd
cred far less drastic than the general
bill. During the day democratic
leaders in the house made inquiry of
Chairman Nolstead as to when theI
liquor bill might be expected and
We're informed that it might not bel
ready before Saturday.
Fight Opens Suddenly.
After more than a dozen commit
tee ron calls on various provisions,
none Of general pubic interest, Mr..
Walsh, MIR. Gard and others jumped
actively into the fight with vigorous
demand for separation of the meas
Tes, Notwithstanding the previous ac-
-. l,1 ,ttt N,lg 10.
clared the committee ought to take
the bull by the horns, get the war
time enforcement bill introduced at
the last session before the house, and
urge quick enactment. Then if the
president wanted to lift the ban it,
would only be necessary, he said, to-
suspend the act providing for war
time enforcement and not interfere
with legislation affecting constitu-
tional prohibition.
The committee, Mr.. Walsh added,
then could go ahead and make ready
machinery 70 rpermanent prohibition.
Unless the questions were separated
there would be no possibility of en-
acting any law before July /, Mr..
Walsh stated, adding that he would
go before the rules committee and
get a rule by which the measure
could be passed promptly and with
out extended debate Several mem
bers of The committee, including
Chairman Nolstead, took part in the
discussion that followed. a vote was
within sight, but the house gong call
ing members to a roll call, suddenly
ended the meeting.
There has been no straight prohl-
bition and anti-prohbition alignment
in the voting heretofore on the Varl-
GUS amendments. Some of the ardent
prohibitionists have supported amend
ments eliminating drastic features
and they have agreed that it is neces-
sary to separate the measures in or
der to get action before the country
goes dry next week.