New-York tribune., 1919-07-12
Moon, of Tennessee, Life.
long Dry, Denounces the
Measure as Worse Than
''lnfamous Force Bill"
Calls 1t Unconstitutional
Moore Declares Act Will
Deprive Government of
81, 600, 100000 a Year
Neso York Tribune
WASHINGTON Bureau

!. WASHINGTON, w July 11.-Evidence
that the vets may win enough support
to amend the Volstead prohibition en-
forcement bill brought consolation to-
day to House -prohibitionists, after
President Wilson's depressing an
nouncements yesterday, when Repre-
sentative Moon, of Tennessee, Demo
crat, and life long dry. denounced
features Of the bill as unconstitutional
and declared his intention to vote for
amendments.
81 regret that the bill should be
brought before US in this usual and
drastic FORM" said Representative
Moon, "and unless it is materially
amended l shall feel it my duty to
vote against it or express my disap-
proval by not voting at ALL It is as
impracticable and senseless as any
thing ever suggested. 1t should be
opposed because it is worse in all it's
features than the infamous Force bill
A law which is not just is destructive
of liberty"
Two Unconstitutional Features
Mr.. Moon discussed in detail feat.
ures of the bill which he considered
unconstitutional and considered amonp
them the following:
1t is unconstitutional to prohibit
the possession of Intoxicating bever-
ages.
1t is unconstitutional for Congress
to define an intoxicant by limiting
the alcoholic content to one-half of
l per cent.
1t is probable, however, that the
vets will base their next hopes fo1
weakening of the Volstead bill in ac.
tion by the Senate. To argue the con-
stitutional questions involved in the
legislation now in Congress. William
D: Guthrie and Samuel Untermye,
will apear before the Senate Judiciar,
Committee tomorrow, probably to urge
the view of Elihu Root that Congress
was without power to pass wartime
prohibition at the time that it did
when, in fact, no war emergency ex.
isted
House vets to-day were frankly
pesslmlstlc of gaining any further con
cesslons there, admitting that light
wines and beer are doomed President
wilson's statements yesterday ranked
particularly.
doubts Wilson's Sincerity
president Wilson will never lift the
ban," declared Representative Dyer. OF
Missouri, to-day. "In fact, he never
was sincere in his stand on light wines
and beer He knew there was no fur
ther need for wartime prohibition
that the country was dry, and that
hlbltlon after voting for the Eigh-
teenth Amendment. SO he tried to put
the Republicans in the hole by pass
ing the buck to Congress-"
The House devoted all its time to-
day to the Volstead bill in the hope
that general debate might be ended by
tomorrow night. Both vets and drys
are anxious to commence considering
1T under the five-minute rule, and Mon
day, which is District of Columbia
Day, may be used to start considering
amendments.
One of the most telling attacks on
prohlbition was made by Representa-
tive Moore. of PENNSYLVANIA. He cited
figures to show that the loss Of reve-
nue. caused by prohibition may neces-
state billion-dollar bond issue with
in year after prohibition takes effect
Loss sl,oOO,oOO,OoO Yearly
For the ten months up to and in
Guiding April of the last year we col
lected from wines, distilled spirits and
other intoxicating beverages S408,274,-
000," he said. "The estimated receipts
for May and June to complete the
fiscal year brings the total up to $685.
100000. In addition to that sum the
Treasury gained heavily from income
and excess profits taxes arising from
the liquor business. That was under
the old laws.
eff prohibition were not in effect,
we would under the new revenue law
receive for the six months, from June
80 to December 80, 1919, approximate
ly $325, 100000. For the whole fiscal
year, ending June 3oth next, our re
ceipts without prohibition would b,
S638,000,000. In addition we would
have received income tax and excess
profits taxes sufficient to bring tn ,
grand total up to 81 10000
This revenue, which is fully three
times as much as we can possibly re-
ceive from the tariff, is new gone. All
the revenue officials look forward to N
lieu of this billion dollars is abou,
$70,000,0O0, which may be collected on
non-beverage alcohol. This loss Of
revenue presents problem which NAV
ultimately call for the issue of ad
ditional bonds"