The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-15
Rep. Gallison c. lassachu-
setts Decla that Mem
bers VotS Dry Should
Print in the Congression-
al Record How Much Liq-
uor They Have Stored in
Their Homes and Offices.

Washington D. c., July l5.-Before
the prohibition enforcement bill was TAX
en- up in the House to-day, Speaker Gil
lett ruled that Representative Gallivaa,
Democrat, Massachusetts, in declaring
in an address yesterday that he had
heard members of Congress had stored
away enough whiskey to last them 20
years, had not transgressed rules of the
House.
Representative Blsnton, Democrat, of
Texas, attacked the speech and on
question of personal privilege was pro.
ceeding with the defense of prohibition
members against the charge of liquor
boarding when the speaker cut him short
by announcing that Mr.. Gallivan's speech
was in order Mr.. Blanton then tried to
offer a motion TO have the speech strick-
EN- from the record, but there was objec-
tion.
Two and Three-Fourths Beer Defeated.
The disturbance yesterday arose first
during an attempt by Representative
Blanton, Democrat, of Texas. to speak
second time against an amendment
which would have given jury the right
to define intoxicants, and was increased
during an address by Representative Gal
| livan, Democrat, of Massachusetts,, who
declared members voting dry should
print in the Congressional Record ex.
actly how much liquor they had stored
in their homes and Offices
The real battle of the day, however,
was over the amendment to define an in
toxieant as beverage containing more
than two and three quarters per cent
alcohol instead of more than one half of
one per cent written in the bill. Rep.
resentative Dyer, Republican, Missouri,
author of the amendment, did not ask
for this definition in the constitutional
prohibition amendment, but simply N
the wartime law. In pleading for its
adoption, Mr.. Dyer declared it was what
President Wilson had recommended to
Congress and would permit, during the
remaining period of war time prohibition,
the sale of light wines and beer, and
might delay issuance of proclamation
by the president which would restore fhe
sale of "hard" liquors.
There was a round of speechmaking on
this motion, an hour of it with the
"drys" assailing it as an entering wedge,
and the "wets" asserting that 1t mere
ly permits the very thing the presi-
dent, as commander inc chief of the army
had said was best for the country for
the next six months.
After two and three quarters per cent
beer had been bowled over BY record
vote of l5l to 90 and this was about
the relative decision on all amendments
oEta
amendment by Representative Igos,
Democrat, of Missouri, which would have
stricken out all definition Of intoxicants,
killing the proposal, l2s to So.
There was the utmost confusion at
times, despite vigorous whack with
gavel and some of the prohibition lead
ers applauded every move in their ia
vor. The galleries, filled largely with
women, and officers of anti.liquor organ
izations, broke into applause when the
House roared its disapproyal of two and
three-quarters per cent beer.
And then, when it seemed the majority
was weary Of voting down every pro
posal by the other side, points of order
were raised and some motions designed
To make the law less drastic were picked
up by the nape of the neck, as members
expressed ii and bodily thrown out This
happened to an amendment by Represent
tative Lea, Democrat, California, in the
interest of grape growers, who stood to
lose Sl200O000 this year, he said. II
provided for the manufacture of wine
containing II per cent alcohol by weight.
point of order against it was sustained
by the chair
There were other points of order on
other proposals but the one by Repre-
sentative Pell, Democrat, New York,
which would put determination of intoxi-
eating qualities Of certain beverages up
to jury, was ruled in order, only to
be knocked out on an aye and nay vote,
division, and again after the call for
tellers and the slow march of members
through the center aisle of the chamber
to be counted. This was the usual pro.
eeeding. the 'wets" always being able to
muster enough Of their number TO sup
port the demand
When the House got through with the
Jury proposal it went after an amend
ment by Representative Longworth, Re
publican, Of Ohio, to strike out tho whole
of the first section of the wartime en-.
forcement bill, with its ne.half of one
rar cart alcohol definition.