Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-10
NEWS OF LEGISLA TURE
RAMSEY'S BILL
HAS EXPERIENCE
Killed and Revived in an Eff
fort to Kill 1t For All
Time

The Ramsey bill, establishing any
liquor containing more than 2A per
cent. of alcohol as an intoxicant,
was defeated in the House, taken up
on a reconsideration motion by men
kill it and put it back on the calen-
der. The development was one of the
most sensational known in consider
alton of liquor legislation IN years.
The dry" forces had defeated the
bill early in the evening, when 1t
received 81 votes to "a.
The bill needed 104 votes and two
men, who had voted for the bill,
/ changed to the negative TO be in
/ position to move reconsideration.
Before they could act, Messrs. Sho-
walter, Union, and Wallace, Lawr-
ence. opponents of the bill, moved
reconsideration. Under the rules
defeat of the motion would have
killed the bill. The vote was 107
to 50.
Mr.. Ramsey, sponsor for the bill,
then moved postponement.
on the first vote, Mr.. Rorke,
] HlldublpIld. Nllo ulu llOI NOlG
when his name was called, asked to
be recorded. but objections were
made. Messrs. Dithrich and Stadt-
lander. Allegheny, changed votes,
! pleading they had voted AYE" under
misapprehension and went on the
negative after objections.
Bill Is Useless
Mr.. Showalter. Union, and Mr..
Palmer, Schuyllill, were the only
speakers, debate being cut off by
call by Mr.. Dithrich, Allegheny, for
the previous questions. Very few
men opposed the call. Mr. Showal
ter contended that the bill if it be-
came a law would nullify the Fed
eral prohibition amendment and
that the bill itself is an admission
that liquor with "a per cent. alco-
hol will intoXicate. Section six, he
said, is clearly a violation of the
eighteenth amendment" No doubt
Congress will soon decide what is
intoxicating liquor and then any leg
islative action will be set aside, he
argued. He said the Internal Rev
enue Bureau had ruled anything over
one-half per cent was intoxicating.
IF that is fact. any action on our
part would be useless and it would
be foolish to pass this bill" said the
Union member. who also challenged
the title as misleading. He closed
by saying the bill is not in keeping
with the sentiment OF the Tines.
Mr.. Palpler denied Mr.. Showalter's
statements and said observations of
scientific men were that 2& per cent
of alcohol would not lntoXic lie. He
said Professor H. A. HarS, Of Phila-
delphia, and others had so decided
why did not the member from
Union produce one expert on this
all important question:" he asked.
/ Mr.. Palmer said that if the bill was
not passed, the question would go
into the courts.
| When Mr.. Dithrich asked to
| change his vote, several members
/ objected and Mr.. Dithrich said he
had voted by mistake.
How could that be possible?" de-
manded Mr.. Wallace, Lawrence.
The chair cannot go behind the
concience of members" declared
the Speaker.
Mr.. Stadtlander when asked if he
had voted under a misapprehension
replied, II did"
The members were allowed to
change their votes on their asser-
tions.
Half an hour later "dry" mem
bers moved reconsideration.
Relief Is Urged
Joint resolutions appropriating
100000 for relief of families of
miners who lost their lives in the
Wilkes-Barre disaster, were intro
duced by Mr.. Powell Luzerne. soon
after the night session of the House
began. The resolution proposes that
the mohey be paced in the hands
of the State Department of Health
Ito be used in the interest of the
public health by the granting of
immediate relief to the families of
the men killed in the explosion and
fire" and such other purposes in
connection with said disaster as to
the said department may seem nee
essary for the protection of the pub
lie health"
Prayer for those who lost relatives
through the mine disaster at Wilkes
Barre was offered by Chaplain Field
man, who prayed for divine comfort
for the widows and orphans. Immed-
lately after Mr.. + wler. Lackawanna,
presented a resolt ton deploring the
accident and asking the appropria-
ton committee to make All appro-
priation of $4,000 for relief OF suf-
ferers. It was laid over for printing.
/ An unsuccessful attempt was
made to reconsider the defeat of the
Catlin Senate bill relative to sale of
coal under cemeteries. but an effort
to revive the Daix bill relative to
teachers retirement funds. went
through 81 to Sc.
The Dithrich motor vehicle bill
was recalled from the Governor for
amendment.
Stands by Committee
! The House declined to reverse it's
committee on manufactures in its
negative report on the bill to make
contractors liable for wages owed by
subcontractors. Mr.. Fowler, Lack
awanna. moved to put the bill on
the calendar, whereupon Chairman
Hess said the action of the commit
tee had been unanimous.
Resolutions calling on the Gov
ernment to vote three months extra
pay to all honorably discharged SOL
diers, sailors and marines were in
troduced by Mr.. Brendle. Berks, and
laid over for printing. They recited
that Canada and Australia made
such provisions.
The bill creating a commissioner
of delinquency in the State Board
of Public Charities was recommitted
TO the committee on manufactures
for a hearing.
| The House cleared the first and