Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-17

Continued from FIRST. Iage.l
out the churchmen's slogan of
few years ago of "a Saloonless Ma
ton in 1920" A bill passed by Con-
gress brings the prohibitive period
ahead to July /. To remove this
barrier to the sale of liquors n presi-
Dental proclamation stating that
the demobilization of the army had
been effected before that time would
have to be issued. That, however,
has nothing to do with the new
amendment to the Constitution of
the United States which forbids the
manufacture and sale of distilled and
brewed liquors in the United States.
The Swan Song
Why the liquor interests and their
representatives in Harrisburg de-
sire to have Pennsylvania vote
against ratification When the issue
has been settled has never been
clearly defined. In the House of
Representative many members vot-
ed against ratification when moth
ing was at stake. Since that time
some have expressed themselves as
regretting that action. The Senate
hearing tomorrow has been re-
quested and granted and is the swan
song of the liquor activity in a big
ture.
Whether the ratification Senators
will answer the argument of those
opposed to ratification has not been
stated. The dry senators are TAX
ing an Indifferent stand when the
hearing is mentioned and dismiss it
as unimportant. They will likely
have some representation present
1t is hardly likely that the dry
elements, who now possess con-
siderable strength here, will oppose
the short term license bill whereby
liquor dealers only pay license fees
for the months they are actually
permitted to do business this year
The so-called business fair play"
feature of that bill has appealed to
many of the ratification legislators
but they demand that liquor not
attempt to dictate on legislative mat
ters not affecting the liquor busi-
ness. If that is done the Legisla-
tive League formed last week with
Representative Robert l.. Wallace
of Lawrence county as chairman,
will fight back. 1t is figured that
any trouble that liquor meets with
in the session from now on will be
of the liquor crowds making.
A public hearing will also be held
on Tuesday in the roads committee
of the House on the Dithrich bill
which reorganizes the entire auto
mobile situation in PENNSYLVANIA
from the standpoint of the amount
of tax, size of trucks, chauffeurs re-
quirements and general matters re-
lating to motors. 1t has already
caused discussion in the autom obile
world.
In the judiciary special committee
OF the House tomorrow afternoon
there will be a hearing on the oleo-
margarine proposition based on the
McCurdy bill reducing the license to
sell oleomargarine. Grangers and
agriculturists in general have asked
for this hearing and the bill will be
attacked from many angles. The,
high cost of living and "the poor
mans butter" will be the chief argu-
ments for the bill. 1t is always a
red flag to the creamery interests
and grange organizations and this
time they anticipate greater trouble
than usual in defeating the measure.
The Sinclair bill, which is not up
for hearing tomorrow but which
also deals with the oleomargarine
proposition wipes out the license
fees entirely. Both McCurdy and
Sinclair are experienced members
and with the cost of commodities
at present, a stronger fight than in
former years will be made for the
bills. The county members have
been able to stem the sentiment for
oleomargarine. This time their job
is possibly a trifie harder but they
claim to have the votes to upset
the calculations of McCurdy hnd
Sinclair. both of whom are san
guine their bills will mass