Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-28
House Overrides Veto
Of Dry Enforcement
Measure
SETS LEGISLATIVE
MARK FOR ACTION
Re-enactment Hits Snag in
Senate When Democratic
Members Object.

Members Object.
Presidential veto of the prohibit
tion-enforcement bill, yesterday and
prompt re-enactment of the measure
by the House over the veto estab-
lished a record for quick action sell
dom, IL ever, exceeded in legislative
affairs. Within a few minutes after
the Senate convened today, however,
the rapidity of the bills passage in
the face of the Presidents disapproval
was sharply checked when objections
by number of democratic senators
to re-enactment of the bill precipi-
tated a long parliamentary wrangle
over the rules.
President Wilson returned the bill
to Congress without his signature
yesterday afternoon, and before ad-
Journment Of the House the measure
had been re-enacted over the veto.
Hats Action in Senate.
When the bill was received by the
Senate from the House today, Senator
Sterling, republican, South Dakota,
who had charge of the measure when
1t passed the Senate. asked unanimous
consent for its immediate considera-
ton Senator Robinson. democrat,
arkansas. objected and then Senator
Sterling moved that the Senate, which
was in open executive session for de-
pate on the peace treaty, proceed to
legislative business.
OBJECTION to laying aside the trea-
y was made by Senator Hitchcock of
Nebraska, tne administration leader,
VINO mas opposed prohibition measures
IN the past. Although Senator Ster-
hng said he was sure the bills dis
short time. Senator Hitchcock urged
that debate on the treaty continue,
declaring the people were beginning
to believe the Senate was deliberately
ssnat6r Nelso1, republican, Minne-s
sofa, chairman OF the Senate Judiciary
committee endeavored to cut Off dis
sussion by declaring Senator ster-
can Leader Lodge and Senator smoot,
republican, Utah. also quoted rules
declaring the prohibition bill was
Senator -Lenroot.a republican. Wis
consin. who was presiding Temporal
rily. ruled that the Sterling motion
was debatable. =.
Called Unconstitutional.
Urging that the Presidents veto be
sustained. Senator Underwood, demo-
crat, Alabama, said wartime prohi-
bition was unconstitutional because
II involved conhscation Of private
property without adequate compensa-
Senator Borah. republican, Idaho,
remarked that rs q result ofxPresi-
dent Wilson'S statement on the coal
strike and his prohibition veto mes
sage he was utterly bewildered" as
to the ending of the war.
The Presidents statement to the
miners declared the war is not ended
and their contracts are in effect" said
Mr.. Borah, while this message de.
clares the war is closed"
The prohibition debate was still in
to receive King Albert.
Vote Quickly Follows Veto.
The vote in the House yesterday Of
17S to IS. twenty-five more than
necessary, came within three hours
after the Presidents veto was an
nounced from the White House, and
followed an uproar in the House
chamber lasting from the time the ex-
ecutfve message was read until the
final roll call. Leaders pleaded for
postponement, pointing out that q
bare majority of the membership was
present. but 1t was to no avail. for
| the dry forces would not be denied
Bowling over every attempt to post
pone action. the prohibitionists set 8
! record for congressional action, for
| so far as veteran members and EN-.
| ployes could remember never has q
presidential veto been overridder
| within three hours after it was an
| nounced.
Why President Vetoed Bill.
The President refused to sign the
| bill because it included the enforce.
| ment of wartime prohibition.
| The objects of wartime prohibition
the President said in his veto, ha6
been satisfied. and sound public pol
| icy makes clear the reason and neces'
! sity for it's repeal" 1t would not b
difficult, the President held, for Con.
Rress to deal separately with the tive
issues.
Attorney General Palmer. 1t wal
said. had declared it constitutional. Blu
the President, propped up In bed, die
tated. and then signed veto message
and sent 1t along to Congress. with
out worrying. apparently, about VIVA
congress might do.
When the message was read Chair
man Volstead sought to have thu
House set Thursday for considerint
the vote, but later changed his tactic
and attempted in vain to Withdraw
his motion after that of Representa-
tive Walsh, republican NMdss-), u
able the Volstead motion had beel
defeated. 17S to so.
i Wrangle Follows.
The hubbub and the wrangle KEEP
going while Republican Leader Mon
dell, demanding the right to be hear
tahead of fifty others who were trying
to catch the Speakers eye, finally go
the floor, told how the prohibition bill
Iaffected the welfare of all the PEG
nile which made II necessary that tn
House have everybody present whe
voting time came. This plea wa
made after Chairman Volstead ha
asked unanimous consent to with
, draw his motion.
| There were many motions after tina
and a number of roll calls until tn
anal vote was taken at o'clock.
| The galleries were deserted. TIL
crowds that used to sit through wear
hours of prohibition debate had no
=. heard, Of course, that the final fgh
. was at hand, and John Barleycorn'
wake IL il was that, was unattende,
ON the floor handful of member
who had stood up against the dr.
phaIanx edged in a word now an
then, and tried to appeal for uphold
ing the veto, but they were unable I
: make themselves heard above the dill
Vote Overriding Veto.
RI The roll call in the House on overrid
, | ing the Presidents veto was az follows
II For: Republicsns-Anders Ar
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