New-York tribune., 1919-07-14
Former to Push Fight for
2.75 Per Cent Beer and
Against Enforcement of
War Prohibition Act
Test of Strength
On Volstead Bill
Anti-Liquor Forces Hope
to Authorize Selling
1ntOxicants in Homes
Netc York Tribune
Wdshfng Bureau

Wdshfn0to Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 13.--Both wet
and dry forces are preparing for a
battle royal tomorrow when the
House takes up the Volstead prohibi-
tion bill for amendments under the
five-minute rule. The debate, it is
predicted, will last all week.
The vets are expected to introduce
the following amendments:
Ito strike out Title I, dealing
with wartime prohibition.
2-To kill the definition that de-
clares intoxicating all liquors contain
ing more than one-half of l per cent
of alcohol.
3-To insert an amendment per-
mitting pa per cent beer.
4--To strike out the provision pro
hibiting holding liquors for beverage
purposes outside of the home.
Changes Sought by Drys
The drys, who expect by marshall
ling all their forces to defeat the
above amendments, will probably ask
the following changes:
THAT where liquor is sold in a
home it may be seized The bill at
present allows only the arrest of the
vender. These two provisions. the drys
think, would abolish the family speak
easy"
2-To make various slight perfecting
amendments, particularly in behalf of
the flavoring extract people.
3-To be more specific in regard to
the use Of wine for sacramental pur-
poses.
SO far as is known the drys will
make no attempt to close the loophole
in the Volstead bill whereby some TO-
100000 gallons of bonded liquors, val
ued at 81 a gallon. can be saved to the
owners.
The original Volstead bill contained
clause whereby even the export of
this liquor was prohibited. but when
wartime enforcement and constitu-
tional enforcement were separated, the
ban on expectation of liquor was omit
ted from wartime prohibition. That
means, drys said to-day, that until Jan
uary 16, 1920, persons in this country
holding large quantities Of unsalable
liquor may ship it out of this country
if they can find buyers.
Liquor Shortage in England
In this connection it is recalled that
a shortage of liquor now exists in Eng
land to such an extent that British sea-
men recently refused to load shi ips
with liquor for export, believing that
it should be kept at home.
The drys think it would be morally
wrong for this country to allow liquor
to be shipped to other countries after
enacting prohibition. The holders of
these 70,00O,O00 gallons, it is stated
are for the most part large banking
and trust companies, who hold mort
cages or other liens on the bonded
stocks.
The Senate subcommittee on Judi
ciary, which is considering the prohibi-
ton question, holds out hope for the
House and the Senate to agree. This
hope is based on two differences of
opinion revealed yesterday among mem
bers' of the Senate committee, when
Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the
brewers, appeared. These differences
are:
l. Whether Congress has the power
to legislate to enforce wartime pro-
hibition now that the war is all but
technically over.
2. Whether Congress can prohibit the
sale of non-alcoholic beverage on the
ground that it's sale may interfere with
the enforcement of prohibition.
Power of Congress Questioned
In regard to the first difference Sen.
ator King asserts there is considerable
doubt whether Congress constitution.
ally can leglslate for wartime prohi
bition, and he is sure that it cannot
go beyond the original act.
According to both Wayne B. Wheeler
and E. c. Dinwiddie Of the Anti-Saloor
League, Congress has both the rights
in question and will assert them.
"Mr. Untermyer's testimony was moi
very clear" said Mr.. Dnwiddie to-
night. "He seems to ignore the fac
that state decisions that non-alcoholit
beverages may be prohibited if they
help to defeat prohibition already have
been upheld by the Supreme Court il
a number Of instances"
"Mr. Untermyer gave his whole case
away yesterday" said Mr.. Wheeler
"We could very we'll have afforded te
bring him down to testify, for he was
our best witness. The gist of his tes.
timony forms the basis of our argu.
ment that Congress can define what l.;
an intoxicating liquor"