The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-08-11
PROHIBITION
ENFORCEMENT
BILL BEFORE
SENATE BODY
Measure Amended by Judici-
ary Subcommittee is Before
Senate - Several Drastic
Provisions Are Eliminated.
GUARD STORAGE RIGHT
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-Prohibi-
tion enforcement legislation advanced
another step in congress today when
the senate judiciary committee began
consideration Of the bill passed by the
house last June as amended and lib
eralized by the judiciary sub-com-
mittee.
Although the general house plan for
enforcement of war time and consti-
tutional prohibition remain in the
bill, the subcommittee eliminated sew.
eral drastic house provisions and mod
flied others. In its work, the sub
committee. comprising Senators Ster-
ling, Republican, of North Dakota,
chairman; Fall Of New Mexico. and
Norris Of Nebraska, Republicans, and
Overman Of North Carolina, Walsh Of
Montana, and King Of Utah, Demo
Gratis, first revised the senate enforce
ment bill and then incorporated their
amendments in the house bill, report
ing the latter as amended by unani-
nous vote to the full committee.
Like the house, the senate sub
committee adopted the plan OF having
separate sections In the bill to deal
with wartime and constitutional pro-
hibition.
Personal Use Untouched.
The subcommittee left unchanged
the house definition Of intoxicating
beverages as those containing one
half of one percent or more of alcohol.
AS revised the bill will not inter
fere with storage and personal use
Of intoxicants in the homes Of in
dividuals.
D.oh.h1, ~ x,..+ 1;ho.,1 o,,ood
ment to the house bill is a provision
exempting from penalties any person
manufacturing Notwithstanding cider
and fruit juices exclusively for use in
his house" This would permit home
manufacture of light wines and cider
for personal consumption and the
amendment, except by implication in
connection with the definition of in
toxicants, does not define "non-intoxi-
eating" beverages.
Stricken from the house bill was
the provision making it unlawful for
persons to be intoxicated or to drink
liQuir on trains, street cars, jitneys
or other public conveyances.
Another liberalization is a provision
that reports of manufacture sales and
transportation Of liquor, made to the
internal revenue collector shall not be
open to inspection of the general pub
lie. but kept solely for scrutiny of the
commissioners, his agents. court OF
other officers.
Search Provisions Changed
The house search warrant provision
also made less drastic, the sub-com
mittee amending the search and sci
zure section so as to provide that
search warrants may be issued only
ttn1or tho nc11al rrortipn nrnvi6ad nv
existing federal law and not on mere
suspicion that liquor is being stored
for unlawful purposes.
Instead of the house bills unlimited
provision for funds to enforce prohib
ton, the subcommittee fixed $500,
600 for the first years enforcement
work, and leaves this duty jointly tc
the internal revenue commissioner
and the department of justice. The
former is to report and the latter tc
prosecute violations.
In defining intoxicating liquor, the
subcommittee added the following
liberalizing proviso: provided, how
ever, that the foregoing definition Zone
half of one percent. alcohoD shall no.
extend to de-alcoholized wine nor tc
any liquor or liquors produced by the
process by which beer. ale, or portel
Is INduul dCluleu, Dul COuldl dlllllS uO
more than one-half of one percent o
alcohol if such liquor or liquid shall
be otherwise denominated than a!
beer, ale or porter This provist
rejects the requests of prohibition ad
vocates for prohibition of beverage!
which have the appearance of intoxi
cants.
Another relaxation of the house bill
was made in its provision for penal
izing persons having reason to be
lieve" their property is being used un
lawfully. The senate amendment re
quires personal knowledge" of sucl
use.
List Exemptions.
The house provision declaring tha
after February l. 1920. the possession
of liquor unauthorized by the law
shall be prima facie evidence that it i
being kept for sale is retained anC
strengthened by an addition providin'
that, in proceedings under this section
the burden of proof shall be on de
PENDANTS to prove that such beverage
do not contain more than one-half o
one per cent. alcohol.
The subcommittee provision re
tains the following exemptions as pre-
vided by the house:
Denatured alcohol, medicinal pre-
parations, patent medicines, toilet AM
medicinal preparations, flavoring eA
tracts, syrups. vinegar and fruit juices
The subcommittee. however, strucl
out the house clause that such article
should be "non-potable" prescribing
merely that they shall be unfit 70
beverage purposes
A house clause requiring alcohol
content of toilet, medicinal and ant
septic articles be labeled was strickel
out.
Physicians Limited.
Retaining the house provision Pre-
hibiting manufacture, sale, purchase
transportation or prescription of in
toxicants without a permit from tn
internal revenue commissi sioncr the re