The Washington herald., 1919-02-25
ALCOHOL LIMIT
is 1-2PER CENT,
new DRY RULE
Committee Agreement De-
fines Strength Of Liquor
After July |.
HITS BOOTLEGGERS
Minimum Penalty Of Sl00
and 30 Days Provided
for Rum Selling.
BOOTLEGGERS

One-half Of per cent OF alcohol
the limit for beverages manufac-
.ured and sold in the United States
ufter July l, as fixed in the bill to
provide the machinery for the en-
'orcement OF war time prohibition.
rhs House Judiciary Committee
reached an agreement on the measure
yesterday and it Will be reported to
the House today by Representative
VoIstead. of Minnesota
The committee declined to include
in the proposed legislation a provi-
sion for search and seizure where in
toxicattng liquors are held only for
personal use. Some prohibitionists
urged the necessity OF such action to
prevent users OF intoNicants from lay
ing IN a supply in anticipation OF the
dry times to come.
As the bill comes from the commit
tee, a person having liquor stored
can be convicted of violating the law
only when II is proved that he has II
for the purpose OF sale.
II the bill cannot be called up in the
House by unanimous consent, a spe-
ciaI rule giving it right OF way will
be asked. 1t is believed that II will
be possible to get it through the lower
branch before the end OF the week
It is very doubtful. however. whether
it can be put through the Senate be-
fore the present Congress expirS at
midnight next Monday
The section OF the bill limiting the
percentage OF alcohol reads as fol-
lows:
The words beer, wine. or other in
toxicating malt or vinous liquors in
the war prohibition act shall be con-
Strued as meaning any liquors which
contain in excess OF one-half Of l per
cent OF alcohol"
Enforcement OF the law is left to
the Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue.. His agents are directed to in
vestigate and report violations to the
United States attorneys. who are
charged with the duty OF prosecuting
under the supervision of the Attorney
General.
The section designed to break up
bOot-IeEginE provides:
THAT any room. house. building,
boat. vehicle. structure or place OF
any kind where intoxicating liquor is
sold, manufactured. kept for sale, or
hartered in violation Of the war pro-
hibitiOn act, and all intoxicating liq-
in maintaining such a place. is here
by declared to be a public and COM
mon nuisance. and any person who
maintains or assists in maintaining
such public and common nuisance,
shall be guilty of misdemeanor and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined
not less than 800 or more than $1,000.
or be imprisoned for not less than
thirty dsJE or more than one year, or
both. JF q person has knowledge or
reason ia believe that his property
is occupied or used in violation OF the
provisions Of the war prohibition act
and sure-ts the same to be so used.
such profpcrty shall be subject to a
lien for (and may be sold to pay all
fiHS an ID costs against the occupant
of such building or property for any
violation OF the war prohibition act.
which said lien shall attach from the
time of the service of summons on
the owner or his agent: and any such
lien may be established and enforced d
by legal action instituted for that
purpose in any court having jurisdiC'
ton"
Suits in equity in the name OF the
United States to abate and enjoin such
nuisances are authorized. Section OF
the bill provides that if any part OF
the proposed law is held to be invalid.
all other provisions not expressly held
to be invalid shall continue in full
force and effect. Section provides
that the proposed legislation shall not
be construed as interfering in any way
with the regulations of the War or
Navy departments prohibiting the
manufacture or sale of liquors in GER
tain prescribed zones.
The war prohibition law. for the en-
iorcment Of which this bill provides
he machinery. goes into effect July /,
91S, and remains in operation until the
nd of the war and the termination of
'emobilization. the date of which shall
. determined and proclaimed by the
resident
As the constitutional amendment
rohibiting the manufacture or sale of
1toxiCating liquors in the United
tates becomes effective next January.
is generally accepted that the war
rohibition act marks the real end of
luOr in this country.