Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-16

amendment has been accepted by the
United States just thirteen months.
lacking one day, after the joint resolu-
ton by Congress was submitted TO the
states for ratification.
Fourteen of the states which have an
proved the resolution have certified
their action 20 the state Department.
question as to the effective date of
the amendment was raised today when
news came that Nebraska. the thirty
sixth state. had voted ratification, by a
statement of Senator sheppard, Of Texas,
author OF the resolution, that the coun-
try would go dry one year from today.
Other students of the question held
that ratification would not be completed
until one year from formal ccrtification
by the thirty-siyth state.
Possibility Of a difference Of months
in the calculations OF the effective date
was foreseen, Mississippi the first State
to ratify the amendment. has not vet
certified it's action TO the State De-
partment. although the affirmative vote
on tho amendment was taken more than
"A year ago, January 3, 1918,
Unconcerned over Date
Prohibition leaders regard the effect
I i've date as n matter of small moment
, however. inasmuch as countrywide pro-
hibitlon Is ordered july | hy the war
measure passed by Congress to con-
, serve grains. That measure remains in
force until after decentralization Of the
military forces is completed which many
think VIII not be before the Constitu-
t!unal amendment is operative.
Senator sheppard said today he soon
would introduce bill to make the
amendment effective after consultation
with Senate and House leaders and pro-
hibition organizations.
\ proclamation by the President and
state Department the Senator said. was
rot necessary to make the amendment
effective on January lG, 1920. but one
probably would be issued as a formalty
He said he was not disturbed over re-
ports that liquor interests intended to
test the validity Of the amendments
adoption. and declared no loopholcs TO
inNalidatc the law would be found.
Heavy Fines nnd imprisonment
The bill to make the amendment oper-
ative. Senator Sheppard said. probably
would he drawn for the Administration
by the Treasury Department Internal
Revenue Bureau. and would provide
heavy fines aud Imprisonment for inn
portation. manufacture by Illicit stills"
OF otherwise Of alcoholic beverages,
transportation, sale, gift or any other
disposition of such beverages. States
Senator Sheppard pointed out, also are
expected to enact their own laws, to
supplement the Federal statute. to en-
force the amendment.
The United states is the first great
nation to enact permanent pruhibitory
measure. with the outbCrak of the war
Russia stopped the sale Of intoXicants
by imperial order. France adopted a
stringent regulatory policy and other
countries did likewise, but none of them
took legislative action to stop the sale
Of liquors for ever. The war gave
the prohibition movement overwhelming
impetus and its leaders found little diff
Guilty In getting through Congress the
resolution Submitting the constitutional
amendment, as well as various temporary
restrictions. BY executive proclamation
the manufacture OF all malt beverages
including so-Cailed uear-beers, was
stopped at the beginning Of this year.
Enormous revenues derived by the
Federal Government from taxes on man
ufacturc and sale Of alcoholic drinks viii
be cut off by prohibition. It is planned
to raise S450,o0O,000 this year by hev-
crage taxes In peace times the amount
was less. bU: still ran into tho hundreds;
OF millions.