The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-04
House OF Representatives Turns
Down Bill Overwhelmingly.
Prohibition Clears Jaifs and
Saves MOney-Roper.
NATION IS NOT BACKSLIDIKG
Wet Leaders. Claim Public Al
ready Tired of Law.
Cite Referendum on Bill Called
in Thirteen States.

Washington. March 4.-The house
today refused by an overwhelming
majority to repeal the prohibition en-
forcement act
The action came on a motion OF
Representative Egan. Democrat. New
Jersey. to discontinue all prohibition
appropriations July /. and to repeal
the Nolstead enforcement law at that
time The vote was 254 to Sc
National prohibition is clearing
Jalls boosting production and increas-
ing thrift thruout the country accord
ing to informal reports to the govern
ment, Daniel c. Roper, internal reve-
nue. commissioner, who is charged
with responsibility for enforcing pro-
hlbltlon. said today.
These apparent economic benefits
are converting to the dry cause many
former vets. according To Federal
Prohlbltion Commissioner Kramer
Dry leaders cited the statements OF
topper and Kramer as proof that the
natIen is not backsliding in enforcing
the resolution to be completely dry
that it took when the cighteenth
amendment was raified
Say sentiment Changing.
Wet leaders however. charge that
public sentiment is changing. For
the past weeks some of which are:
wet voters won 1875 towns in local
option elections in Vermont and az in
MasSa chusetts
A law legalizing the sale of beer
has been passed in New Jersey. where
the legal alcoholic content was raised
to 3.5 per cent
Federal prohibition officials were
/ enJoined from interfering with man
facture of 2.5 per cent beer in Wfscon-
sin by a Milwaukee federal Judge.
Ehode Island asked the United
states supreme court to declare ma
tional prohibition void as an infringe
ment of state sovereignty and New
Jersey IS about to join in the plea.
| New York's assembly voted to in
Nestlgate the Anti saloon league
! New York Democrats declared
: against prohibition in their state con-
! Whisky is reported to be sold open
/ ly in New York and other large cities
Speculation continues thruout the
! country in the sale of warehouse GER
1 tiflcates for bonded Booze"
Thirteen Rcferendums Called.
Referendums have been invoked In
thirteen states to disapprove the ac-
ton of legislatures in ratifying the ma
tlonal prohibition amendment.
Despite these events, it is as yet too
soon to presume that public sentiment
: has crystallized toward prohibition.
according to Commissioner Roper.
But many things are occurring"
SAID Roper, which may be regarded
as symptoms, so to speak. of the at
utude of the people. The internal rev
enue bureau has received. unsolicited,
/ scores of letters and reports from in
idiViduals indicating that prohibition is
working out satisfactorily in their
Communities
In some localities. police officials
are accredited with the statement that
crime has recently diminished which
they attribute to prohibition.
The repeal measure was offered b.
, Representative Egan. Democrat. New
Jersey, As an amendment to the legis-
l2ture, executive and judicial appro-
priation measure and Speaker Gillett
oVerruled a point of order against It.
Mr.. Egan also proposed elimination
from the bill of an appropriation Of
$4,5G0, 900 for enforcing the dry act.
Both proposals were defeated on one
roll call