The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-27
SENATE CONFIRMS
 BLAIR NOMINATION
 OVER OPPOSITION
Johnson Makes Final Fight Against New Internal Reve- nue Commissioner, But
 Is Voted Down
By Associated Press

Washington. May 26--The nomina- ton of David H. Blair of Winston Salem, N. C., to be internal revenue commissioner, was confirmed today by the Senate over the opposition of Sen ator Johnson. republican. California, and others.
 The vote was 59 to 15. B1air's op- ponents included seven republicans and eight democrats.
 Senator Johnson made his final fight in an executive session of the Senate. but was voted down after sharp debate.
 MT. Blair's confirmation fills va cancy in the office of internal rev. enue commissioner which has existed for fortnight. with Secretary Mellon acting in the interim. Many impor- tant affairs, including prohibition rul- ings, await action by the new com missioner.
 Several republicans and large part of the democratic Senate mem bership joined in opposing MT. Blair against whom charges were brought by Senator Johnson. He accused MT. Blair of having violated the North Carolina primary law as delegate at the Chicago republican convention last June by failing to support the California senator, who was high in North Carolina's preference primary. Senator Johnson also contended that MT. Blair was disqualified because in- come tax appeals of the nominees relatives were pending for action be- fore the internal revenue bureau.
 Both charges were denied at recent hearings before the Senate finance committee, which recommended con- firmation.
 Besides a multitude of tax matters which have been held in abeyance during the past weeks. many impor- tant prohibition questions await set clement by the new commissioner treasury officials said today.
 FOREMOST LIQUOR PROBLEM
 Foremost of the liquor problems is the issuance of regulations covering the use of beer for medicinal pur- poses under the opinion rendered by former Attorney General Palmer on March B. These regulations, it is said. have been prepared and await the study and approval Of the commlS- sioner. In this connection, 1t was ex- plained, MT. Blair must decide whether all brewers shall be permitted to put beer on the market for medicinal pur- poses or only certain breweries under special permit.
 Another medicinal use of alchohol awaiting the attention of the commis- sioner. 1t was said, is issuance of regu- lations lifting the limit from the num- Der of prescriptions doctor may write for ,whiskey. uneder the same opinion handed down by MT. Palmer, officials declared, 1t, was held that the bureau had no right to fix the arbi- trary limit of 100 prescriptions in 90 days now in force. New regulations have been drafted tentatively in the connection, 1t was added.
 One of the most delicate prohibition decisions MT. Blair will be called upon to make, officinals asserted is in con- nection with sacramental wine. Under the bureaus rules, 1t was said. whole sale liquor dealers have been forbidden to do business and churches are re- quired to obtain wine for sacramental purposes from wholesale druggists.
 Protest have been entered by re- ligious bodies, officials said, on the ground that the churches could not obtain wines of standard quality from the druggists. The church men contend, it was explained, that wholesale liquor dealers who confine their business to supplying sacrimental wines to reli- ssious organizations should be exempted