Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-11-24
Senate Passes Bill BY Vote
Of Sc to u.
TEETH" IN vOLSTEAD ACT
Conference Report Aimed at Beer and
Wine Adopted and Measure Now
Goes to President.

Washington. - Congressional ac-
ton on legislation to prohibit the
medical prescription Of beer and other
malt liquors and light wines was COM
pleted through adoption or the SEN
ate, SO to %, OF the conference re-
port on the antl-beer bill.
The legislation, which would also
put additional teeth in the nations
prohibition enforcement code, now
goes to the president, the house hav-
ing acted last August.
Twelve Republicans and ten Dem.
ocrats voted agaisnt the conference
report. The Republican opponents
were Senators Brandegee, Dupont,
Edge, johnson, Lafollette, Lodge, Nc
Lean, Penrose Phipps, Shortridge,
Wadsworth and Weller; the Demo-
Gratis We're Senators Broussard, Gerry,
King Pomerene, Ransdell, Shields,
Stanley, Underwood, Walsh (Mass.),
and Watson (Ga.)
Two others, Senator Reed. Demo-
crat, Missouri, and Moses, Republican,
New Hampshire, We're paired against
the bill. -is..asaa..A
Thirty-three Republicans and TWEEN
ty-three Democrats supported the
measure, while Senators Harreld, Re
publican, Oklahoma Kellogg, Repub-
lican, Minnesota; Lenroot, Republic
can, Wisconsin, Mccormick, Repub-
iican, Illinois, Sutherland, Republi-
ran, West Virginia, and Fletcher, Dem
ocrat, Florida, who were absent and
paired, favored the bill
The bill will set aside the ruling by
former Attorney General Palmer who,
two days before he retired, advised
prohibition enforcement officials there
was nothing in the Volstead act to
prohibit the prescription of beer and
light wines for medicinal purposes
Despite the action Of the senate,
medical beer still has a few days of
grace in the opinion of treasury Off
Gals. Until President Harding signs
the bill, the treasury regulations
would remain in effect, and brewers
may continue to operate under them.
However, from the moment Of the
presidents signature upon the bill ex-
isting regulations automatically be-
come void
1t was suggested tn some quarters
President Harding might delay action
upon the bill pending an opinion by
Attorney General Daugherty upon its
constitutionality.
The legislation has been before con-
gress since last June. The house ac-
cepted the compromise reached by the
conferees In August, but there follow
ed bitter controversy In the senate
waged by a small, but determined
group which contended the bill struck
a fatal blow at personal rights be-
cause it permitted search and seizure
without warrants
The bill limits physicians to one
hundred prescriptions for vinous and
spurious liquor each three months
and specifies not more Titan a quart
of spurious or vinous liquor contain
ing in the aggregate not more than
one-half pint of alcohol, may be pre-
scribed for one person in ten days
Importation Of liquors is barred by
tie bill until the supply on hand in
the United States shall no longer be
sufficient to meet the current need
for non-beyerage uses. 1t also gives
the courts of Hawaii and the Virgin
Islands Jurisdiction In the enforce
ment Of the national prohibition act
as well as the bill just passed.