New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-05
Drys Win Fight
To Force Beer
Bill to a Vote
Measure Made Unfinished
Business; Reed Assails
1t as Unconstitutional
and Vicious in Operation
Bogus Agents Denounced
Senator Urges Amendment
to Make Usurpation of
Auth GRITTY Punishable

3
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE Willis
Campbell bill finally got the right Of
way in the Senate this afternoon. 1t
was made unfinished business on the
motion of Senator Sterling and will be
kept before the Senate daily until it is
voted on. 1t had barely been made
the unfinished business when Senator
Reed, of Missouri, struck at it as un-
constitutional.
While a strong vote is ready to sup
port a motion to recommit the bill to
committee the drys expect to defeat
such a motion by close margin and
then force the bill TO passage
As soon as the farm export bill
passed to-day Senator Sterling was on
his feet asking consideration of the
beer bill
Senator Wadsworth said ne would
not object if there was to be an ad-
journment tonight so that the Senate
could consider a number Of minor mat
ters before o'clock tomorrow He
referred to the beer bill as "this re-
markable bill" Senator Sterling said
he was willing to agree to adjourn if
the Senator from New York withdrew
his reference to "this remarkable bill"
with certain mental reservations"
said Senator Wadsworth, 81 will with
draw the remark"
Wants Agents Held Responsible
against the bill and made a slashing
attack. He introduced an amendment
providing that any person who He
gally represented himself to be a pro-
hibition officer or agent, or who under
color of law enforcement violates the
law or the Constitution. should be
subject to heavy fine and imprson-
ment penalties.
He declared that under the guise of
prohibition enforcement highwaymen
were holding up occupants of vehicles,
searching them and robbing them, and
that some Of the prohibition officers.
in the absence Of the man Of the
house, had forced their way into homes
and committed wrongs. He wanted to
know how many Senator'S would vote
against this amendment and thus show
they sympathized with the violation
Of the Constitution and the laws by
prohibition officers and persons imper-
sonating such officers.
Senator Reed argued the bill was un-
constitutional. Reading from the
hibitions applied "for beverage pur-
poses"
ANY use of liquor which is not for
beverage purposes has not been pro-
hibited by the Constitution of the
United States" said Senator Reed
He asserted Congress has absolutely
no authority under the Eighteenth
Amendment to prohibit physician pre-
scribing beer, wine and other liquors
for a sick patient.
by what stretch Of the Constitu-
ton asked Senator Reed, can the
supporters Of this bill claim that the
prescription OF beer FOR sick people is
the use of it for beverage purposes p
Declares Constitution "Wrenched"
He called it the "wrenching of the
Constitution" and the "usurpation of
authority" He objected to overriding
the Constitution in this fashion.
"The Constitution is being repealed
by a process of legislative chicanery,"
Senator Reed charged, and he added
that there was no contemplated in
vasion of the home or interference
with the rights of citizens" when the
prohibition movement was started with
the slogan "the saloon must go"
Senator Reed said he was willing
the prohibition law should be tested
out n good faith and if it proved q
success it should remain
"On the other hand he added of
it fills the country with Illicit stills
and Illicit whisky, as it produces an
army OF spies and informers and IS
detrimental to the welfare Of the PEG
pie, then in good time the people will
demand its repeal.
But how any man can stand upon
this floor" proceeded the Senator, land