New-York tribune., 1921-04-26
Volstead Acts i.
TOPut Ban ON
Beer for Sick
Bill to Stiffen Prohibition
Enforcement to Offset Pal
mer Ruling Is Intro.
duccd Before the House
Wine Limit frightened
Minnesota Representative
Insists That Malt Bever-
age Is Not a Medicine

WASHINGTON. April 25.--As the
arss step of the fight in Congress to
tighten UP the Volstead prohibition
enforcement law. bill designed to
prohibit the sale of beer to the sick
on physicians prescription, was in
trodpoed in the House to-day by Chair
man volstead of the Judiciary Commit
tee.
The measure would not prohibit the
use OF wine for medicinal purposes.
but would make more specific and
stringent the regulations on this sub
ject.
Frankly declaring there was no real
necessity for beer as medicine. Mr..
volstead announced that his bill, de-
scribed as supplemental TO the ma
tional prohibition act. was put forward
at this time to meet the situation
created by the opinion of former At
torney General Palmer that beer and
vine, under the Volstead act, could be
prescribed for the ailing.
Limit Fixed by Kramer
In tentative regulations announced
last week by Prohibition Commissioner
Kramer, but which must await approval
by David II. Blair, the new Commits
sioner OF Internal Revenue, an arbi-
trary limit of four and seventh -eighths
gallons beer and three gallons of
wine was liked as the maximum that
might be prescribed by a physician at
ANY enc time. Mr.. Palmer had ruled
that the law fixed no limit.
Regardless OF what Commissioner
Blair may rule. Mr.. Volstead indicated
,ha, the prohibition forces in the
House we're prepared to take the beer
ball by the horns and let the world
know that there will be 10 beer The
niIl will be referred to Mr.. Nolsteads
committee for hearing and report
Members opposed to any modification
OF the DRY law said tonight It probably
would be reported TO the House sub
.antially as drawn. There were pre-
'ie; ons from many dr. quarters that
..s passage vas certain.
Atser counting noses OF the commit
a. ~. NclsteGd vas strongly Of the
s.n.oa lie said, thai there would be
tGza rack oA the question of prohi-
;'ion. even n ths face OF a cry from
i@IN sections cnat Congress give the
opposed hecr regulations for the sick
=. tsy-out.
Aims to Shut or Supply
Aft.r turnirg thumbs down on beer
I'd putting extra safeguards around
ie Mndical use OF wine, homo made
7 imported, the new hill would close
la gates TO the Importation of liquor
snA shut down distilleries until the
present stock OF about 100000 gal
.cns aoH' in bonded. warehouses had
been exhausted Mr. stead aaid
mere was 10 sense IN allowing large
quantities to be imported or snanufac
tlrcd while there was 50 much or
aona
The bin also would impose certain
additional restrictions on the manufac-
ture of alcoholic preparations, mas
euerading as medicine and tonics.
which prohibition leaders assert are
drnkable In support of this provision
Nh olstead said the bootleg trade was
being supplied through Withdrawals
ostensibly for the manufacture Of these
products
Sill another tightening up section
would meet the demand from some
quarters that the Attorney General
saould have a more direct share in the
enforcement OF the law. AS explained
ey Mr. Nolstead, il requires that the
Attorney General shall have notice of
all applications for permits TO sell or
manufacture liquor or alcoholic medic
nal preparations, and that public TO
tee Of the application shall be posted
so that the Attorney General or any
person who may have knowledge of any
rotations on the part OF the applicant
may object TO the permit being granted
Permits at present the judiciary Com
mittee chairman said, are granted with
out notice to the Attorney General and
he has no opportunity to object to their
issuance. The bill would give the At
lorney General power to cancel permits
sor the same reason that the Commis-
soner of Internal Revenue is author
lzed TO cancel.