New-York tribune., 1921-04-24
VOlstead Bill
TOBar Medical
Beer Drafted
Father of Dry Act Ready
to Introduce 1t Unless
New Revenue Head Moves
10 Ovelrule Palmer
Says Measure Will Pass
Hearings on Proposal to
Transfer Enforcement to
Daugherty to Open Soon


WASHINGTON, April 23.-Repre-
sentative A. J. Volstead, chairman of
the House Judiciary Committee, an
nounced to-day that he had completed
his draft of bill to prohibit the use
OF baer as medicine. He will introduce
it if David H. Blair, the new Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue. permits the
sale of medical beer under the Palmer
ruling.
Commissioner Blair has before him
tentative regulations that would estab-
llsh an arbitrary limit of four and
seven-e eighths gallons of beer and three
gallons of wine as the maximum guam
tlty which q physician can prescribe
It any one time, it was announced by
Prohibition Commissioner Kramer. If
Mr.. Blair disapproves these reeula-
tions and decides to limit the size and
number of prescriptions so that none
will be used for beverage purposes
representative Nolstead expects to
withhold his bill temporarily.
MY BILL" said Mr.. Volstead "is in
tended to wipe out the Palmer ruling.
The Commissioner already has plenty
OF authority to handle the situation.
But if he fails to make the right kind
of regulations Congress probably will
make them for him."
Less Whisky Being Consumed
There has been tightening up bv
the prohibition forces on whisky con-
sumption. About 400OO,0OO gallons was
consumed in the first year under the
permit system. At the rate it is being
doled out now only about 100000 gal
Ions will be used this year for "medici-
nal purposes" In addition to the
whisky, millions of gallons of grain
alcohol are used annually.
Mr.. Volstead is determined to keep
a close eye on the enforcement officials
If they show a disposition to stop the
Illicit making of liquor for sale and the
selling OF it he will be satisfied. Other
wise, he proposes to write into the law
regulations that will make the country
dry.
Mr.. Volstead does not think there
will be any trouble putting through
Congress Il bill cutting off beer and
wine entirely. The House is "dryer"
now than it was when the Volstead bill
was passed. The noise made by the
"wets" against prohibition enforce
ment represents only q very small mi
nority. The great majority of the peo-
pie want the country made dry, Mr.
Volstead believes. And he is certain
that Congress will pass any dry legisla-
tion that his committee may find to be
necessary TO stop the "leaks."
Hearings on Enforcement Transfer
Representative William r. Wood Re
publican, of Indiana, announced to- day
that Chairman Vols.ead has agreed
tentatively to arrange hearings &C an
early date on his bill providing for the
transfer of prohibition enforcement to
the Department of Justice.
Representative Wood is conf ..cnt
that his measure will find little op-
position. Even Wayne B. Wheeler, Of
the AntiSaloon League, and others Of
the most arlent "drys," he said to-
day, are coming to the position that
enforcement must inevitably be
placed under the governments great
police department.
Mr.. Wood said he has not talked
with House Leader Mondell about mis-
bill, but that he understands that
Attorney General Daugherty probably
committee. While the Attorney Cen
proposed transfer Representative
Wood said to-day that Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon and officials Of
the bureau of internal revenue
favor it and he believes Mr..
Dauvhcytv will take similar stand,