Evening star., 1921-03-20
DRyS NOW PROPOSE
mo BEER TO BLOCK
ruling OF PALMER
'If 1t Is to Be Prescribed in
Any Quantity There Will
Be None," Say Chiefs.

The sign once displayed in the din
announcing that to prevent guests
taking fruit from the table there
would be no fruit about expresses
the view Of dry leaders in Congress
with respect to the new ruling as to
medicinal beer.
"If beer is to be prescribed in any
quantity for everybody who is ailing.
there will be no beer" was the up
shot of opinions by House prohibi-
tionists.
Several members, including some
who worked for enactment of the
Volstead law and who believe now
that it ought to be frightened up. de-
clared today that former Attorney
General Palmer rightly construed the
act in holding that beer, like liquor,
could be prescribed for sick man.
But they added that they were await
ing with deep concern publication of
prohibition department regulations
prescribing the manner and amount
of beer dispensation.
No Beer Provision.
While the volstead act limits the
amount of whisky that may be pre-
scribed, there is no provision deal
ing with beer. Prohibition leaders
think it may be necessary to fix that
by statute.
Predictions are made by several pro-
hibition members that the future
policy of Congress will depend upon
department regulation and beer try
out They see no likelihood of any
early change in the law by which a
physician may prescribe not more
than a pint of whisky in any ten-day
period But, going back to pre-pro-
hibition days. dry leaders recalled
that the sick mans beer supply was
rather liberal, certainly as compared
with modern possibilities. 1t used to
be prescribed by the case, and three
bottles a day often was regarded by
physicians recommending it as a
moderate dose.
League to Renew Fight.
In connection with the publication
of the Department of Justice ruling
it has developed that the Anti-Saloon
League will renew it's fight before
Congress to eliminate from the Vol
stead law the provision relating to
sale of liquor by prescription, and
that it's guns will be opened against
beer. Meanwhile the scramble con-
tinues for places on the House judi
ciary committee, which may settle the
beer issue definitely and attempt to
tighten up all the loose joints in the
VoIstead law. There are eight vacan-
cies, to be equally distributed be-
tween republicans and democrats. If
all the seats were given to vets the
committee still would be dry. but re-
publican leaders asserted that the
party. ip making up committee as
signments, would take no backward
step on the question of prohibition.
Drys High Among New Men.
Chairman volstead expressed the
view yesterday that the membership
would be made up without regard to
the beer development. A recent check
I'D. it was said, showed that of more
than one hundred new members elect
ed to the House the prohibition per-
centage ran exceedingly high. 1t is
known, however, that a number of
members representing districts op-
posed to prohibition and who are
earnestly advocating a more liberal
policy with respect to use of light
wines and beer. especially for the sick,
are seeking places on Mr.. Volstead's
committee, in the hope that they
might be able to liberalize the law.
If they cannot do much along that |
line they at least hope, it is said, to |
keen it from becoming more drastic. |