The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-05-06
VOLSTEAD OFFERS
DRY AMENDMENT.
Drastic Legislation introduced
in House to CurtaiI Manu-
features and Imports.
1T WOULD ELIMINATE BEER.
New Measure to Restrict Wine Use
Wider Power Also Planned for
Attorney General in Enforc-
ing Prohibition.

Washington. Representative Vol
stead, of Minnesota, proposed legisla-
ton intended to make America dry,
actually as we'll as theoretically.
The prohibition forces in Congress
opened their campaign to end what
they consider a travesty on law en-
forcement which has characterized the
efforts of the Government during the
last year to prevent the use of alco-
holic liquors for beverage purposes.
Amendments to the NOlstead act, In
tended to make it more drastic, were
proposed by the author of the ell
fOrcement statute. His bill was drawn
in conference with the lobby forces OF
the Anti-Saloon League. 1t will have
the support of the reform element. 1t
is assured of prompt passage by the
House. Its approval by the Senate
under orders from the dry leaders
outside of Congress is not so certain.
Changes proposed by Representative
Volstead in existing law are:
First To prohibit the use of beer
for medicinal purposes and to restrict
the use of wine on prescription.
Second. To suspend importations of
liquor from abroad until distilled
spirits now in domestic warehouses
are consumed and to restrict manufac-
ture to actual needs for medical pur-
poses.
Third. To terminate manufacture
e-,1o Of 1-nrinIS sIIyipo tOpipSo and
other pseudo-medicinal preparations
now being sold for beverage purposes,
by denying permits to manufacturers.
Fourth. To require the medication
of grain alcohol withdrawn from bond
so as to render it unfit for beverage
purposes and thereby check the sale by
bootIeggers of alcohol colored with
brown sugar
Fifth. To enlarge the authority of
the Attorney General of the United
States, especially in the matter of per-
mits for the manufacture or sale of
alcoholic liquors, where his power
would be equal to that of the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, even to
the extent of cancellation of permits.
The revised Nolstead bill would not
divest the Internal Revenue Bureau of
the principal role in enforcing the law,
but there was a widespread opinion ut
the Capitol that before the amend
ments are enacted finally, Congress
will have made the Attorney General
the chief enforcement officer. The
President and other Administration
leaders have been represented as be-
lieving the enforcement of moral
code ought to be divorced from the
collection Of revenue.
The bill offered was referred to the
House Committee on the Judiciary, of
which Mr.. Eolstead is chairman. The
committee is overwhelmingly dry
OF the twenty-one members, not more
than five could be counted as wet or
liberal" Prompt consideration of the
measure. therefore, is assured and all
attempts to draw its teeth or to liberal
down.
Consideration of the NolStead bill on
the floor of the House will afford the
first real test of prohibition sentiment
in Congress. There have been spas
modic efforts to deny appropriations
and to repeal all enforcement meas
ures, but Congress has not recorded its
views with reference to making 'the
stuff" more accessible or "harder to
get" The "wet" forces will propose
amendments intended to liberalize eX-
listing law.
SO far as it Is possible now to fore
cast action by the House on a bill that
may be modified in committee, there is
every ground for the statement that
the "wets" will be defeated more de
cisively than when the original Vol
stead act was enacted. All reports OF
the sentiment of the present Congress
agree the "drys" predominate i'll even
greater ratio than during the Sixty
sixth Congress, which approved the
Volstead act.