The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-20
BEER REGULATION
4 BEING CONSIDERED
Prediction That Policy of Congress
Depends upon Department Reg
4 uiations.
(ey Tho Associates Press).

WASHINGTON, March 10. The
sign once displayed in the dining room
o6 a North Carolina hotel, announcing
tiiat TO prevent guests from taking
fruit from the table there would be
ne fruit, about expresses the view OF
cry leaders In congress with respect
4 10 the new ruling as to medicinal beer.
} s.If beer Is to be prescribed in any
! euantity for everybody who Is ailing,
there VIII be no beer" was the upshot
OF opinions by house prohibitionists.
4 Several members. including some
who worked for enactment Of the Vol
stead law and who believe now that
4 Ii ought to be frightened UP, declared
Z 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 awaiting with
deep concern publication OF prohibit
fion department regulations prescrib-
ing the manner and amount of beer
disposition.
while the volstead act limits the
amount OF whiskey that may be pre-
scribed there is no provision dealing
with beer. Prohibition leaders think
81 may be necessary to fix that by
Statute.
Predictions are made by several pro-
hibiron members that the future pol
icy of congress will depend upon de-
partment regulations and q beer try
but They see no likelihood of any
early change in the law by which a
physician may prescribe not more than
hspnt of whiskey in any To-day period.
but going back TO pre-prohibit1on
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 bottle a day
often was regarded by physicians rec
sommending as q moderate dose.
Prohibition enforcement officials de-
,riare they are not responsible for the
idea that somehow has spread over the
country that the new regulations will
permit the sale and drinking Of glass
OF beer at a drug store fountain.
There is not q chance. Druggists
alone will be permitted to handle it on
bona fide prescriptions.
4 In connection with the publication OF
the department of justice ruling it has
developed that the AntiSaloon league
will renew its fight before congress
to eliminate from the Volstead law the
provision relating to sale of liquor by
prescription and that its guns will be
lopened against beer. Meanwhile the
scramble continues for laces on the
house judiciary committee, which may
iBettle the beer issue definitely, and
attempt to tighten up all the loose
Joints In the Volstead law. There are
eight vacancies to be equally distrib
uted between republicans and demo-
Gratis. If all the seats were given to
vets the committee still would be dry,
but republican leaders asstered that
the party In making up committee as
isignments would take no backward
'step on the question of prohibition.
z Chairman Volstead expressed the
view today that the membership would
be made up without regard to the beer
development. A recent check up, IL
was said, showed that of more than
100 new members elected to the house
the prohibition percentage ran exceed
ingly high. 1t is known. however, that
a number of members representing
districts opposed to prohibition and
who are earnestly advocating a more
liberal policy with respect to the 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. II they cannot do much along
that line they at least hope, 1t is said.
to keep 1t from becoming more drastic.