The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-02
AN IN [ IS NOD;; CONGRESS- COURAGE GOES GL|MMERING
Lawmakers Make Pitiable Showing In PraCticing Econ- omy When Intensive Pro-
 tibitionistS Want Coin
By HUGH w. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Ass- -hersid
 50O Davidson BuIlalnH

Washington, March 1.-(Special.) Even when economy is so assiduously practiced that it assumes the dimen- siOns of a mania, the Anti-Saloon league can rape the treasury when ever it sees fit, or thinks proper.
 Congress has just given a visual demonstration of the fact that the Anti-Saloon league has not lost it's power of touch. For the enforcement of the Eighteenth amendment $7,500,- 900 has been voted.
 The expenses of the enforcement brigade for the current year amount to $55Oo.0O0, exclusive of the deficit of SL4Oo,- 600, total of $6,900,0 GOO. In preparing to provide for the next year the appropria- tions committee of the House reported an item of $6,500,000. The Anti-Saloon league insisted that an additional $6O0, ,0OV be added. The House acted accordingly. The item in the Senate was increased to s7,5o0.0Oo. When it returned to the House an effort was made to strike the ISenate's additional gratuity. The effort resulted in failure, and the Anti-Saloon league gets the money.
 127 ARE SILENT
 It Is interesting in this connection to report that the vote was 209 for and 9z against. Those who did not vote-for various reasons-numbered 1N. While the figures make it possible for one to reach certain deductions, closer study of the situation reveals the great power of the Anti-Saloon league. The south, as a rule, supported the demands of the league. One southern state displayed indepen- ,dence. That state was South Carolina. Only two members of the South Carolina delegation supported the demand of the league. Those members were Represen- tatives Stoll and Stevenson. Representa- lives Byrnes, Dominick and Whaley voted lin the negative, while Representatives Mann and Nichols did not vote.
 Georgia supported the league over whelmingly. No negative vote was cast by that delegation. Representative Bell did not vote. Alabama did likewise. That delegation cast no negative vote. Rep resentatives Dent and McDuffie did not vote.
 SENATE CONTRIBUTES
 There is no evidence that the league required the money to enforce prohiDi- ton Representative Wood of Indiana, in charge of the bill containing the item in dispute, stated the case In part he said:
 ''The original item in the House bill carried $6,500,OOo By an amendment of fered on the floor during the considera- tion of the bill an addition of $6OO 0U was made, and at that time it was stated that that would be all that was needed. The Senate, for, some reason, has added $400000 more, making the total s7,500, ,000. Your committee feels that the amount it proposed originally was ample, and cer- tainly the amount increased by the amendment of the gentleman from Min nesota, MT. Volstead, making it $7,10o, ,0oU would be ample.
 HURRY TO HELP
 This year, they have $5,500,0oo with a deficiency of $1, 100000, making total ot ,t6, 900O00. This represents the cost, for the current year, and it does seem to me that S7,100,000 ought to be sufficient for next year, if this years cost was only $6,900000. While this Congress de- sires and has repeatedly evinced the sen- timent that the prohibition act should be enforced, there should be no more ex- travagance connected with the enforce ment of this law than the enforcement of any other law.'
 Prior to the roll call, when the mem- bers would have to go on record, the House divided, and the vote agains, agreeing to the Senate amendment or in- crease was 42 to 40 The roll call was then demanded, and the members feil over themselves in determined effort to give the league what it desired and de- manded
 The tax burden increases, and will not be reduced within another two or three years. Senator Warren of Wyoming is ,on record as stating that unless members recover their courage, enforcing prohibi- tion within a reasonable time win cost $50,000,000 per annum.