The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-12
VETS AND DRYS BOTH WILL. SEEK
 CHANGES IN LAW
Anti-Saloon League Pre- pairing Bill Aimed At
 Damp Officials
fMashington Bureau.l

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.-While Mbe association against the prohibition amendment is sounding out congress as to the possibility of obtaining certain minor modification of the VOlstead act, the Anti-Saloon League of America. guided by it's general counsel, Wayne E. Wheeler, is preparing a. measure which he thinks would be capable of eliminating "the abuses of the Eight eenth amendment
 As a basis of the proposed Wheeler act. the author cites what he regards as fact that anyone who, having taken m oath to support the Constitution of the United States, buys or sells or drinks or gives away intoxicating liquor ipso facto violates that oath.
 The measure will provide that any one proved guilty must be discharged from the service the entrance require ment of which is an oath to support tue Constitution. To obviate the difficulty which would develop in an attempt to discharge q member of congress, or the President, or a cabinet officer, pr0vi- sion is made for the institution of im- peachment proceedings whichever 1t ls alleged upon affidavit that any such of- ficial has been guilty of patronizing u "bootlegger."
 Would "Dry" Dampness
 It is estimated by Wheeler that em' ployes of government. federal, state' county municipal, number approxl- nately 3,5OO,000 with salaries approx imating S4,O0O O00, 900 per annum.
 If no one of these many people, ac- .cording to Wheeler, violated any par ticulaf of the law, but, on the con traey. each bent himself assiduously to bring about enforcement, which Wheeler thinks each should do, great improvement, immediately, would be registered. The "dry" leader takes the ground that these office holders and public employees who have sworn to support the Constitution, and who are paid by the people because they have so sworn, are in effect and to certain ex- tent officers of the law.
 Wheeler does not contend that Wash ington "dampness" is attributed to lax regard of the law by government en'- ployes. about 80,0O0 of whom are cen. tered here. It is indicated, however. that if no one of these were guilty, the "dampness," to appreciable extent, would "dry" up. It is understood that Wheeler has alleged facts affecting something Jess than 50 members of congress Who nave patNohA~Ou Oe leggers."
 Passage Doubtful
 It is not regarded as probable that congress will enact the proposed measure. Congress has always shown q keen resentment of any bill apparently aimed at congress And congress, de spite the seeming admission of Rep resentative W. D. Upshaw of Georgia, last session, has never admitted that II voted one way and drank another. Interviews with members who are m Washington indicate that congress will | not interfere with the status quo; that congress feels it has put upon the books vigorous law for the enforce. ment of the Eighteenth amendment, and that it cannot improve, from the stand point of vigor, on that law.
 There is no chance that the assocla' tion against the prohibition amend ment, it is believed, win be able to mod | ify the Volstead act At the same time | the activity of a few "drys" and a few 'swets" makes it certain that there Will he rapid fire debate on the old topic during the ensuing session.