Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-04

bennington, June 3.-R-Short
..,n vas made today by the Senate
-, ,,0sibiting committee of the pro-
. ,..als for national referendum on
:. vet and dry issue and for modi-
s A. Of the 18th amendment and
d. volstead act.
! Three Of the five members OF the
N ..rmittee. which recently held
s,gthy public hearings on the mea-
arss quickly adopted a report by
q, chairman, Senator Means of COL
|. ,,,do recommending that the bills be
,,asauitely postponed. This action
WI, must be approved by the judi
s's Senator's Means, Golf. West, Va,
,nd Harreld, Oklahoma. Republicans.
.irped the report. which also has the
.Trroyal of Senator Walsh Demo-
ri Montana, Senator Reed. Demo-
s,st Missouri, the other member, and
,hs one wet on the committee, said
| No would file a minority report later.
with respect to the proposal OF
Senator Edge, Republican. New Jer-
my for national referendum on the
'prohibition question, the majority
report said such a referendum was
not proyided for in the constitution
and that it was the belief of the
senator's that it was not the inten-
| tion Of the trainers of the constitu-
tion that. national referendum
would ever be intended.
The proposal Of Senator Bruce,
Democrat, Maryland, for modification
Of the 18th amendment so as to re-
turn control of the liquor question to
The states was dismissed with the
observation that I'VE believe this
amendment to be morally right and
economically wise"
The report added that so long as
The prohibition amendment is a part
Of the fundamental law. lit is the
duty Of all officers, legislative, execu-
tive and judicial to aid in its enforce
ment'
Turning to the Edge proposals and
those Of Senator Edwards. Demo-
cat New Jersey for modification of
| the volstead act, the committee said
| the purpose was directly or Indirect
" to authorize the manufacture and
sale Of intoxicating beverages con-
trary to the spirit and intent of the
18th amendment.
The motion Of the committe had
long been forecast and caused no
surprise. The vets anticipated it
some time ago by offering some of
their bills as amendments to the ad-
mlnistration for strengthening the
volstead act which the committee
recently reported favorably.
The report was just as expected
and the action has been discounted
for weeks" said Senator Edge. I'VE
have accomplished more than we had
hoped at this time. We have effec-
lively drawn the attention of the
country to the complete failure Of
Prohibition and the necessity for
PRACTICAL revision of existing dis
erlminatory and clearly unjustified
law. Such action cannot ultimately
be evaded."
Senator Edge said he took "un-
qualified exception" to the charge
mat the vets were seeking to, au-
inorize the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating beverages.
Time after time l have challenged
wherein single provision in any bill
nave introduced on the subject was
not within constitutional limits" he
sdded. 1t Is little tiresome to con-
nhuaily hear the charge multiplying
ne Constitution when a senator
laws. Y
again 1t struck me as rather
Hatultous in the report to say 1T is
our belief that it was not the inten-
non OF the trainers of the Constitu-
'uon mat a national referendum
sould ever be attempted" Its a safe
aeolction 1t was not in the minds
cur forefathers that a sumptuary
T " power act would ever be add
" 70 the Constitution"