Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-04
Edwards Resolution Calls
for Correspondence With
Anti-SaIoon League.
CELLER IS DENOUNCED
FOR DRINKING CHARGE
Representative Underhill Defends
Members of House-Gets Wig
orous Applause.
Bv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The post-holiday outburst of prohibi-
ton agitation again overran both Sen
ate and House today.
Within a few minutes after ii con-
vened, the Senate adopted the reso-
luton of Senator Edwards, Democrat.
New Jersey, calling upon Secretary
Mellon for any correspondence be-
tween the Treasury and the Anti-Sa-
loon League with respect to the pois-
oning of industrial alcohol to make it
unfit FOR beverage purposes.
The Edwards resolution went
through the Senate without discus
sion, but Immediately afterward there
was a burst of debate, during which
Senator Hef1in, Democrat, Alabama,
took Senator Edwards to task for hav-
ing mentioned in his speech yester-
day the recent incident in Alabama
involving the arrest Of former Gov.
Brandon while on a hunting party.
The charge against Brandon later was
dismissed.
Senator Hefiin told the Senate that
the New Jersey member was dis
tressingly hard pressed for argument"
when he brought this regrettable
Brandon incident to the floor of the
Senate.
Regrets Use of Incident.
II regret that the Senator from
New Jersey saw fit to drag into his
speech an unpleasant newspaper ref
erence to Gov. Brandon of my State,
he said. "The unfortunate occur
renee to which he referred is greatly
regretted by the people of Alabama,
as well as by the Governor himself.
"It is my understanding that the
court held that the governor hau
nothing to do with the ownership and
was in no way responsible for the
presence of the whisky found in the
camp"
The Edwards resolution calls
among other things for copies of the
laws under which the Treasury has
required the poisoning of industrial
alcohol, and Senator Sheppard, Demo
crat, Texas, dry leader, protested
after adoption. against the language
employed in the text of the measure.
Industrial alcohol itself is poison"
said the Texan, and you can't poison
poison"
At the time the argument waged
i'm the Senate the House, fire.
quently applauding. was listening to
a speech in which Representative
Underhill, Republican, Massachusetts,
denied the statement of Representa-
tive Celler, Democrat, New York. that
Congressman drink, and drink to
excess"
"I have been a member of the House
for six years." he said. During that
time I have seen but four members
intoxicated i'm the House Building Of
fees or corridors. Two of those are
dead and the other two are no longer
members.
I'm the hotel where / live there are
more than 100 Congressman residing
have never there seen a member
either enter or leave under the influ
ence of liquor.
Praises House Members.
"Of any group of 435 men which
could be gathered together I do nc.
think you could find one which IN
dulges less in drinking than the mem
bers of this House. even including
those who advocate modification or re-
peal of the dry statutes. In fact,
have never seen single so-called wet
under the influence of LIQUOR"
Underhill also said that in six years
he had seen but one member under
the influence of liquor on the floor of
the House and "he is no longer here"
Declaring that Representative CelIer
had softened his statements before
they were inserted in the record. Mr.
Underhill said nevertheless they had
been broadcast, and he wished to
brand them as absolute and unquali
fed falsehoods."
AS he made this statement a greas
handclapping went up from among
the members, continuing long after
the speaker had taken his seat.
Representative Rubey. Democrat.
Continued on Page 2, Column ~