Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-20
DRY PENALTY BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
Goes to House, but Action
This Session Is Held
ProbIematicaI.
By the Associated Press.

Safely through the Senate with votes
to spare, the Jones bill to increase
penalties for prohibition violations now
goes to the House, but 1t is problemat-
ical whether any action will be taken
on 1t there at this session, or at the
| special session to come. This session
| is fast drawing to a close and legisla-
| tors have practically agreed that only
| farm relief and tariff revision will be
taken UP at the special session.
Opponents of the measure held their
own in the debate that conferred about
1t, but they fell short when the ballot
ing began. The vote was IS to Is.
The bill increases the maximum
! penalty for first violations of the pro-
hibition laws to fine of $4,000, or five
years in prison, or both. The maximum
penalty for first violations Is at pres
ent fine of $1,000 or six months i'm
prisonment, or both, and for second
offenders a fine of $4,000, with five
years imprisonment. Minimum PEN
alties were not changed.
Not Aimed at Petty Offenders.
The bill was not aimed at petty or
casual offenders. A provision inserted
by the Senate declared that judges
criminate between casual or slight vio-
lations and habitual sales of intoxi-
eating liquor or attempts to CONNER
cialize violation of the prohibition law"
Discussion of the bill led to the usual
controversies, one Of them being de-
bate between Senator James Reed of
Missouri and Senator william e. Borah
OF Idaho. This held the attention Of
the Senate and a crowded gallery Mon
day and there was argument until the
final vote late yesterday.
Senator Bruce of Maryland, one Of
the leaders Of the opposition to the bill,
declared: Il wish to pronounce q curse
on this bill with my last dying breath"
He was referring to his retirement from
the Senate March 4.
Bruce also declared that it was an
other step lin the march of tyranny"
tinction against first and subsequent Of
lenses. The measure was opposed by
some dry Senators who said they
thought 1t was too drastic.
The bill was described by its sponsor,
Senator Jones of Washington, as aimed
primarily at the big bootlegger. 1t had
the support of the prohibition bureau
and of Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt,
Assistant Attorney General in charge of
prohibition cases in the Department of
Justice.
SO Republicans Vote for BIZ.
Thirty-six Republicans joined with -
Democrats In support OF the measure,
while five Republicans and Is Demo-
Gratis voted against it.
Before the bill passed Senator Bing-
ham, Republican, Connecticut, proposed
to exempt first offenders from the i'm
position Of the maximum penalties, but
the Senate voted him down. 81 to 81.
Among those voting for the bill was
Senator Borah. Senator Reed Of Mis-
souri, voted against the measure.
The bill did not affect minimum pen
alties already incorporated in the Vol
stead act. Under the present law the
maximum penalty is a fine Of $1,000
or six months imprisonment, or both.
five years imprisonment for subsequent
offenses.
The minimum sentence judge may
at present impose is none at all for
first offenders and fine Of $500, with
Imprisonment of one month for second
or subsequent offenders.
Practically all of the debate was con-
cerned with the discrimination between
minor offense, such as carrying a pint
of liquor to friend, and the activities
Of the big bootleggers. Supporters of
the measure contended that judges
would use their discretion in melting out
sentences. Opponents claimed the bill
would give partial and prejudicial judges
too much latitude and might result in
sending comparatively innocent young
men to prison for long terms.
Vote Tabulated.
The vote on the bill was as follows
For the bill, IS. Republicans. &c.
Borah, Brookhart Burton, Capper,
Couzens, Curtis, Dale, Deneen, Edge,
Fess, Frazier, Golf, Greene. Hale, Hast
ings, johnson, Jones, McMaster, Nc
Nary, Moses, Norbeck. Norris, Nye.
Oddie, Reed Of Pennsylvania. Robinson
Of Indiana, Sackett. Schall. Shortridge,
Smoot, Steiwer, Thomas of Idaho,
Vandenberg, Warren, Waterman, Wat
son.
Democrats, 29-Ashurst, Barley,
Black. Blease, Bratton. Caraway, Dill,
George, Glass. Harris. Harrison, Hayden,
Helm, Kendrick. Mcclellan, Mayneld,
Nicely, Oyerman, Pittman, Sheppard,
Simmons, Smith, Steck, Stephens,
Swanson, Thomas Of Oklahoma, Tram
mel, Tyson, Walsh of Montana.
Against the bill, 10. Republicans, S.
Bingham, Blaine, Glenn, Gould, Phipps.
Democrats, 13-Bayard, Broussard.
Bruce, Copeland, Edwards, Gerry,
Halves, Ransdell, Reed of Missouri.
Tydings, Wagner, Walsh OF Massa-
chusetts.
The only pair announced, apart from
general pairs, was that Of Senator
Fletcher for the bill with Senator King