Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-31
HARRIS DRY BILL
HELD DIRECT SLAP
At ADMINISTRATION
Fight Arises in House Over
Rule to Send Measure
to Conference.
ANTI-SAL00N LEAGUE
SUPPORTS AMENDMENT
Democrats Generally Are Behind
Move to Appropriate $24,-
100000 for Enforcement.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The battle over the Harris amend
ment to the deficiency bill, appropriat-
ing $4,000, 900 additional for prohibi
ton enforcement, held the attention of
the House today.
The question arose over a special rule
TO disagree to the Senate amendments,
including the Harris amendment, en-
block and send the bill to conference.
The Anti-Salo0n League forces Op-
posed the rule. They wished the House
to agree to the Harris amendment. Ad-
ministration leaders construe the
amendment as direct slap at the pres
ent administration.
The Democrats of the House, gener-
ally speaking, are supporting the Harris
amendment. They have an opportunity
to place their party again in the posi-
tion of supporting prohibition. After
the recent national campaign there
were many of them anxious to do So
Predicts Adoption of Rule.
Administration leaders in the House
as the contest began predicted that the
special rule would be adopted and the
bill sent to conference. They insisted
that they have enough votes in the
House to defeat the Harris amendment
If it is ever brought in for special
vote. But even if the bill were passed
by both Houses and sent to the Presi-
dent containing the Harris amendment
II is believed the President would veto
1t and that there would be no chance
of passing it over his veto.
The Democrats. however. are making
political hay while the sun shines. They
are anxious to convince the drys OF the
country that the Republicans do not
really wish to enforce prohibition.
For the first time in the memory OF
veterans of the Capitol, an executive
department of the Government is resist
ing an effort to increase appropriations
for that department.
Secretary Mellon, under whom pro-
hibition enforcement comes, has said
that the money Is not needed. The
President does not wish the approprta-
ton made for the further reason that
1t may upset the budget.
Smell Proposes Rule.
Representative Smell of New York,
chairman of the rules committee, laid
before the House the special rule to-
send Hthe bill to conference soon after
the House met today.
He asked unanimous consent that.
general debate on the rule be extended
to three hours, one-half Of the time to
be controlled by himself, and the other
by Representative Pou, Democrat, OF
North Carolina. This was agreed to.
Mr.. Smell also, asked that at con-
c,usion of the three-hour debate the
previous question" be considered as or
dered bringing vote Immediately on
the rule
Representative Garrett, Democratic
leader of the House, objected, and the
debate began.
Arraigns Groups.
Speaking In behalf of the rule to
send the bill to conference. Representa-
tive Smell listed a number of groups
favoring the Harris amendment. One
of them he said, was a group OF
hysterical drys. ready to Jump through
the hoop whenever the dry leaders
speak Another group, he said, was the
bitter vets seeking always to make
prohibition farce.
There is still another group" said
Mr. Smell. who wish to put them
selves back into the good graces of the
drys, to prove how dry they are. These
gentlemen on the Democratic side are
anxious to square themselves with their
dry constituents, particularly since the
last election.
There is fourth group ready to
embarrass the new administration and
believe that it can do so by forcing
through this amendment.
NO one has claimed that any off,
cial of the Government who has charge
of prohibition enforcement in the
Treasury Department has asked for
this proposed appropriation. never
knew this House to insist that Gov
ernment department take more money
than the department believes neces-
Sary for the conduct of its business" :"
Representative La Guardia of New
York. Republican, declaring that pres
ent conditions SO far as prohibition Is
concerned, are farce, insisted that
many prohibition officials have in the
past asked for additional appropriations.
They are not asking for them now, :"
said Mr.. Smell
Representative Garner of Texas asked
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