Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
FIGHT ON DRY FUND
HOLDS UP MEASURE.
Night Meeting Is Forced by
Minority on S24, 1000, 900
in Deficiency Bill.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
After an all-day wrangle over prohi-
bition, In which the Republicans chung
stubbornly to the budget recommended
tons and beat back every attempt of
the Democrats to increase the $2,727,-
900 for enforcement the House quit
last night without a final vote on the
second deficiency bill
Democrats Indicate that when the
sl91 100000 mesrure comes up tomor-
row a motion would be made to recon-
nit the bill to the House appropriations
committee for the purpose of incorpo-
rating the S24,oo0,000 prohibition
amendment that led to the death In
conference of the first deficiency bill.
While the Democrats were beaten on
every attempt to raise the amount for
enforcement yesterday, they talked so
often and so long that they defeated
the plan Of administration leaders to
complete action on the measure before
adjournment last night.
Forces Night Meeting.
The prohibition question occupied the
attention of the House for practically
the entire day and forced the first
night meeting OF the present session.
the debate was punctuated by fire.
quent charges from the Democrats that
the administration was not favorable to
prohibition enforcement.
For the most part the Republicans
ignored the Democratic thrusts, but the
administration party always kept on the
floor huge block OF votes ready to
counter any Democratic proposal.
Late in the day, however, the Demo-
cratic .outbursts terminated suddenly.
After the clerk had read many pages
without interruption, the reason for the
quiet Of the Democrats was revealed by
representative Garrett of Tennessee,
the Democratic leader. He said that
the word had been circulated on the
minority side that II any one rose to
speak upon any particular post Office
item, the section carrying it would be
stricken from the bill by the Repuh-
licans.
The information came from what
ordinarily is an authoritative source"
he said, land naturally had It's effect"
S25o,OOo for Inquiry
In addition to approving the S2.727,-
900 increase for enforcement. the House
accepted an amendment by Representa-
tive Cramton, Republican, Michigan, to
appropriate $250,0 for the expenses
of a committee to investigate the en-
forcement Of the prohibition law. This
was offered, he said, to enable Presi-
dent-elect Hoover to carry out the
promise he made during the campaign
that he would make such an investiga-
ton.
The controversy over the $4,000, 900
proposal was revived by Representative
Bankhead, Democrat, OF Alabama. He
and other Democrats have been dis
satisfied with plans OF administration
leaders to let the first deficiency bill,
carrying such an amount, die in the
hands Of conference committee. and
he sought this opportunity to obtain
another vote on the proposal.
Bankhead lost out after brief but
sharp debate. The House also turned
down a proposal by Representative La
Guardia, Republican, of New York, to
provide $500. 100000 for enforcement.
Representative Fish, Republican, of
New York, also was unsuccessful in an
effort to include additional funds In
the measure for narcotic enforcement.
Green Creates Juror.
The debate led to some Of the most
turbulent scenes the House has wit
messed this session.
While some members shouted and
cheered. Representative Green, Demo-
crat, of Florida, denounced the admin
istration and Republicans generally.
He was so persistent In talking after a
motion to end debate had been put that
the chairman threatened to report him
to the Speaker for misconduct.
Since the $24,000.0oo enforcement
proposal first was presented to Con-
gress by Senator Harris. Democrat, OF
Georgia. the House Democrats have
been seeking an opportunity to vote
directly on the item. It has been In
dicated that before q vote on passage
Of the second deficiency measure the
record on motion to send the measure
back to committee with instructions
that the huge sum be incorporated.
Suggest Roll Call.
Some of the Democrats have said
privately that If they could obtain a
direct roll-call vote on the item that
1t would muster more support than
heretofore received In the House, As
evidence of an apparent lack of in
terest by Democrats to hurry proceed
ings, Mr.. Bankhead twice yesterday In
sisted that House clerk read every
word of the 200-page deficiency meas
ure. Usually one complete reading Is
all that is demanded. Democrats also
frequently demanded teller votes on va
rious amendments.
With the session almost at an end
any delay In passage Of the measure by
the House might threaten its chances
for enactment In the Senate, for Sen
ator Glass, Democrat, of Virginia, has
announced that although he has never
conducted a filihuster he believes that
any deficiency bill will have difficulty
obtaining approval unless the $4,000
900 is included.