New Britain herald., 1930-03-18
BEER BLOC WILL
 ABANDON POLICIES
Outright Repeal Likely to Be
 Urged Instead Of Lager

Washington, March IS (UP)- Beer was practically knocked out of the prohibition picture today.
 Day by day the old proposal 10 modify the Volstead act by permit ting manufacture of light wines anl beers is being submerged while the vets are allying around the direct plan of repeating the Eighteenth amendment
 The requiem sung upon the pro- posal by Chairman Wickersham 0. the law enforcement commission in coining what may be a famous phrase-"2.75 per cent beer will not satisfy a robust appetite" follows the almost unanimous opinion to the same effect, expressed by the out standing wet leaders before the house judiciary committee recently.
 Two weeks ago the house wet bloc which decided in December to fight for the Dyer 9.75 per cent beer bill, unofficially changed it's position too champion direct repeal.
 Marks Strategic Move
 The change marks a distinct strategic move in the plans of the vets. A simple amendment to- the Volstead act could be passed when- ever a majority in congress was ob- tained, but repeal is a long process which must gain two-thirds support in both houses and then receive ratification by three -fourths of the states.
 Hearings on the Dyer 2.T5 per cent beer bill had been scheduled ir the house, but they may now be abandoned because of lack of sup port.
 Vets. however, obtained no more sympathy from Wickersham on their new proposal to repeal. The matter has not been considered by his com mission, he carefully pointed out.
 But he painted a most optimistic picture of existing enforcement con- ditions. saying they were daily grow ing better. This statement left in the minds of dry committee mem bers the idea that Wickersham' commission would never report in favor of modification or repeal.
 Suspicious Justified
 Whatever suspicious there has been among vets and timorous drs's concerning the probable final report Of the commission, it was completely dispelled by Wickersham' state ment, according to the congressional interpretation.
 Another result of his stand has been a lessening of pressure for the Norris resolution proposing a sena- torial investigation of the federal en- forcement service. While Wicker sham declined to take sides for Or against the resolution and Chairman Norris of the committee announced he would press for it's adoption, Il check of the committee indicate1 after Wickersham' statement that the resolution could muster no more than z of the 17 votes in the com mittee.
 "Mr. Wickersham's statement has not increased the prospects of the Norris resolution" Senator Walsh. democrat, Mont, supporter of the resolution said.
 His statement emphasizes the steady improvement in enforcement conditions and points to the lack of necessity for an investigation,' said Senator Robinson, republican, Ind, opponent of the resolution.
 Makes Report Necessary
 The one recommendation madc by Wickersham for tightening per init legislation probably will be in corporated in a bill and submitted to congress within a short time. It will authorize the enforcement serr- ice to require reports from permit tees showing what they do with al- cohol and whiskey after they with draw it.
 The proposal has been made many times before, but not by the cont mission. On previous occasions 1t always has ben turned down because wholesale druggists and industrial alcohol concerns have protested such regulation would interfere with the legitimate conduct of their business.
 Sentiment upon the recommends ton has not yet sufficiently con- gealed in congress to permit d def mite idea as to whether the plan has a chance of adoption.