The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-01
A Winter of Discomfort,

This will surely be the winter of discon- tent for the prohibition forces of the United States. So-ealled wet organizations and others interested in changing the present liquor laws are determined to make stern fight against the 18th amendment to the Constitution. Right here in our own state there are several legislative bills in prepera- ton for introduction in both Houses of Congress shortly after they convene. Senator Hiram A. Bingham of New Haven is au- thor of four per cent beer bill which met with short shift in the 7lst Congress. He kores to secure more favorable results in the 72nd Representative E. w. Goss of this city will introduce the companion bill to the above in the House. Representative Will liam L. Tierney of Greenwich is also pre- pairing similar measure for congressional action.
 However, it has remained for Representa- tive Richard s. Aldrich, republican, of War wick Rhode Island, to prepare the most OIl3lHdl Dlll OI Web leuutHtieo. IL VIII be HI iroduced the day that Congress convenes, which is next Monday, provided organiza- tion of the House does not consume all the time. The Aldrich bill is in the form of sn amendment to the Constitution, actually constituting an addition to the present 9th amendment. The simple feature of the ildrich plan is licensing of each state which applies to commission to manufacture, sell, or transport liquors within its own boundaries and in such a way as the partcu- lar state may desire and the commission may prescribe.
 An example would explain more fully the proposal. The entire nation would be dl- vded into nine districts, as nearly equal in population as possible. From each district one commissioner would be elected to serve eight years. The nine commissioners would he given the power to license any state that might apply to it to sell liquor of any given percentage or just beers and wines, depend ing upon the individual preference of the states. The 18th amendment and laws enacted under its provisions would still re- main in force, except where the commission haG given licenses for some system of liquor sale and control.
 In this way the state is allowed to oper- ate under any system of liquor control it may choose. ranging from total prohibition down to unrestricted sales. Representative Aldreh on this phase of the proposed amendment re- marks that Under this plan it will be pos sible for the commission to permit state to adopt the Swedish system. the Norweg ian system, the Danish system. or any one of the Canadian systems. with any modfications which the commission may consider desirable. They may try out one systehm in one state and another system in another and. in that manner. obtain valuable information as to the desirablity of the various systems. at the same time conserving the benefits of the pres ent situation in those states where conditions are satisfactory.
 The New England states comprise one district in the Aldrieh scheme New York state is another. New Jersey. Pennsylvania, and Delaware form a third. While that is returning the right to choose to the states, if put into effect it might be a veritabe hodge -podge. We can see dry states argu- ing vigorously against the plan on the ground that it would not eliminate boot logging across their borders. Unfortunately bootlegging and smuggling will never be eliminated from any government. no matter how vigilant may be the law. It may be checked, but will always be with us. A further discussion of the Aldrich plan may reveal more good points than mere exami- nation reveals. Or it may lead to the plan that is going to solve present prohibition l... ..l..-