Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-20

Action of Congress in modifying the
Jones e-and-ten" liquor laws is re-
ceived by the c0un ny with practically
unanimous approval. Both drys and
vets see advantages in the change. 1t
is held that the original law was too
drastic, that its provisions as applied to
minor cases produced cong stion in the
courts and thai various other unfore-
seen defects were found.
"A tremendous effect on prohibition
enforcement" is forecast by the Cnatta-
nooga News, with the comment that lit
could not have passed Congress without
prohibition support, since Congress Is
Overwhelmingly dry" The News also
says as to the practical effect of this
legislation: The Stobbs bill will go a
long way toward relieving congestion in
courts and In the penit5 ntiarieS. II
provides for a fine of net more than
$500 or six months in Jail for first
offenders in violations involving not
mere than a gallon of liquor. The orig
1nal jones law maze felonieS of all Vlo-
lationS by providing maximum penalty
of $4,000 fine or five years In Jail. The
Jones law carried proviso that it was
the intent of Congress to have the
courts discriminate between light viola
tons and habitual sales of liquor. The
StobbS bill merely sets limits upon that
proviso.
1t is explained by the Kansas City
Star that the MEASURE was a hang
over from the last session." and the
Star continues: Like the transfer of
the prohibition enforcement unit from
the Treasury to the Department of JUS
tice, which Congress provided for at
the time, It was recommended by the
National Commission on Law ObServ-
ance and Enforcement after thorough
study of the situation. House approval
of the measure without record vote is
evidence once more of the dry strength
of Congress and of disposition to aid
in more efrec i've enforcement"
approval of most sensible people on
the dry side is observed by the Yakima
Daily Republic, with the further COM
ment: mot much reflection has been
necessary to convince reasonably intelli-
gent people everywhere that the five
and-ten' scheme is worse than the
condition which it was designed to cor
rect. We can't afford to make selling q
botte of hooch the worst crime in the
catalogue except first-degree murder.
To do SO isn't right, and, besides that,
costs too much in these times of tax
oppression
"It indicates in the opinion of the
Cleveland Plain DEALER, that dry SEN
timent is hostile to a law which has
tended to injure rather than aid the
cause of prohibition. The next Congress
will also be dry, but not so dry as the
present body, and it was rather stroke
of genius to scotch the Jones law at
the present time. There will be prao-
tically no mourners, as Senator Jones
himself, author of the law. has publicly
expressed his doubt of the utility of
the statute. Modification of the Jones
law may be accepted as the first step
of the dominant drys toward a more
tolerant attitude"
sympathy aroused through stories of
severe punishments" is believed by the
Madison Wisconsin State Journal ito
have been an effective talking point for
the vets" and the State journal con-
cludes: Prohibition can only be made
permanent tenet of this Nation
through a belief of the people that the
law is beneficial. The campaign of the
drys should be with arguments that
will convince the public that a better
and greater Nation will result because
of the absence of alcoholic liquor. There
has been too much in the program Of
the drys emphasizing their desire that