Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
HOWELLMlB Brings
SENATE DEADLOCK
Search Warrant Debate De-
lays Action on Measure
as Whole.

whole.
The real test as to what will be done
with the search warrant portion Of the
measure will come when a vote is had,
possible some time this week, on the
pending motion of Senator Blaine, Re
publican of Wisconsin, to strike from
the bill all of the additional authority
for obtaining warrants to search
dwellings.
All that the Senate did yesterday re-
garding this phase of the measure was
to accept an amendment the DlsSr1ct
Committee recommended. Under the
national prohibition law the searching
of dwellings is permitted only upon
evidence that liquor is sold therein.
AS drafted by Senator Howell, the
pending bill would authorize the issue
of warrants for dwellings in the District
where a sim is set up, or Intoxicating
liquor is unlawfully delivered thereto
or removed therefrom.
Medify Search Clause.
The committee amendment agreed to
yesterday modified the clause to apply
where a stil is set up or Intoxicating
liquor is unlawfully delivered thereto
"for purpose of sale or Is unlawfully
removed therefrom."
The Blaine amendment, awaiting ac-
ton, would cut out all Of the new Ian
guage relating to dwellings and leave
the searching of dwellings the same as
Is now provided for in the national pro-
hibition law.
Neither side was ready last night to
predict how long debate over search
warrants will continue before q vote is
had on the Blaine amendment, nor
what the outcome would be. The Sen
ate may take up the War Department
appropriation bill when it couVenes TO-
morrow. The Howell bill viii automati-
cally come before the Senate again at
2 O'Clock tomorrow afternoon.
For more than two hours yesterday
afternoon the Senate dt bated the ques-
ton OF whether the power to search
dwellings should be extended in the
District. with Senators Blaine, Wheeler.
Democrat Of Montana, and Walsh of
Massachusetts, leading the attack on
the additional powers contained in the
bill. Senator BroolIhart supported Sen
ator Howell In defending the measure.
Blaine Has Other Amendments.
Senator Blaine stated last night he
has number of other amendments to
of1er after the pending one to clrtafI
Of. Following that Senator Bingham
Republican Of Connecticut, win seek
action on his substitute proposal to
strike out the Howell bill in its en-
ttrety and lega1ize the manufacture Of
& per cent beer nationally.
Senator Wheeler said he was willing
% vote for any amount Of money the
administration thinks should be pro-
yided to enforce prohibition, but added
that he Is unwilling TO pass o law to
. authorize invading 'tlae privacy Of Q
please, Of enforcing the prohibition Law
in the District Of Columbia"
Il have heard much since I have
been In the Senate about the de-
bauehery and the crcokednesS and tne
corruption and crime IN the city oi
Washington" Senator Wheeler con-
tinued so far as I am concerned
must confess that have never seen
IN Washington the criminal element
members on the floor Of the Senate
am honestly Of the opinion that
Washington is one Of the cleanest cities
in the United States today. think
the prohibition laws are enforced IN
this city probably better than they are
In almost any other city in the United
States. may be wrong about 1t, but
that Is my opinion"
Holds Capital Orderly.
Senator Wheeler expressed the be-
hef that Washington Is one Of the most
orderly cities IN the country and he
said he did not believe Congress should
impose on the people here by authoriz-
ing a policeman to go In and search
the home Of a citizen Of Washington. 81
Earlier in the afternoon Senator
49, I-A n -
section of the bill, declaring its pur-
pose was only to get at bootleggers who
use residence properties as storage
places. He said they never make sales
at the storage places, but receive orders
elsewhere and merely make deliveries
from the place Of storage. He con-
tended the bin Is no more drastic than
the Sheppard law, which was in effect
for several years in Washington prior
TO national prohibition, and that the
adjacent counties in Maryland and Viz
ginia have local regulations along the
same line
When Senator Wheeler quoted from
the Wickersham report a reference to
Z unreasonable searches and seizures, "
Senator Brookhart interrupted TO ask
{ him II he has accepted that report as q
solution OF the prohibition problem
Senator Wheeler replied ne did not see
44ON aC COul0 dUOpL IL d. q NIlO1e, De-
cause Of the conflict in 1t, but that he
agreed to the comments on search and
seizure.
Wants Law Stronger.
When the debate between Wheeler
and Brookhart turned to the broader
aspects Of the subject, Brookhart de.
clared he was n1odiflcationist in thG
sense that he wanted the prohibition
law made stronger.
/ Just before the Senate adjourned fol
the day Senator Walsh of Massachu.
sets, raised objection to another sec.
ton Of tn pending bill fixing penaltiei
for drinking In public.
Il respectfully request Senators, wher
they attend church tomorrow. to refiec
upon what they are Eubjecttng them
selves to, and also the people of the Dis
trtct OF Columbia, and visitors TO tn
District Of Columbia. The national pro-
hibition law does not make it an Of
tense to take a drink in public Sec
ton of this bill makes 1t an offense.
Senator Howell replied that drinkin,
in public was an offense in the Distric
for three years prior TO national prohi.
bition under the Sheppard law, ant
that this bill merely re-enacts that ant
certain other features Of the Sheppard
act.
When the search warrant section wa
under discussion Senator Dill, Democra
of Washington, said he had not Learned
of any reason why Congress shoulC
set up a different rule for people VIII
have no right to pass on q question thai
they have set UP for those who do hav
the right TO pass on q question.
Senator Brookhart replied that Il
this instance Congress is acting in tn
capacity Of . local legislature for tn
District as distinguished from nationa
legislation.
Opposes Conflicting Law.
Senator Blaine, In urging his amend
"a ckriiro Ia nAdikinH,a