The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-20
HOUSE DEBATES ON
BILL, EXPECTS TO
BALLOT WEDNESDAY
Collier Measure Would legalize
go Per Cent Beverage
BY Weight
W. D. UPSHAW is SILEMCED
Cite 1913 Letter to Prove Con.
tention Hoover Would Not
Veto Bill

Washington, Dec. 20.-(PeThe pc.
tency Of 80 per cent beer and wheth.
er President Hoover would sign
bill legalizing 1t ensnarled the house
in lengthy arguments Tuesday after
noon, while friends Of the legisla.
ton insisted victory would be theirs
IN vote Wednesday.
Despite challenges to the contrary
from foes of the measure, Represent
tative Rainey, the majority leader,
and others held 80 beer to be nom
intoxicating.
Nearly the entire membership waA
in attendance, and every word Of the
debate was followed in tense silence
by crowded galleries. Here and there
applause broke out, but was squelched
by rapid raps for order.
Representative Britten Rep., lid.
reiterated that President Hoover will
not veto" the beer bill.
There were cries of what do you
base that statement on?"
ION q letter he wrote Senator
Sheppard of Texas in which the pres
ident said he did not believe 2.75
beer by weight was intoxicating"
Britten shouted.
There was a hush, and then from
the Democratic side came a query:
when did he write it,"
Wrote It In 1918
I'm 1915" the anti-prohibitionist
said, joining in The laughter which
followed.
Along with arguments as to the
revenue value of authorizing q 80
per cent by weight brew, which has
four per cent alcohol by volume, and
taxing it at IS barrel, speaker after
speaker returned to the dispute over
whether it would be intoxicating.
Representative Dyer Rep., MOI,
said experts have told our judiciary
committee time and time again that
a beverage of this character Is not
Intoxicating"
Even MIR. volstead himself adj
mitted three per cent beer was not
Intoxicating" he went on. II wish ho
were here today. I believe he him.
self, the author of the enforcement
act, would tell you it was not In
toxicating."
Dyer said the late Wayne B.
Wheeler was said to have controlled
six congresses and that It was time
I'VE did the legislating, not the Anti
Saloon League" Wheeler for years
represented the Anti-Saloon League
in Washington.
Says Income Overestimated
Representative Crowther Rep.,
N. V, commended beer would not
come within many millions Of pro-
ducing the amount Of taxes predict
ed by its sponsors; and also assailed
the legislation vigorously on consti-
tutional grounds.
Representative Tarver (Dem.. Ca.
said for the United States treasury
to receive $500, 100000 in taxes from
beer the poor people of the country
will have to spend billion dollars
a year." An
Others also attacked the bill On
the basis that it contravened the
constitution, including Representa-
tive Lanham (Dem., Tex.
William D. Upshaw, candidate for
president on the prohibition ticket
at the last election, was rebuked in
the house for applauding Lanham's
speech.
Upshaw, who has the privilege Of
the floor because he is a former menu
Der from Georgia, was sitting in Z
front row.
Representative Stafford Rep.
Wis.,, Immediately arose ION q point
Of order" to inquire whether Upshaw
was not violating the rules by his
demonstration.
Representative Bankhead Dem..
Ala, who was In the chair. ruled
that while Upshaw had the priv.
lege Of the floor" he had no right
to applaud.