The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-23
LUDLOW VOTES
AGAINST Beer
BILL IN HOUSE
Representative Says He
Fears Measure PeriIS
Constitution.

BIZ fWfS Spfcfdt
WASHINGTON. May 23.-Repre-
sentative Louis Ludlow Of the old
Seventh Indiana district today cast
his vote against the O'Connor bill,
on the house roll call.
Six Indiana representatives voted
for the bill and five against 1t.
Immediately after the vote Repre-
sentative Ludlow handed out a
lengthy. tortuous and contradictory
statement, calculated 20 enlist the
sympathies Of both vets and drys
He said he voted against the beer
bill because it would imperil TIE
Constitution" and likewise because
if passed, the courts Immediately
would declare it unconstitutional.
He asserted no good could be ac-
complished ~ passing the bill in
the house, because it was fore
doomed to failure in the senate"
Wouldn't Give Real Beer
Then he found fault with the
measure because, IL passed, it would
not provide real beer" He also
criticised it on the grounds that 1t
was likely to bring unjustifiable
discredit on the anti-prohibition
cause"
He concluded by admonishing the
vets to confne their modification
attempts to orderly processes"
suggesting that the only proper way
to handle the question was by sub
hitting the eighteenth amendment
back to the states for repeal or
change.
This suggestion is in direct con-
tradiction to Ludlows vote a few
months ago against the Beck-Lin-
thicum resubmission resolution.
Looks to His Oath
Excerpts from Ludlow's statement
follow:
Il could not vote for this bill with
out violating my oath of ofice-the
oath I took when I solemnly swore
would support and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
The pending bill, enormously
heralded as a measure to restore
the manufacture and sale Of reals
beer in the United States, is mis-
leading and delusion. No matter
from what standpoint it may be
considered.
Those who expect real beer as a
result of it, never will realize their
expectation. If beer manufactured
pursuant to it is intoxicating in any
degree, the United States supreme
court will hold the act unconstitu-
tional. and if it is not intoxicating,
the persons who expect real beer
and pay the tax specified will not
get what they pay for and will be
entitled to feel that they are VIC
TINS Of a bunco game
The purpose of this measure is to
break down and nullify the Consti-
tuition insofar as it applies to the
manufacture and sale of beer. l
think this would be an exceedingly
dangerous precedent"
Grove Gives Reason
Representative Grove gave the
following reasons for voting to bring
the beer bill out on the floor for de-
bate:
Beer with 2.75 per cent alcoholic
content is presumed not to be in
toxicating, and congress has the
right to determine what Is and what
is not intoxicating.
THE estimated revenue OF $780,
000,0 is needed badly by the treas
ury. which has tremendous deficit,
despite the great effort to secure
more taxes, cut expenses and ball
ance the budget.
Manufacture Of beer would pro-
vide jobs for several hundred thou
sand unemployed. and would con-
sumo millions of bushels Of surplus
grain now Cutting the markets and
cause the price of grain to rise.
Would Raise Millions
This will not affect my district |
or state under its bone dry law
Grove said, but it will pave the |
way for a referendum vote Of the /
state, or a vote of the state legisla-
ture.
This bill probably would raise
$500, 100000 a year, taxes which |
would be collected only from the |
states which already have laws per-
Uniting the sale Of 2.75 per cent
beer.
1T would help relieve the burden
of taxation in states such as Indi-
ana. Indiana would benefit by this
tax. but the people Of the state |
would not contribute anything to it
until and unless they decide to re-
peal their own state law
Il am opposed to any measure
which would lay down the bars and
take away the strength OF the pro-
hibition law of the country, without
offering substitute.
But in the face Of the lack Of
enforcement of the eighteenth
amendment, I believe the enact
ment Of this bill, legalizing this
beverage and permitting its man.
ufacture in a wholesome and legiti-
mate manner. would go long way
toward solving our present condi-
tion.
In these times Of stress. when
every one is overburdened with tax
alton. it would help relieve a great
load from the taxpayers, help Gre
ate employment for thousands,
cause a great demand for grain. and.
therefore. be Of general good to the
country
POLES TAX PASTIMES