Evening star., 1932-11-25

Representative Smell of New York,
Republican House leader, today urged
adoption Of resolution to repeal
the eighteenth amendment at the
short session of Congress. Smell,
long ranked as friend Of the pro-
hibition amendment, said the coun-
try would not be satisfied with beer
OF small alcoholic content.
By the Associated Press
Speaker Garner today expressed to
newspapermen ''the hope and belief
that the House will pass beer bill by
January II
Hearings before the House Ways and
Means Committee begin December 7 and
are expected to take five days. Demo-
cratic leaders plan to bring the measure
to the floor for immediate action.
Meantime, beer measure is being
prepared for introduction by Chairman
Collier Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee the day Congress convenes, De-
cember 5. Sponsors of the measure
hope it viii be non-partisan and that
Republican beer advocates viii support
1t.
Draft Of Bill Requested.
The Legislative Drafting Service has
been requested to prepare the Demo-
cratic measure, leaving blank the per-
centage Of alcoholic content and tax
rate provisions. These are to be worked
out jointly by the House Judiciary COM
mittee and the Ways and Means group.
AS the bill Is planned new it will not
contain any provision for the sale of
light wines. Representatives from wine-
producing and consuming States. how
ever, are planning to organize a wine
bloc to insist upon the legalization Of
light wines.
Democratic leaders plan q test on
resolution to repeal the eighteenth
amendment Immediately after the
House votes on the beer bill
Proponents OF change In the Federal
| liquor laws drew support today from
Senator Hastings. Delaware Republican
and long supporter Of prohibition, who
announced he not only would vote to
submit repeal amendment, but would
introduce bill to withdraw national
enforcement from States which do not
cooperate in carrying out the prohibf-
ton laws.
Would Submit Repeal.
Hastings said, however, he would not
support wine and beer legislation.
The Senator said he would vote "for
the necessary resolutions to submit an
amendment for repeal of the eighteenth
amendment to the people of the various
States"
"If can not get the kind of amend
ment that prefer" he said, II shall
vote to submit resolution that would
repeal entirely"
Regardless of what action Congress
takes toward repeal, Hastings said he
would introduce in the coming short
| session bill to provide that no Federal
money shall be used to enforce the Vol
stead act in States that do not provide
for the enforcement Of the eighteenth
amendment.
MY proposal" he added, "leaves the
States to do just exactly as they please
with respect to the liquor question" !" . .
Hastings said the recent announce
ment attributed to the Governor of
California that he would pardon those
convicted of violating the State enforce
ment law demonstrates the necessity
OF some drastic action to prevent the
conflict between a Federal and State
law from becoming more ridiculous"
The development of wine bloc, pre-
pared to demand that beer advocates
include legalization of light wines in
any legislation modifying the Volstead
act, was made known yesterday by
Representative Hawley of Oregon, rank
ing Republican on the Ways and Means
Committee
House members from wine-growing
and consuming States, including Cali
fornia, New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri.
probably will make up the bloc. They
already have been promised an equal
hearing with beer advocates.
With the beer hearings scheduled to
begin December 7, some brewers already
have made known that they are pre-
pared to ask that beer be distributed
both in bottles and barrels.
Hits Distribution Control.
August A. Busch of Anheuser- Busch.
Inc, st. Louis, responding to an in
quiry, held that Congress should not
attempt to control distribution, "inas-
much as any act passed by Congress on
this subject can relate only to nom
intoxicating beer under the Constitu-
tion." He added that regulation is a
State function, and that Congress
should limit itself to determining alco-
holic content and fixing taxes.
Sale Of bottled beer at hotels, clubs,
restaurants and lunch rooms with meals
and in grocery, department, drug and
other retail stores by bottle or case for
home consumption was suggested by
Edward Lansberg, president of tn.
Blatz Brewing Co., Milwaukee
William L. Goetz, president of the
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