Evening star., 1932-11-17
ACTUAL STEP MADE
TO LEGAL|zE BEER
ParIey to Pave Way for Re-
porting Out Bill Held
by Legislators.

The first actual move toward legal
izing beer since the election came today
when Representative John O'Connor,
Democrat, of New York. author of q
beer bill still pending, held a confer
ence with House Leader Rainey and
Chairman Collier of the House Ways
and Means Committee and urged that
the committee be called together before
Congress convenes to be ready to report
out beer bill.
Mr.. O'Connor said following his con-
ference that he received ENCOURAGEMENT
and that Representatives Rainey and
Collier had agreed to poll the members
of the Ways and Means Committee to
see If they would be agreeable to such
q program. Mr.. O'Connor said the week
after Thanksgiving would probably be
selected for brief hearing on the pro-
posed beer bill so as to give the oppo-
sition a chance to register their OBJ
iections.
THE proponents of beer legislation
need little time at the hearing to pre-
sent their arguments" he said.
Points to Revenue Need.
I'VE must have a beer bill ready to
present as soon as Congress opens. The
people are growing more impatient
every hour and to keep pace with them
we must bring the beer measure up In
Congress at the earliest possible mo-
ment. The Government needs the rev.
enue that legaliZed beer would produce
Both Republican and Democratic con-
ventions served Nationwide notice that
the people want legalized beer. I feel
quite certain that we can get early ac-
ton during the session which opens in
December.
Nothing else will satisfy the people. -
Collier said: II don't see any need
to rush the beer bill but I'll talk to
by their wishes"
Representative Cochran, Democrat, Of
Missouri, told newspaper men that 40
memers Of the present Missouri dele
cation will vote for modification Of beer
at the coming session in contrast with
the four who voted for beer last
Spring"
IN the next House Missouri will
have IS repeal and beer votes" he
said. Missouri wants the Volstead act
modified This alone will provide en-
ployment for $4,000 men in Missouri. /"
Meanwhile. Senator Tydings of
Maryland ana Representative OCOnnOr
have announced their intention Of TAX
ing steps to determine whether changes
in national prohibition would apply in
the District.
Crusaders Ask Opinion.
At the same time, the local battalion
of the Crusaders, anti-prohibition or
ganization, asked the District CommiS-
sioners for an opinion as to the present
status of the Sheppard law, which made
Washington dry before national prohi-
bition came into effect.
Representative Celler, Democrat, Of
New York, today predicted there will
undoubtedly be sufficient votes In the
December Congress, In both Houses, to
pass a beer and wine bill"
Celler declared the "rebuke to the 6rys
has been so severe that even defeated
drys, having their eyes on the elections
two years hence, will be compelled to
vote wet in December"
There is still on the calendar of the
Senate District Committee from the last
session the bill drafted by Senator
Howell of Nebraska to strengthen the
enforcement of prohibition in the Cap
ital. Senator Howell has not yet re-
turned to Washington for the approach
ing session.
Discussing the proposal to amend the
Volstead act to authorize beer, Senator
Tydings said that, in his Judgment,
whatever change Congress makes in the
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