Evening star., 1932-11-22
GARNER SEES BEER
LEGISLATION SOON
Favors 2.75 or 3 Per Cent.
Balanced Budget Without
New Taxes Held Possible.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Speaker Garner told newspaper men
today that in his opinion "the House
will pass beer bill at the short ses-
sion," but refrained from any forecast
as to the probable time.
Garner said also that with a beer
bill and reductions in Government ex-
penses it might be possible to secure
balanced budget without passing other
forms Of taxation.
Asked what percentage beer he fav-
ored, the Democratic Vice President
elect, said within the Constitution"
About 2.75 or per cent?" he was
asked.
Somewhere around that" Garner
replied.
The Speaker gave as a guess" that
legalized beer for revenue would bring
in $3.50. 100000 to $500, 100000 annually.
Enough Tax Laws, He Says
Garner said that from January to
May Legislatures in from 35 to 40
States were meeting and would be able
to take action to legaliZe the sale of
beer within their borders.
LAG AAd A4Ob coy W4iCl44C1 4AC It'll bd4CkC
should be additional tax legislation
aside from beer
''If business picks up" Garner said
we've got enough tax laws on the
books.
with q beer bin and reduced ex-
penditures we might approach bal
anced budget"
Discussing procedure on beer legisla-
ton, Garner said the House Judiciary
Committee should first ascertain what
alcoholic content is constitutional.
Then, he said, the Ways and Means
Committee could estimate on the rev.
enue such beer would return.
Joslin and Britten Disagree.
There is disagreement over whether
he had discussed beer legislation with
President Hoover between Representa-
tive Britten, Republican, of Illinois, and
Theodore Joslin, presidential secre-
tary.
! Coming from a conference with the
President, Britten predicted that If Con-
gress approved bill legalizing beer at
its forthcoming session Mr.. Hoover
would not veto 1t.
Although intimating this prediction
was based on prior belief, he said he
spent much of his 10 minutes with Mr..
sible beer legislation. He refused to
state the Chief Executives response
to this conversation.
Several hours later Joslin told news
paper men that "the President declined
to discuss the subject with Mr.. Brit
ten"
Britten Answers Joslin.
Britten's reply to this last night was
"I do not wish to enter into con-
! troversy with Mr.. JoSlin, but as he was
not in the room when talked with the
President he Is thoroughly unqualified
| to say what really transpired during
our conference.
at reiterate I am confident that
President Hoover will not veto beer
revenue bill which will be passed by the
coming session Of Congress"
1T went to the White House to dis
cuss the beer bill with the President
announced that to the Washington
correspondents in advance of the con-
ference, and I gave them an interview
as was leaving the conference am
satisfied with the confidence, even II
Mr.. Joslyn Is not.
Four Features in Bill.
1T will be recalled that when the
question was raised some months ago
that President Hoover would veto a
beer bill. I read to the House the let
ter that Mr.. Hoover, while food admin
istrator, wrote to Senator Sheppard urg-
ing nothing be done to close the brew
cries because 1t was quite important
that they continue to produce real
beer, and gave my personal guarantee
that the President would not veto the
beer bill Following that nothing ever
came from the White House to indicate
that the President would not sign the
beer bill I am still Of the positive
opinion after my conference with him
yesterday, that President Hoover viii
sign real beer bill, which will con.
tain four features:
"a revenue measure that will pro.
duce $35, 900 to $4o,000000 a month
and at the same time safeguard against
return of the old-fashioned saloon
and which will safeguard the rights anc
desires of those States that wish u
remain bone dry. and providing for beel
that will not go beyond 31a per cent
alcohol by volume
"The Treasury is constantly depleted
so we must either issue more bond
that will pyramid costs upon the fu
ture years. or we must raise more rev
enue There are only two places wher'
we can raise money without furthe
strain on an already overtaxed people
One of these is through the beer tax
which would be cheerfully paid. Tn
other, which would produce $4,000 00
to $20,000,000 a month, Is through {
manufacturers sales tax which woult
, not be felt by the consumers.
How any executive or legislator 10
t the Federal Government can sincerel
5 disregard these two tax directions