Evening star., 1932-01-10
GAIN IN ARRESTS
. Of D. c. BOYS FOR
DRINKING CLAIMED
Tydings Reads Police Figures
in Senate Debate on
Beer Proposal.
HOWELL AND BROOKHART
DEFEND PROHIBITION
Nebraskan Blames Local Situation
on Repeal of Law to Keep
Liquor From Minors.

Dry law enforcement in Washington
was injected into the Senate debate
late yesterday, with Senator Tydings.
Democrat, of Maryland, contended the
number of youths being arrested here
for tntoxication has increased under
prohibition, and Senator Howell, Re-
publican, OF Nebraska, replying that his
local enforcement bill is intended 10
keep liquor from minors.
Senator Brookhart, Republican, of
Iowa, also replied to Senator Tydings
and defended prohibition.
Senator Tydings had been discussing
prohibition nationally and urging modi-
flcation to permit beer, when he turned
to Washington, declaring:
IF any of you think prohibition can
be inforced, mark these figures, not
from Chicago, not from New York City.
nor from any Of the great metropolitan
areas, but right here in Washington,
where you, the members of the Senate
and of the House and the President
have complete and absolute jurisdic-
ton over everything that takes place"
Reads Figures from Police.
He then read the following figures
he said he had just received from the
police, of the number of persons under
21 years Of age who have been ar
rested for drunkenness in the District
by years: In 1925, $40 persons; 1927,
420; 1928, 396; 1929, 1858; 1880, 355,
and 1881, 3s8.
For 10 years preceding prohibition"
Senator Tydings continued IAN aver
age of less than rs persons year were
arrested, under 81 years of age, for
drunkenness in this city, and now the
average is over $50. If Congress can
not do any better in this city, which
is under its absolute control, are we
going to be hypocrites enough to point
the finger of scorn at Chicago, New
York, Philadelphia or Boston, or any
other placer"
Interrupting the Marylander, Senator
Howell of Nebraska, asked: "If 7 un-
derstand the Senator Alright. prior to
prohibition, there were rs minors ar
rested in the District annually for
drunkenness and now there are some
thing like $50"
so the police say-T2 to be exact, :"
said Tydings.
Recalls Repeal Of Law.
"The Senator viii recall" Senator
Howell replied, that prior to the date
of which he speaks there was law
here in the District which made it an
offense to give minor liquor, and that
that law was repealed, and recently I
h "a hoar, Ar@l1o urrir1e fn nau1 q hill
passed here that would make 1t an Of
tense to give or supply minor with
liquor, and the distinguished Senator
from Maryland was one of those who
have prevented the passage Of that bill,
and now he charges and criticiZes the
condition which exists here in the Dis
trict"
Senator Tydings also gave the fol-
lowing figures as representing the num-
Der of persons under 81 years Of age
arrested for violations of the prohibi-
tion act, such as selling and manufac-
turing: 1926, 275; 1927, 243; 1928, 331;
1929, 327; 1890, 333, and 1881, 24s.
Senator Howell's District enforce
ment bill has been reintroduced at this
session, but has not yet been taken up
in committee. It was before the Senate
at the last session, but did not reach q
final vote.
Senator Bingham, author Of bill
designed TO legalize 4 per cent beer,
yesterday presented to the Senate
committee holding hearings on beer
what was called a prosperity chart,
prepared by the Crusaders.
Adoption of the bill, he said, would
create close to a billion-dollar indus
try, raise at least $400, 100000 in taxes,
employ thousands of men," and in
crease grain prices.
Urges Low-Price Beer.
Representative William E. Hull, Re-
publican, Illinois, told the committee
members he had been distiller for up
ward of 20 years and pleaded for beer.
He favored 80 per cent alcohol by
weight, which he said was per cent by
volume as proposed by Bingham. Un-
less beer that satisfies the people is
permitted, he said, they will go back
to bootleg brew" He though; beer IS
sued only in pint bottles and sold at
low prices would help do away with
speakeasies.
Frank j. Delany Chicago grain trader,
and John r. Mauff, representing barley
growers of the Northwest, supported the
position Of Hull and Bingham.
Modification proponents again will be
heard tomorrow at the third session of
the subcommittee. Prohibition leaders
will be heard at sessions beginning
about January %.
Jail Congestion Cited.
Tydings asserted the "jails are full
Of men convicted of violating prohi-
bition laws and we, are asked for S.
100000 for more iails."
10 nlIods
What better evidence than that do
you want to prove the law Is being
f1outed East and West, North and
The Maryland Democrat then at
,acked Senate colleagues who failed to
take either one side or the other of
he prohibition question.
Most candidates are praying to God
hey may get by without having to take
sides. he said.
when the dry leaders over there say
'orward march, you drys better goose
step. T venture to say that If Bishop
cannon, tr;; Clarence True Wilson and
heir satellites were to take boat and
Jay they were going to the North Pole,
we'd put this beer bill through in "a
hours"
Law Success, Says Brookhart.
Senator Brookhart challenged state
nent by Tydings that there was boot
egger for every corn stalk In Iowa. The
.owan, computing while he stood on his
eet, said there were 450,000,000 stalks
# corn in his county.
That's sample of the booze argu-
nents," he said. Intellectual prosti-
ution couldn't describe these argu-
nents."
Brookhart said he had seen more
trunks among Congressman during one
week in Washington before prohibition
han he had seen in the city in the last
line years.
Prohibition has succeeded" he said.
1T has succeeded even in Baltimore
nd New York City. The question has