Evening star., 1932-11-29
Change in Procedure.

Change in Procedure.
Aside fronl the fact th1t, as Senator
Boran puts it. the proper way to modify
the prohibition laws is by going directly
to their source, which is the Ccnstitu-
tion, it is evident that expediency, both
political and economical, has something
to do with the sudden change Of pans
BY House leaders who row intend to
place before the House : joint resolu-
ton proposing a Constitutional amend
nent on the opening day OF the session
instead Of leading off with beer bill.
The grape growers are exerting
pressure to be taken care of along with
the brewers and to occupy q seat on
the first wet band wagon set in motion.
The distillers are watching with
Jealous eyes while the brewers are
favored. Grape growers and distilling
interests are not lacking in ability to
exercise political pressure.
But the beer bill has been hailed as
q revenue producer, and there are
special economic considerations requir-
ine attention in that connection. A
biilion-dollar deficit, as well as liquor
problem awaits Congress. If a beer
bill is to be construed as helping to
balance the budget. and beer bill
meets veto on constitutional or other
grounds from President who has said
that Our objective must be a sane solu-
tion. not blind leap back to old evils"
the Congress would have been count
ing chickens before they were hatched.
II a beer Of low alcoholic content were
lesalized, its consumption, especially by
q class whose spokesmen are now
referring to ATS beer as "slop," might
be disappcintingly low and produce
profit only to the bootleggers. And If
a beer bill, sanctioned by Congress and
the President, met legal objections
elsewhere, the potential beer revenue
might be jeopardized by a court
decision.
The revenue from beer tax has been
estimated from $3.50, 100000 q year to
$1,000, ,0o0, 900. year. The latter esti-
mate was made by investment bankers,
not brewers or tax experts. The. last
year that beer and ale taxes were col
lected, in 1919, the revenue was Sl17,-
83e, ,so2 and the tex was the high wartime
tax of So barrel. The bankers suggest
ed tax of more than twice that amount
-s12.4o-and counted on selling at least
as much beer as was sold in 1917. The
last normal" year before prohibition,
1916, beer and ale, taxed at $l50 bar
rel, produced ssS.771,1o4. Il the pro-
posal by Mr.. O'Connor, for instance. to
tax beer at $3.50 a barrel were adopted,
and as much beer is consumed the first
year afterward as was consumed in 1916,
the revenue yield would be in the
neighborhood Of s4oo, 900 900. Obviously.
it would have to be good beer. And
whether it would be consumed in large
quantities without the help Of the
formerly ubiquitous saloon-outlawed
emphatically and wisely in the party
platforms Of both parties-remains .
question.
On the other hand, there are forty
one State Legislatures meeting In
January and one additional Legislature
meeting in April. Those Of six States
will net convene In 1888. Most of
those which meet in 1888 will not
meet again until 1895. Thirty-stx States
are necessary to ratify an amendment.
Both the Democratic and Republican
platforms, and both the Glass and the
Wagner resolutions for modification and
repeal,s respectively, Of the eighteenth
amendment, specify that the new
amendment shall be submitted to State
conventions, instead Of to State Legisla-
lures, as was done in the case of the
eighteenth. Such process would re-
Quire more time than ratifying action
by the Legislatures, but the Legislatures
would necessarily have to designate the
time, the place, the number Of delegates
and, presumably, defray the expenses
OF the conventions. If Congress sub
mitted new amendment to the States
early in the year there is prospect of
immediate action in many States and
1t is conceivable that ratification might
follow by March, although that Is highly
improbable.
1t is logical to suppose that proponents
Of immediate beer, in addition to the
complex question Of lawful alcoholic
content, the contradictory demand for
high tax and cheap beer, and the
demand that light wine be included,
are facing their greatest problem over
the method Of controlling the beer
traffic to prevent the return OF the
saloon and to protect dry States against
wet States-and Of doing ell this in
advance OF changing Constitutional pro-
visions. It is to be remembered. in
addition, that a fight will b. made this
year TO cut down, if not to eliminate,
prohibition enforcement funds. 1t ap-
pears altogether wise that the pressure
for legalization' Of liquor be utilized
tOWdI0 tllde- edAlC ooiusAoa " eAAc
problem which President Hoover urged
in his speech of acceptance, and that
the real and vitality important problem
involved in revision or repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment be taken up and
solved before beer experiment o.
doubtful propriety and of doubtful sue
cess, is Launched.