Evening star., 1932-07-12
BINGHAM DROPS
FIGHT FOR REPEAL
Beer Still Subject of Senate
Controversy Despite
Adverse Vote.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The objection of the Republican and
Democratic leaders today caused Sena-
tor Bingham Republican, Of Connecti-
cut), to abandon an effort to obtain
immediate consideration Of repeating
the eighteenth amendment.
Beer was still subject Of controversy
in the Senate despite the vote shelving
the proposal to legalize the brew.
Objections from Senator Sheppard.
Democrat Of Texas blocked Senate
consideration Of resolution by Senator
Bingham calling on Surg. Gen. Cum
ming to report on the amount of alco-
hol that might make beverage In
toXicating
To Ask Consent.
Challenged by Senator Ashurst,
Democrat Of Arizona, to seek a vote
on his amendment repeating the eigh-
teenth amendment Bingham said he
would ask unanimous consent for its
consideration.
But Senator Robinson, the Demo-
cratic leader, interposed remark that
the present was not the proper time for
such procedure and added:
Il shall not object to the considera-
tion Of a proper amendment repeating
the eighteenth amendment when the
proper time comes"
Backed by Watson.
Senator Watson, the Republican chief
tain, made the same objection and said
that when the time comes he would cast
his ballot for a resolution submitting
to the States the question of repeal.
7rrtn Al
Tor determination of what constitutes
an intoxicating beverage, said some
Democrats had said they were in doubt
about it,
His resolution called on the surgeon
general to confer with medical author
ities and find out
The surgeon general would have been
required to report to Congress 'at the
earliest possible moment
One Hope Remains
Unless there is a special session, beer
OF more than one-half Of one per cent
alcohol can not possibly be made legal
by congressional action before Mid
winter.
The Senate, as had been expected,
yesterday halted the latest move to
write 3.45 per cent into the Volstead
act iDstead of the present limitation
Even the most ardent supporters of a
gress getting ready to adjourn this week
there could not be sufficient change
before then in votes on Capitol Hill to
amend the law.
Vets now hope that between adjourn
ment ard the time Congress convenes
the first Monday in December they
can change the votes to overturn the
so to rs vote against the beer bill of
Senator Bingham. Republican. Con-
necticut. Drys, of course, will work for
just the opposite
Although the Democratic platform
includes plank advocating repeal of
the eighteenth amendment and i'm
mediate" modification Of the Volstead
law, only II members of that party
voted with the vets.
Three Change Attitudes.
There were, however. three Senators
who changed their previous attitudes
Patterson, Republican, Missouri, and
Fletcher and Tranmel, Democrats.
Florida;
Their ballots were cast against a mo-
tion by Senator Robins-n of Arkansas.
Democratic leader. to send Bingham's
bill to the judiciary Committee Eleven
Democrats and IA Republicans voted
against the motion, while "a Democrats
and rs Republicans supported it.
Twenty-one Senators did not vote.
Only one of these-Oddie, Republican,
Nevada-was announced as against Rob-
inson's molten. Four-Thomas, Re-
publican. Idaho; Nicely, Democrat. West
Virginia: Swanson. Democrat. Virginia,
and Bankhead, Democrat. Alabama
said they would have voted for it.
Nearly two months ago. on May 25.
the Senate vote on a similar proposal
was SIS to 26.