Evening star., 1932-11-25

If and when the Volstead act Is mod
flied or the eighteenth amendment
lifted out Of the Constitution, Congress
itself must change prohibition enforce
ment legislation for the District of Co
lumbia, for, in relation to the District,
Congress, representing the Nation, is
both National Legislature and State
Legislature with exclusive legislative
power over the District.
Already there is a District dry Law
on the statute books concerning the
present validity of which there Is some
difference of opinion, but it is now an
ticipated that If there Is modification
the prohibition situation in the National
Capital must be specifically defined.
Vets. elated by recent victories at
the polls, are planning to erase the
eighteenth amendment, but even before
that to bring in beer as soon as pos
sible under the eighteenth amendment
The drys In Congress already have an
nounced opposition TO the wet program
and the Anti-Saloon League also has
declared open warfare against any kind
OF change.
New ID. G. Law Proposed.
A new liquor law for the District is
proposed by wet organizations, who are
confident of modification. They point
out that in view Of difference of opin.
ion over the Sheppard act, this ACT
should be wiped off the statute books
and a. new liquor control law written fol
this city.
On only one issue does there seem te
be common ground between vets ano
drys. They are generally agreed there
should be no return Of the old-time
saloon.
Two local champions of beer Rufus
Lusk, vice commander of the Crusaders
and John B. Colpoys, secretary treasurer
of the Labor's National Committee for
modification of the Volstead act, are
united in the belief that there should
be repeal of the Sheppard act, and
new legislation enacted to control the
liquor traffic in the District of Colum-
bia, TO conform to whatever nodifica-
tions are made in the Volstead act.
Would Draft Legislation.
"a committee of representative men
and women should be appointed" Mr.
Lllsk proposes, ito formulate a plan oi
liquor control here, for submission to
Congress. This has already been done
in some other States by State law. Our
organization intends to see that some
| new control is established, to see that
law is properly enforced and to fight
prohibition"
Mr.. Colpoys of the Labor Committee
said the proposed labor beer bill, au-
| thorizing 275 per cent beer, would be
approved by the convention of A. F.
of l.. officials at Cincinnati, and that
| it would leave the question of enforce
ment to the several States. Unlike
the prohibitiorists," said Mr.. Colpoys
| I'VE will not try to force down the
| throats of the States our program oi
beer, but would leave the question tc
the sovereingty of the States, so that
States which desire beer may have it
| and those which do not want it, car
| prohibit it.
80 that there can be no question
| about the District of Columbia, Con.
gress. of course, will legislate first fol
the Nation by amending the Volsteao
act and then in its capacity as a State
| legislature, enact new enabling act q
reasonable bill, to put into effect ths
notifications of the VolStead act. Tht
American Federation of Labor" he ex.
planned, SIS opposed to the old saloon
| but wants to bring back a state o
sobriety and temperance. with provision
! at the same time for the man who can.
not belong to fashionable clubs TO gel
his beer. Some provision must bt
made for these men,"
Brides View Stated.
Concerning the Sheppard wartime
prohibition bill. Mr.. Colpoys believe!
Congress by specific enactment viii
wipe it out, and set up a new liquol
law for the District.
| Corporation Counsel Bride has rulec
that the Sheppard act was repealed b!
the Volstead Law, but A. e. Shoemaker
counsel for the local Anti-Saloor
Sheppard act still stands except, per.
haps, for a few of its provisions. HI
pointed to a part Of the Volstead &C
| which reads: "All provisions of Law
| that are inconsistent with this act ar
repealed only to the extent Of such in
consistency and the regulations hereir
| provided for the manufacture or trafht
| in intoxicating liquor shall be con-
strued as in addition to existing laws.
| In connection with the proposal Il
modify the Volstead act, Mr.. Shoe
maker said the local league would unit,
with the Anti-Saloon League Of Americt
in its program, to be developed at {
convention here early next month
coincident with the opening of Con
gress. The local leagues annual meet
! ing will be held in January.
Although refusing to admit formally
that there may be any modification
OF the volstead act by either the short
session or the regular session Of ths
new Congress, r. Scott Mcbride of the
Anti-SalooY League declared his rr.