Evening star., 1933-02-18
HOUSE REPUBLICAN
VETS PROMISE 10
VOTES FOR REPEAL
Bloc Votes Unanimously to
Support Blaine Measure
Monday.
RAINEY ALSO CONFIDENT
RESOLUTION WILL PASS
Party Leaders Discuss Provision
for Ratification by State
Conventions.
BY the Associated Press.

The House Republican wet bloc today
support the Senate prohibition repeal
submission proposal in the House Mon
day.
Representative Beck Of Pennsylvania,
its chairman, predicted the Republicans
would produce approximately ITO votes.
This is seven more than the number
of that party who voted for the Garner
fiat repeal proposal on the first day Of
this session OF Congress, which then
fell short by six votes Of the two-thirds
required to approve submission OF
constitutional amendment.
Already Democratic leaders have said
more of their members would vote for
submission of repeal now than did on
the opening day, and predicted as re
suit that the Blaine repeal proposal will
be adopted.
Unanimous Support.
Representative Britten. Republican,
of Illinois, in a statement said "the
Republican wet group of the House
unanimously indorses the passage of
tlNc oCIldtc lcSUluIfOi W ACpCd4 tAlC
eighteenth amendment"
He estimated that Federal revenue
amounting to many millions would flow
into the Treasury after ratification by
the States. The statement said it was
the hope of the Republican group that
every Republican member of the House
would vote for the Senate proposal.
Confident Of Success.
The meeting of the wet bloc was
called as party chieftains debated the
convention method of ratification and
surveyed the prospects for State action
this year with more than 40 State Leg
islatures holding assemblies.
Representative Rainey of Illinois, the
Democratic leader, said the Blaine reso-
luton for repeal of the eighteenth
amendment would be adopted by the
House by at least 20 votes"
Rainey told newspaper men he was
more confident than ever" that the
House would adopt the resolution, and
I'VE will pick up a few votes on both
the Democratic and Republican sides
of the House"
Representative Smell Of New York,
the Republican floor leader, said I'VE
ought to get this submission proposal
behind us so that the new Congress can
turn to other constructive legislation"
Smell also was Of the opinion that
many Of the prohibitionist lame ducks"
in his party would vote for the pro-
posal because it contains protection for
dry States.
Democrats Bind Selves.
The repeater Is to be brought I'D
Monday under suspension of the rules.
which means drastically limited debate
and quick vote.
The Democratic majority yesterday
bound themselves In caucus to support
it,, a procedure which many asserted
removed any doubt as to the final re-
suit.
Speaker Garner said chieftains of the
Republican leader, said between 10 and
20 OF his party who have voted dry
would change. Representative Beck of
wet bloc, said the Blaine resolution had
the approval of his group.
House adoption would send the meas
ure to the States for ratification by the
convention method a system never be-
fore tried In approving amendments to
the Constitution.
Leaders today were occupied with the
question of whether it is the duty of
the States or the Federal Government
to call the conventions.
Two-Thirds Required.
Speaker Garner said chieftains of the
Democrats hoped that State Legislatures
would authorize and set up the ma
chinery for the conventions without
Federal participation. A survey showed
that 43 Legislatures are now in session
or due to meet some time this year
But many of them have a definite time
limit that expires soon.
A two-thirds majority Of House men,
bers voting is needed to adopt the re-
pealer Monday. On the first day of this
session a fiat repeal proposal failed to
receive such a majority by 6 votes. the
vote being 272 for and 144 against
One hundred Republicans and A Demo-
Gratis voted in opposition.
In caucus yesterday the Democrats
voted lis to 46 to bind their member
ship Of 220 to support the Blaine reso-
luton. A total of 80 were excused from
the binding rule because of previous
in their home districts
But that number was IA less than the
A Democrats who voted in opposition
on December 5.