Evening star., 1933-02-17
MOUSE DEMOCRATS
10 VOTE REPEALER
Party Action Seen as AssW.
,Fhg Passage of Resolution
"a Monday.
Continued From First Page,)

voted Tor the repeater. Nine Demo-
Gratis and IA Republicans were recorded
in opposition.
Shortly after the Senate passed the
repeal resolution it also approved the
appropriation bill carrying So. Az, 900
for enforcement Of prohibition in the
next fiscal year, the same amount pro-
vided by the House.
This represents Is per cent reduc-
tion under budget estimates.
The appropriation bill as passed and
returned to the House for acceptance of
amendments forbids use OF any money
for wire tapping or for purchase OF
evidence. The bill includes funds for
the State. Justice, Commerce and Labor
Departments.
VIII End Wire Tapping.
Shortly ater it was approved, Amos
w. W. woodcock, director Of prohibi-
tion, issued a statement saying wire
tapping would be discontinued immedi-
ately instead of July /, when the bill
would become effective.
He said wire tapping had been used
only in a limited manner and only
against "the large commercial gangster
type of cases. but 1t would be dropped
to keep the bureau In line with the
wishes of Congress.
A rapid-fire debate preceded the vote,
with Senators limited to 10 minutes
each.
Democratic Leader Robinson, who
succeeded last night in striking from the
resolution the section giving Congress
concurrent power to Yegislate against
the saloon. said:
at have grave doubt in whatever
form this amendment Is submitted
whether SO states of the Union Will
ratify it, but believe there Is sufnclent
sentiment in the country favorng
change of present conditions as they
relate to control of the alcoholic bever-
ace traffic to Justify this Congress sub
mitting the question to the people for
their decision"
Saloon Ban Impracticable.
Senator Borah of Idaho, Republican
dry champion, who voted to strike the
saloon ban from the resoiutlon IN .ne
belief it was s'impracticable," SAID the
onIy way to prevent the return OF the
saloon would be to OUTLAW the liquor
traffic" ..,..
under any possible amendment 1t would
be practically impossible to prevent tne
return of the saloon.
when they are drinking on the
premises in 500 saloons in New YoIk
CITY tonight when it is illegal 10 sen ~
can We prevent it when 1t Is legal 70
sell it?"
senator Reed, Republican, of Penn.
svlyania. lost, 10 to IA, an amenoment
to strike out the saloon ban, put tHlS
was not regarded a test on this issue.
Reed also proposed an amendment "
tha RIaine proposal to bar drinking on
the premises where liquor was sold, ano
this was rejected, Al to 81.
Two other amendments were shouesu
down without roll -callS-one py 1yo-
ings, Democrat, Of Maryland, 10 pfe'en'
the taxation of liquor prohibited IN ~
terstste commerce. and another by
Gore. Democrat, of Oklahoma, to bar
states from authorizing retail sale OF
liquor for private profit.
Glass Offers Substitute.
In offering his substitute, the same
plan which he proposed last spring ana
which formed the basis for the Blame
nronosa1 Senator Glass, Democrat. OF
VirQinfa. said while he had been life
long prohibitionist he felt now tine
experiment of national prohibition
seems to have proven an utter failure.
His substitute was voted down.
One reason for the failure. he as
serted. was "the fact that moral lepers
and statutory criminals have had tne
effrontery to assume leadership OF moral
forces In, this country"
"Thefet are some things worse than
LIQUOR" he said, adding that "Anti-Sa-
loon Leaguites rode to a precipitate
downfall because of spirit OF intoler-
ance manifested in many ways. NOW
some of these gentlemen who want to
repeal better beware lest they also ride
to downfall"
Glass predicted repeal would never
come unless constitutional guarantees
against the saloon were adopted.
Senator Dill, Democrat, OF Washing
ton, another dry, said he always had
voted for prohibition measures, but re-
garded the votes Of the people OF his
State in the last election as mandate
to favor the resolution. He did.
Tydings, wet leader called attention
that some Senators had contended re-
peal would bring back" liquor.
where has it gomez" he asked and
loud laughter issued from the galleries.
Women Drinking More.
"The good women of this land" he
said, "are drinking more under pro-
hibition than they ever drank before
prohibition"
Are there any Senators in this
chamber who have violated the eight
eenth amendment or the Volstead act?
Are there any In the House Of Repre-
sentatives? I don't say there are. Sem
ators know themselves the answer to
my question. If 1t can't be observed
in those places where can 1t be en-
forced?"
Bingham, Republican, of Connecticut,
another nti-prohibition advocate, said
prohibition was adopted to keep young
people from knowing the taste OF IN
toxicating liquor, yet in Cleveland the
year before last 80, 900 persons were ar
rested and we are told the average age
was only 25.'
Robinson Republican. of Indiana, a
dry, started of the days three-hour de-
bate.
Whoever votes for this resolution
now before the Senate votes directly
and deliberately for the return of the
saloon. Passage will be followed by
legaliZation of beer in the incoming ad-
ministration.
That will mean saloon on every
corner. America will go on spree the
like of which has never been heard of
before. 1t won't be safe to go on the
streets with 100000 automobile
drivers.
The pendulum will swing back
back toward decency. AS soon as the
people become thoroughly disgusted
with the saloon they will rise again in
their wrath and the saloon Will CO..
Blanton Plans Fight
The. House at last nights session
called for the consideration of private
bills and got its first foretaste Of pos
sible dissension in Democratic ranks
over the proposal TO bind them by party
caucus to support the repeal resolution.
Blanton, Texas, Democrat and as ar
dent prohibitionist as Senator Shep-
pard, said he was convinced that my
party is selling its birthright for a mess
of pottage."
1T is long way from Senate vote
to repeal" Blanton shouted. Il sin
cerely hope that the Speaker Of this
House is never going to try by caucus,
as newspapers say, to bind good Demo-
Gratis on question of principle.