Evening star., 1933-03-15
BEER BILL REPORT
MADE TO SENATE
Amendment to Legalize 3.2
Wine and Fruit Juices
Only Change.
(Continued From First Page.)

Continued From F1rSt Page.)
Judiciary Committee since its new
chairman, Senator Ashurst, Democrat,
of New Mexico, said beverages contain
ing 80 per cent alcohol would be con-
s.::1.ianal sincs they are not intoxi-
eating.
In the last Congress, the Senate
Judiciary Committee took a similar
House bill and amended it to such an
extent that even Democratic Senators
pledged to immediate modification OF
the Volstead act were not unduly
anxious for its passage.
Speeded Through House.
The beer measure, the third of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's major proposals of the
special session, was rushed through an
enthusiastic House yesterday, after
three hours of debate. The vote on
the bill was divided as follows:
Democrats for, 238; Republicans for,
%, and Farmer Labor for. S, for grand
total of 316. Those opposing the bill
Included So Democrats and 80 Repub-
icans, totaling g. Twenty members
either were absent or had not been
sworn in.
Action came less than 80 hours after
Mr.. Roosevelt sent an unexpected mes
sage to Congress asking for immediate
passage for revenue purposes and to
fulfill the party's pledge to modify the
Volstead act.
Before final passage in the House,
Speaker Rainey again broke custom and
had his name called so he could vote
for the bill. Until he became Speaker,
1t had been the practice of his prede-
cessors to vote only in case Of tie.
Drastic Rule Threatened.
The -prohibitionists threw their
support behind Representative Cullen
of New York, assistant party leader and
sponsor of the measure. The bill was
threat of drastic procedure, which
Speaker Rainey had notified opponents
he would invoke should steps be taken
to block action.
Representative Byrns of Tennessee
the majority leader, obtained House
consent to limit debate to three hours
and preclude all amendments. The
Democratic dry leader, Representative
Blanton of Texas, conceded the measure
would pass when he said he would kill
It if he could, but that he realized lit
can't be stopped.
Quick House action had been assured
earlier when the Ways and Means Com
mittee informally approved the meas
ure drafted by sub-group headed by
Representative Mccormack, Democrat
OF Massachusetts,.
THE President in his message" Cullen
ko1I fI,o ", debate tn1Qde
1t emphatic that he deemed it highly
important that this legislation be passed
by Congress Immediately in order to
provide for a proper and much needed
revenue, and the country agrees with
him.
Il stand here, Mr. Chairman. advo-
eating the balancing of the budget at
this special session of Congress. The
President has already impressed upon
the Congress the urgency of such a
step, and the passage of the beer bill
will go a long way toward helping to
alleviate distress and suffering in this
country
BIanton Leads Opposition.
Leading the opposition, Blanton di-
sected his remarks at Cullen and said
"the author of this bill did not have
the effrontery to say that this beer is
not intoxicating"
There was applause as Blanton said,
81 know this measure is going to pass. +"
But be warned" he shouted, "the
fathers and mothers of this country are
going to wake up when they begin put
ting these beer saloons on the highway.
The sentiment you think has changed
may swing back overnight"
Representative Beck. Republican. of
Pennsylvania, said Congress had been
given the power to define Intoxicating
liquor"
He said the Supreme Court had de-
cided that under the eighteenth amend
ment Congress was given the power to
fix the deadline-to say what shall be
the maximum content and minimum
content"
1T is misleading" he said. Ito talk
OF notification. This bill is not nulli-
fcation"
In answer to a question by Repre-
sentative Celler, Democrat, of New
York, Beck said it would not be easy
TO bring this law to a test in the Su-
preme Court"
Il venture the prophecy here and
now" he said, that the Supreme Court
will never invalidate this act"
REER REVENIIE pI ANNEn