Evening star., 1933-01-14
QUESTION LEGALITY
OF NEW BEER BILL
Attacks Are Renewed by
Drys-Revenue From Wine
Being Studied.
BY the Associated Press.


Constitutionality of the newly drafted
Collier Blaine beer and wine bill was
attacked by some of prohibitions de-
tenders in Congress today despite the
expressed confidence of its authors that
they have made the measure invulner-
able against legal attack.
At the same time, Democratic leaders
began a study to determine how much
additional revenue could be realized
from the expansion of the bill to in
clude wine as well as beer, both with a
maximum alcoholic content of 3.05 per
cent, as drafted yesterday by Senate
subcommittee.
Continued opposition to the bill came
from such leading supporters of prohi-
bition as Senator Sheppard. Democrat,
of Texas. Sheppard said he would
make a fight against it, contending
that in his opinion the bill was still un-
constitutional
If it proposes to legalize 3 per cent
beer it is nullification," Sheppard said.
Democrats Predict Approval.
Other friends of prohibition, includ-
ing Senators Borah, Republican, OF
Idaho, and Robinson, Republican, of In
diana, have indicated they would oppose
the new measure. But many Democrats
were quick to predict the bill would be
approved by Congress and sent TO Presi-
not announced his position, but many
assert their belief he will veto it,
The study to see how much revenue
could be counted upon from legalization
of light wine was undertaken by Sena-
tor Dill, Democrat, of Washington, and
Senator Harrison, of Mississippi, rank
ing Democrat on the Finance Commit
tee, which will consider taxation fea-
lures of the bill Monday the fun
judiciary committee will meet to take
1t up and report to the Senate.
Dill, who proposed inclusion OF wine
to the subcommittee. which redratted
the original House measure, predicted
it would raise substantial additional
revenue above the SIPS, 900, 900 to $780,
O0O,O 900 forecast by the Treasury from
beer alone.
The Washington Senator said he al
ready had consulted with internal rev.
enue experts and that while they had
not submitted their final report to him,
they agreed the revenue from cider at
least would be considerable
Harmless Wine Assured.
Dill said he had been informed by
some wine experts that the alcoholic
content of vinous beverages could be
reduced in the same way it is cut down
in beer and that delightful light
Wine'h could be produced with the 3.O4
per cent limitation
The key to the new bill, and the effort
to make it accord with the eighteenth
amendment, is contained In the follow
ing paragraph:
Nothing in the national prohibition
| act as amended and supplemented shall
apply to any of the following or to any
act or failure to act in respect of any
of the following, containing not more
| than 3.05 per centum of alcohol by
weight: Beer, ale, porter, wine, similar
| fermented malt or vinous liquids, OF
fruit juice"
The subcommittee re-wrote the per-
nit provisions of the Volstead law, as
| follows:
THE manufacture for sale of beer
! ale, porter. wine, similar fermented malt
or vinous liquor, or fruit juice, contain
| ing not more than sos per centum OF
alcohol by weight, SHALL before engag-
! ing in business, secure a permit under
| the national prohibition act, as amended
and supplemented, authorizing him to
engage in such manufacture, which per-
NIT shall be obtained in the same man.
ner as a permit to manufacture intoxi-
eating liquor and be subject to all the
provisions of law relating to such per-
NIT. No permit shall be issued for the
manufacture of such fermented malt OF
vinous liquor or fruit juice in any State
Territory, or the District of Columbia
or political subdivision of any State Oh
! lCnntinned on Page . Column a