Constitutional Prohibition Amendment by S. B. Horton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1915

Constitutional Prohibition Amendment

By S. B. Horton

SENATOR SHEPPARD of Texas introduced the following joint resolution (S. J. Res. 30):— “Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two thirds of each house concurring therein), That the following amendment to the Constitution be, and hereby is, proposed to the States, to become valid as a part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of the several States as provided by the Constitution:—

“Article—

“SECTION 1.—That the sale, manufacture for sale, transportation for sale, importation for sale, of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes in the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and exportation for sale thereof, are forever prohibited.

“SEC. 2.—That the Congress or the States shall have power independently or concurrently to enforce this article by all needful legislation.”

The temperance cause has made important gains within the last two years, and as an evidence of its influence the current report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shows a decline of $25,906,291 from the revenue on liquor and tobacco for the fiscal year ending June 30, last. Commissioner Osborn, commenting on this loss of revenue, says in his report:—

“This, in the main, can probably be attributed to the prohibition laws. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia are operating under prohibition laws; and Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington have passed prohibition laws which will become effective in the near future; and undoubtedly this has had and will continue to have effect upon internal revenue receipts.”

Senator Sheppard introduced another measure (S. 1082) to “prevent the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors in the District of Columbia.” Other bills upon the same subject have been introduced by Senators Wm. H. Thompson of Kansas, W. L. Jones of Washington, and others.

The saloon business in the District of Columbia has been materially decreased within the last year, and it is expected that the nation’s capital will soon be prohibition territory through legislation enacted by the present Congress.

S. B. HORTON.