U.S. BEER BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1932, Page 7

U.S. BEER BILL.

OVER FIRST HURDLE

PASSED BY HOUSE.

Ten Votes to Spare After Long A U d Tumultuous Debate.

3.2 DRINK LEGALISED.

lt . n lted r.A.-Klcetric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Kccciveil 12 noon.)

WASHINGTON, December 21

The House of Representatives nassed the Beer Bill on Wednesday ffith 10 votes to spare over the twothirds majority needed alter a twoday tumultuous debate. rj-jje vote was 230 to IGu, and in a crashing finale the Representatives we.it record for the legalisation of beer containing 3.2 per cent of alcohol by weight, the equivalent to 4 per cent by volume. The final roll came upon the heels of an overwhelming refusal to send the bill back to the committee, an action which topped a whole-day procession of votes to beat hack every single- amendment jfercd. This action also marked the first time sinec the adoption of the Volstead Act that cither branch of Congress lad held a vote directly on the issue of relaxing the fundamental prohibition enforcement law.

Tie Chamber was crowded during the progress of the call, the galleries being sprinkled with many representatives of "wet" and "dry" organisations. The bill now goes to the Senate.

On the first test vote the "wets" were defeated by 132 to 108 on a motion to strike out the cnacting clause of the Collier Bill, a move which would automatically have killed the measure. On the teller vote being demanded, the vote was 163 to 118.

A tentative draft of the resolution to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment Bill, emerged on Wednesday from the United States Senate, judiciary. It is drafted as a basis for discussion and not as necessarily representing the views of the committee. It would give Congress power to prevent a return of the saloon.