MAKING A CHANGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 10

MAKING A CHANGE.

PROHIBITION AND AMERICA. What the sweeping Democratic victory in the United Slates will moan along the prohibition front was explained to the Wellington Dominion bv Mr Norman t'.lapp. an American lawyer from Tacoma, Washington, who arrived by the Alaunganui from

Sydney. Air Clapp's account of the position was in accord with normal constitutional 'procedure. He made it clear that the Volstead Act could first be altered, and that the repeal of the . 18th Amendment itself, if it came to pass, would take some time to accomplish. " While the. election of Mr Hoosevelt rallier indicates a national tendency away from prohibition," Mr Clapp said, ‘‘the election of a Democratic. President alone, or even of a Democratic Congress, will not serve

to repeal the constitutional amendment. The. Congress which is now in session is the ‘hang-over’ Congress which will last until March next. The new president comes in then and lie has the. rich! to call a special session of Congress. If he calls Die special session of Ihe new Congress, which is predominantly of his own party, then Hint Congress can modify Hie Volstead Act, which- delines whal is intoxicating liquor. That may mean the raising of the limiting percenlage of alcohol from one-half of one per

cent, to some higher figure—say, 24 per cent. A Lengthy Business. However, as far as amending the constitution or doing away with Ihe 1R 111 Amendment is concerned, lhal ran only lie done by an Act of Congress which has to be ralilled by three-quarters of the Slates. The repeal would be a very lengthy business but in any ease Ihoy cannot do anything about Hie Volstead Act. until March. Of Cu'urse, there is Hie chance

! that, the enforeemeul in the meantime I may not he too strict." As a mailer of interest .Mr Clapp mentioned I ha t Ihi. ia.-d Congress had passed an Act. which was now being ratified by many of the Slales, providing for Hie elimination of the m>- . called "hang over" Congress, or "lame I duck" session, and Ihe immediate a., ; sumption of office by Ihe newly-elected Congress. There was provision also for a newly-elected prcsidenl In lake oltlce in the January following Ihe election instead of March. ucncral

elcrliuns. lie remarked, were always lii'ld in November.