Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1917 — May Vote On Nation-Wide Prohibition Today [ARTICLE]

May Vote On Nation-Wide Prohibition Today

Washington, Dec.. 16.—With an unusual record for -business accomplished at a preholiday already made, Congress turns tomorrow to a cleanup of domestic legislation before the Christmas holidays, after which it proposes to devote itself exclusive to war problems. Adjournment next Tuesday until Thurs‘day, Jan. 3—a holiday recess somewhat longer than usual —is planned under a House resolution which comes tomorrow before the Senate. Since the session began a fortnight ago Congress has declared war against Austria-Hungary, extended the President’s $100,000,000 war emergency fund, made progress on natural resource legislation recommended by the President, passed the $333,000,000 postoffice appropriation bill through the House and launched several important investigations, including those into the army and navy a war preparations and the • sugar and fuel shortages. To be squeezed into the two days before the recess is much other important legislation, and during the recess committees will proceed with investigations and drafting of appropriation bills to follow in the new year. Chief in interest now is the nationwide prohibition question to be voted on by the House tomorrow afternoon at 5 o’clock. Prohibition advocates are confident of approval by con-' siderably more than the necessary two-thirds majority of the resolution for submission to the states of a national prohibition amendment to the constitution. The resolution was adopted Aug. 1, last by the Senate by a vote of 65 to 20. Action by the states— of which must approve before tne amendment becomes effective—is required in seven years by the House resolution and six years under the Senate resolution. If the House acts tomorrow, the difference must be adjusted in conference and the conference report adopted by both bodies before the resolution is submitted to the states. Lively debate is expected in the House, with a demonstration by -the prohibition forces which have fought for years to get action from Congress.