HAIRMAN COLLIER'S bill legal izing the manufacture and sale of beer was put through the house by a vote of 230 to 165 after all attempts to amend it had been defeated. The beer Is to have an alcoholle content of 3.2 per cent by weight or 4 per cent by volume and is to be over the bar or in eating places, the under standing being that it is not intoxicating in fact and therefore RS should not be re Rep. Rainey stricted. Excise tax placed on the beer is $5 for a 31-gal- Jon barrel. A brewers’ permit tax of $1,000 was voted. The old revenue taxes of $50 for wholesalers in beer and £25 for retailers were re-enacted. The bill prohibits the shipment of beer, ale, or porter from wet states into dry states whose laws forbid such shipments and sales, The penal ty for such violations is set at a max- imum of $1,000 or six months’ confine ment in jail, During a day of strenuous debate the wets fought off all attempts of the drys to defeat or nullify the measure and were themselves held in line by the able management of Representa- tive Henry T. Rainey of Illinois, the majority leader. To him and Chalr- man Collier most of the credit for the victory was given by Speaker Garner, The classification of the vote was as follows: 183 Democrats, 96 Repub icans and one Farmer-Laborite voted for the bill, and 64 Democrats and 101 Republicans against it The Collier bill, it faces a fight in rs of the upper he some sort of beer bill passed by that body, probably 80 days, sold was evident, the senate, but lead Ee were oot within ONTRAPMENT by federal offi in prohibition law violation cases was condemned by the United States Bupreme court in a ruling on a case brought up from North Carol The majority opinion, read by the chief Justice reversed the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had upheld ihe trial judge In refusing to allow the defense of entrapment to ge to the jury. The case was remanded for retrial, “It is clear,” the majority opinion said, “that the evidence was sufficient to warrant a finding that the act for which defendant was prosecuted was. instigated by the prohibition agent, that it the creature of his pur pose, that defendant had no previous disposition to commit it, but was an industrious, law abiding citizen, and that the agent lured defendant, oth erwise Innocent, to its commission by repeated and persistent solicitation, In which he succeeded by taking ad vantage of the sentiment aroused by rYeminiscences of thelr experiences as companions in arms in the World war, “Such =a authority given for the purpose of detecting and punishing erime, and not for the muak- inz of eriminals, deserves the severest condemnation, but the whether it precludes prosecution or aTords a ground of defense, and, If go, upon what theory, has given to conflicting opinions” wns ’ gross abuse of question rise NCE more President Hoover tried to obtain the co-operation of his successor in the handling of the war debt problem, and once more he failed, The Chief Executive in a special message to congress sald he proposed to go shead with his plans for some sort of recon gideration of the debts owed hy those nations that have not default. ed, and that he intend. ed to name a commis sion which wonld han- dle that matter and also take part in the Owen D.Young general economic con ference and the conference on dis armament, holding that the three ques. tions were inextricably connected. The commission, he said, could discuss with the debtor nations trade and other concessions and reduction of armaments in exchange for the scaling down of the debts. Mr. Hoover said he would ask Mr. Roosevelt to help In the selection of the members of the commission and otherwise co-operate, for he realized no settlement could possibly be concluded until long after his own term had ended. ‘ Governor Roosevelt ealled Owen D, Young into conference, and after talk. ing for two hours with that eminent banker and reparations expert he an swered the President by telegraph, saying that he was opposed to the ereation of a war debt commission and also to linking the debts with either the armament conference or the coming general economic conference, He reiterated his previous statement to tha effect that the government should treat separately with each debtor nation and that this could best be done through diplomatic channels, Democrats as well as Republicans in congress praised the President's message, some declaring it was the best state paper he had written, But the Democrats seemed to agree with Mr. Roosevelt that the latter should not take a hand in the debt matter until he become President. Mr, Hoover evidently Is not to receive any ac- tive support from the Democrats in congress in carrying out his three-fold plan, but he is determined to go ahead with it and do whatever he can in the short time remaining be fore he goes out of office, ISPATCHES from Parls sajd that Great Britain would informally advise France to drop her {dea of submitting to arbitration the ques- tion of payment of the $20,000,000 December interest that was due the United States, The British, however, were represented as being in favor of the French plan for a gen eral conference or general negotiations on the debt question Joseph Paul had succeeded in forme jug a new French gov- ernment, not differing widely from that of Herriot, and it is his {dea that npego- tiations with America can kept open, though he hopes for the accom- plishment of nothing vital until after Roosevelt is Inaugurated. The Amer. ican emb in Paris was prompt In establishing contact with the new cab inet on the debt question. Its selor, Theodore Marriner, was re ceived by M. Cot, undersecretary state In the probably will have con on f to 'nul-Boncour Both statesmen what the tion and will about the and they ref get excited over present devel in this country. a foncour . Paul. Boncour be coun- of foreign ministry, who derable power oreign questions the Britis the interested ma } adm French nly In iisira- are next the debts American next ¢ do use to I OTRSE IRTESS pion through Minister Simo- J poulos In Washington, notified the ing the State department that it Is hoid- ready the $440.00 interest due on $12,000,000 refugee loan of 1020, but will not hand over the money until the question of whether the loan was a war loan or a commercial loan has been decided by arbitration Greece proposes that the United States choose the method of arbitration, but suggests the Permanent Court of Justice at The Hague, Minister Simo poulos was instructed to tell the Amer ican government that all political par- loan was a “war loan,” sithough it wis negotiated in 1020. JAtAR go far has successfolly biuffed the League of Nations out of taking any action in the Mahchurian dispute, and if the British and French representatives have their way, noth ing will be done to irritate the Island empire. The special committee of 19 of the assembly has dropped all active negotiations until January 16, nominal ly because of the Christinas holidays, but actually the Japanese have flatly rejected the proposal for becanse Russia would be represented, This wis insisted upon by China and the small nations of the league, though there is no reason for believing that the United States wiches to particl pate. The Japanese saiso refused to put in question the authenticity of the new state of Manchukuo, When the league takes up the mat- ter again it will be faced with the choice of invoking articles 15 and 16 of the covenant, involving sanctions, or admitting that the covenant doesn’t work in a case like this. The intter is the view of Sir John Simon, British for. eign secretary, but he has recently in voked article 15 against Persia in the dispute between that country and the Anglo-Persinan oil interests, The big powers in the league seem determined not to offend Japan, and China is furi- ous, charging that the Japanese have so schemed it that they will be able to gain a complete victory in Man. churia before any conciliation negotl- ations ean be started, OVERNOR ROOSEVELT was dl viding his time between cleaning up his work as chief executive of New York in preparation for leaving that post on January 1, and interview ing various distinguished members of his party, presumably concerning cad inet appointments, Among his callers were Arthur Mullen, national commit. teeman from Nebraska, and William Green, president of the American Fed. eration of Labor. It was understood that Mr, Green was promoting the selection of Daniel J. Tobin of Bos ton for the labor portfolio. Tobin was nective on behalf of Mr. Roosevelt in the campaign. Another person men. tioned for this cabinet position is Miss Frances Perkins, the able industrial commissioner of New York doring the Roosevelt regline. oy EGOTIATIONS that haa Iasted ten days and appeared hopeless ended suddenly In Chicago In a set tlement of the wage controversy be tween the rallrouds and their union employees, A compromise proposal of the rallroad managers to renew for nine months the so-called Willard agreement, under which the workers now have 10 per cent deducted from thelr pay checks, was nccepted with alacrity by the 1,250 delegates rep- resenting the 21 standard railroad unions in the negotiations. When the Willard agreement expires October 31 next the basic scale Is restored, American Farm Burean tion, announced in Washington that about 150 members of congress had formed a bi-partisan farm bloe to sup- port demands for agricultural relief in the short session, Thelr program, he said, Includes measures for the expan- sion of currency, for the price of the dollar, stopping farm mortgage foreclosures and giving eco- nomic equality to agriculture and labor, Vigorous opposition to the farm or- ganizations’ relief bill, with its pro- posal for a tax on the processing of wheat, cotton, tobacco and hogs, was voleed the committee by representatives of the packing Industry. Under the bill the receipts from such a tax would be dis. tributed hy rmers who had cut production, Frank A. Hunter, head of the Hunter Packing company of East St Louls, Ill, declared such a tax would cost the packers $300,000000, George E. Putnam, Swift & Co. of Ci . 2 the packing industry could not such a tax, that the cons would not, and it, therefore, would have to be passed back to the farmer, with the result that instead of | ing agri. work lowering before house agricultural commuodities to fa of that absorb onomist sserted HNers culture the "reli an” would great damage, BELEVE it or not, t} ernment is now most one-half of its ann th inistratio out in benefits or other di to, or in thelr dep nde ¢ veterans behalf of, war now while World have reached the polr nl war veteran are war ide about 82.000 the obll wut one-half the cost of that and this does not inch 000,000, in adjusted compensation payment of which Is a standing gation of the government “The Economy league,” Mr. testified, Bullitt “insists that the government s expenses be cut 2450000000 a year in the veterans administration This can be done by eliminating $100. sione, 00.000 paid to veterans of the Span jsh-American war who have never suf. fered any Injury or disability as a re sult service, Secondly, we nek elimination of $340,000.000 paid on account of of the World war.” of such the veterans N CHRISTMAS eve Mrturo Ales sandri Presidential thority in Chile, and country that nssumed an- promised his his government guide it through and political He called to sistance the OC its atives, Liberals and quasi-Socialists, bar. ing only Col. Mar Grove his red intes Alessandri every effort to the support ef Javier Figueroa, former chief justice and pre er under the out- going government, who played a lead- ing part in the overthrow of the dic tatorship. Alessandri’s right-hand man will be Gustave Ross, who spent years in exile in France with the President. Elect, is a financier and been offered the post of finance min ister. He is now on his way back from London, where he negotiated a secret pact with the Rothschild bank ers. This is belleved to offer the con solidation of S£150,000,000 of British aRso also made President « Alessandri many Ross not trusted by cliques, but he is the new President's closest friend and have great influence on the ment’'s policies, Cosach nitrate combine and some per govern- into early collision with the Americar administration of the Industry. crushing of the abortive attempt of the radicals of Argentina to over throw the government saved that country from a veritable reign of ter ror, When former President Irigoyen and his associates were arrested the police seized documents that show the city of Buenos Alres was to be turned over to released eriminals and terrorists who were to be permitied to loot and kill without hindrance, Quantities of bombs and hand gre nades were found, apd papers that re venled a plan to provide 30 or 40 bombs for each participant In the up- rising. Irigoyen was offered free pas sage to Europe but preferred to be gent to the Island of Martin Garcia, ©. 1913, Western Newspaper Union, ODD BELIEFS | ABOUT FIRST DAY oF YEAR A ty OPEN New lucky a bank account at Year's was considered in Old England, the custom growing probably from the belief of many centuries that whatever you on the first day of the ‘year will be an indication of what will happen during the months to follow. So deep seated was this guperstition in the minds of men that even after the festival was declared a general holiday, many clung to the old-time belief, and to insure work for the coming year would set the pace by spending at an hour or two in some useful pursuit, The first day of the year has been more generally observed than any oth- er holiday, and over a longer period, us well, its observance dating back to the Druids in England and to ancient Babylon when it was made an occa- sion for a celebration lasting from ten days. With every nation holiday has been considered a time for the expression of good will and the of old friendships. The effort to demonstrate the kindly spirit led to the making gifts, often very expensive jewelry and large sums of money. But it was not necessary to one's friends in that lavish way for custom made It possible 80 to express good wishes in a fitting humble man ner Almost nation has welcomed the New Year with some form of cere not, however, on the same date or in the same way. The Druids cele brated the day of the 3 the earth durin do least to twelve this renewing custom of remember very every mony, Year on the shortest ear, the time, in thelr be Lit sun, which journeyed 1 i the cole homewa ied the people whic ana WWoOsper aneaitn 5 the processions to the was the event nle marched In fined 1645 So important peo groves, by the priests, selected for the sacred doty.of cutting the mistle toe, being armed And just for Year the with sicklies of gold as primitive man made his the beginning of a New Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, plans Persian, the Turk, in fact, every nation on in his foolisteps eich celebrating according to his own ideas and customs, Omens good and bad luck globe followed of have Year, all founded more or less upon the belief that supreme power was vested In an unseen deity who could bring good luck if properly appeased or mete out punishments The Ro mans named thelr New Year in honor the power to look back over the past, inte the future. He was represented with a key In his hand symbolizing his to open doors, and gateways, and this holiday was one of great gay ety lasting several days. The festival was not observed in midwinter, but in the spring, when the Roman year be gan, and had only ten months Later when months were added to the calendar, January and February were placed at the beginning of the year the New Year was celebrated on the first of January. Among the old superstitions are many quaint customs that have been observed for centuries and have come down almost to this day and age Among them are the following: To bring good luck one must wear something new on the first day of the year, according to old English custom. In some parts of England and Scot. iand it is supposed to be unlucky to lesive a house until some outsider has first entered it. There is also an old superstition concerning the weather told in an old legend as follows: two “if New Year night wind bloweth south, ft betokeneth warmth and growth; If went, much milk, and fish in the sea; {f north, much cold and storms there'll be: if east, the trees will bear much fruit ff northeast, flee It, man and brute” It was considered unlucky also for one to make a present on New Year's until one had first been received. An old saw pertaining to this custom is as follows: Take out and take in, Bad fuck is sure to begin, Put take in and take out, Good ‘uck will come about, Fat eB i adbes ad How Times Have Changed — om of celebrating f the New Year is antiquity. Let us own the centuri some of the populs » aren't inclined ath of relief as we exclaim, “I stunts in wh and see if times have changed | before the dawn it was a pagan custom for the people to cele brate the New Year by gathering in open where they circled two wild boars that tore each other to bits. The ment of the dead animals was then divided between the people to feast upon, the best pieces being reserved for those highest In author ity. It's a far cry from the midnight supper of today with its carefully chosen hors d'oeuvres to stimulate the flagging appetites of guests whose stomachs revolt at the sight of spilled Long, long ago, 1 civilized stomachs, good oid the around blood. In old Scotland a more savory diet was enjoyed on New Year's eve when people thronged through the streets between twel and one o'clock at night bearing steaming kettles of spiced ale, known in that day as the bowl. As they passed each other on the way te visit neighbors, they stopped to give and take sips, so that their spirits were mounting high when they arrived, to be generously fed on buns and cheese. This pleas ant custom persisted for many years ve wassail Old New Year's and the New New Year's | ASSACHUSETTS made New Year's a holiday long after the American custom of New Year's calls, which justified its observance, had gone the way of the polka and the hoop skirt, There is nothing American about the carnival-like merry-making which nowadays =alcomes the new year. Or can It be that even this is a metamorphosis of the watchnight meeting of 40 years or more ago? To deacons and elders, to all anxious heads of families, it used to seem fitting to spend the last three hours of the year im singing lugubrious hymns and giving thanks that they had been singled Sut for preserva. tion when so many had been removed by an equally discerning Providence. But to the young the watchnight meeting was always a dreary service, only to be endured’ in view of the joys of the morrow. And when the lite and color were taken out of the observance of New Year's itself, there seemed little sense In ushering in a day of gloom with a still gloomier New Year's eve. No they left the watch. night meeting to those who found no more pleasure in their days, and for themselves Introduced the practice now generally prevalent of indulging in a last fling In preparation for the morrow's disagreeable business of turning over a new leaf. They have revived the old pagan ceremony, ex: until it was abused b) of the land who took a occasion for the coms less acts, At one time the New brated by the givi a8 fa popular wardrobe becaus the gentle ing the Christmas per- money known , About ith cen i pins was t simplicity that was part of the times Vith no steam cars, motor ple had to and ox teams was said that se to sit up and watch the old year out as the did so they knew very little of the crossing.” So the settlers celebrated itl- tudinous calls the ng merry sleigh bells off gnow on the door step nts consisted of cars or telephones, peo depend on for it was of no u “clocks vary that by un next day, Jingl and making mu shaking Refrest great slices of doughnuts, coffee and cider. The tom of making wholesale New Year's calls persisted for many years. Only a short time ago it was still the fash- fon for families to hold house. The Chinese said lebrate New Year's in the most unusual fash- lon all. They actu: feel come pelled to pay off their before they can be at peace with the world Of all the customs of various nations, this is perhaps the one most worthy of emulation —Indianapolis News, cus- open are {to ce of debts wl cept that no miniature skeletons are passed round at the feast to remind them that they are mortal. Nothing in this modern New Year's eve aban- don, however, commends it ag a sub stitute for the old and gracious cus- tom of paying and receiving calls, a custom whose desueiude was hastened by the prodigious growth of the large cities In the 25 years following the Civil war, As people's acquaintances increased numerically their circle widened geo- graphically. Horse-drawn were still the indispensable getting about. A gentleman who in 1869 could eall upon 100 or more ladies and find room In himself for an equal number of cups of coffee or glasses of sherry, was compelled, in 1879, to reduce his calling list by half; he could not get all the way round, even If his brains and his legs held out. As it became apparent that either the custom or its observers must shortly perish from the earth, the custom languished and died. Such of the old observers as survive spend the day sadly. There Is nothing they can do to make them repentant. There Is pleasure in making good resolu 8. which you can't break If you try~Boston Herald. vehicles pays of A TOAST What though the waves of yes. teryear Return upon our beach, And come again and slip away Forever out of reach Let's reignite the torch of days And hail the new born year 0d Father Time's young progeny Is worth a rousing cheer! wef. C. CLAPP, in Chicago Dally News, New Year's Note As a rule there's nothing new about a New Year's party except the Ni Year~Woman's Home
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