United States House Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic
Encyclopedia
The Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic was a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
from 1893 to 1927. It was preceded by a select committee formed in 1879 during the 46th Congress.
resolution. The select committee terminated August 18, 1893, when it was made a standing committee
In 1890, the Select Committee recommended the creation of a presidentially appointed
commission on alcoholic liquor traffic. The commission was to consist of 5 members, responsible for investigating "the alcoholic, fermented, and vinous liquor traffic, in all its phases, its relation to revenue and taxation, its effect upon labor, agriculture, manufacturing and other industries and its general economic, criminal, moral, and scientific, social vice, and the public health" among other issues.
traffic, including the manufacture, distribution, and sale of intoxicating beverages in U.S. states, territories, government-owned
buildings as well as the District of Columbia, Indian reservation
s, and military base
s. The committee was also responsible for investigating issues related to the 18th Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution, which established Prohibition
, outlawing the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States
.
Official records of the committee generally include petitions and memorials
requesting the appointment of a commission
to study alcoholic traffic and praying for prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and distribution through interstate commerce of alcohol
in the United States
and in various locations under federal authority and its export to certain countries.
of Ohio
and the Ranking Member
was Joseph D. Taylor
of Ohio
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1893 to 1927. It was preceded by a select committee formed in 1879 during the 46th Congress.
History
The Select Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic was established on May 16, 1879, pursuant to HouseUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
resolution. The select committee terminated August 18, 1893, when it was made a standing committee
In 1890, the Select Committee recommended the creation of a presidentially appointed
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
commission on alcoholic liquor traffic. The commission was to consist of 5 members, responsible for investigating "the alcoholic, fermented, and vinous liquor traffic, in all its phases, its relation to revenue and taxation, its effect upon labor, agriculture, manufacturing and other industries and its general economic, criminal, moral, and scientific, social vice, and the public health" among other issues.
Jurisdiction
As its name suggests, the committee was responsible for all subjects relating to alcoholic liquorAlcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
traffic, including the manufacture, distribution, and sale of intoxicating beverages in U.S. states, territories, government-owned
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
buildings as well as the District of Columbia, Indian reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
s, and military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
s. The committee was also responsible for investigating issues related to the 18th Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
to the U.S. Constitution, which established Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, outlawing the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Official records of the committee generally include petitions and memorials
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
requesting the appointment of a commission
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
to study alcoholic traffic and praying for prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and distribution through interstate commerce of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in various locations under federal authority and its export to certain countries.
Members, 52nd Congress
During the 52nd Congress, the committee was chaired by William E. HaynesWilliam E. Haynes
William Elisha Haynes was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, cousin of George William Palmer.-Biography:Born in Hoosick Falls, New York, Haynes moved to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Lower Sandusky in 1839.He attended the common schools.Apprenticed as a printer.He served as clerk on a...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and the Ranking Member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
was Joseph D. Taylor
Joseph D. Taylor
Joseph Danner Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Joseph D. Taylor was born in Goshen Township, in Clermont County, Ohio...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
Joseph D. Taylor Joseph Danner Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Joseph D. Taylor was born in Goshen Township, in Clermont County, Ohio... , Ranking Member, Ohio Elijah A. Morse Elijah Adams Morse was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, Morse moved to Massachusetts with his parents, who settled in Boston in 1852.... , Massachusetts Matthew Griswold (congressman) Matthew Griswold was an American Congressman from Erie, Pennsylvania.Matthew Griswold was the grandson of congressman Roger Griswold and the great-grandson of governor Matthew Griswold... , Pennsylvania John T. Cutting John Tyler Cutting was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Westport, New York, Cutting was left an orphan at ten years of age, when he journeyed westward.Resided in Wisconsin and Illinois from 1855 to 1860.... , California |