Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-14
FEDERAL ACT BARS /
V|RG|N|ANS' QUART
Privilege Allowed by State
"Dry" Law Prohibited by !
Reed Amendment. i
U. S. ATTORNEYS INSTRUCT

II you live in Virginia. and II you do
not have any desire to be hailed into :.
federal court. do not try to exercise
your state-granted right to take or
send I'm any manner any intoxicating
liquor into that arid state
II you do make the attempt even to
carry home with you the single quart .
month permitted by virginia's prohibits
ton law. and a United States attorney
hears about 1t. you are going to be
taken to court to answer for violation
of the Reed bone dry amendment to
the post ONCE appropriation law that
became effective July l.
Instructions have been sent by tho
Department OF Justice to all United
States attorneys throughout the coun-
try to the effect that the Reed bono
dry amendment makes IL q federal Of
tense to import liquors into dry states.
even though such states may spectfi-
cally permit importations of such
liquors in limited quantities.
All Transportation Forbidden.
In the instructions the United States
attorneys are advised that every form
OF transportation Of liquor into dry
states is forbidden. whether It be by
conveyance or in baggage. II Is
further stated that prosecutions for vio-
lations of the Reed amendment may be
had in any district from. through or
into which liquor is transported. Thus
a person found to be transporting
liquor from the District of Columbia
to Virginia might be prosecuted either
here or In the federal district in YiT-
located or into which he might take or
send the liquor.
The instructions state that tho quss-
ton as to whether or not the Reed
ton Of liquor into dry territory in part
ly wet states Is to be determined by
means OF test cases. to be filed before
q proper tribunal for the purpose of
obtaining an Interpretation of the
amendment on which to base future &C.
ton.
Should the courts decide that the
Reed amendment Is applicable to the
transportation Of liquor into such ter
ritory. Montgomery county, Nd, would
be shut or from any liquor supplies
whatever. as that county is and has
for many years been dry under local
option laws.
Transportation of liquor into Prince
Georges county. Nd, also will be for.
hidden after November 1, when that
countys local option law becomes ef-
fective. In fact. 1t will be federal
liquor from tho District to any Mary.
land or Virginia territory touching the
District.
Would Affect Country Clubs.
Should the courts interpret the Reed
amendment as applicable to TRANSPORTS
ton OF liquor into dry areas in. partly
wet states several Of the country clubs
near the city would be seriously affect.
cd. Several of these clubs are located
in Montgomery county and there are
others in Virginia and in Prince
Georges county. Md. the members of
which are mainly Warrington resi-.
dents. Although operating under the
so-calfed members locker system, no
liquors could legally be taken to the
clubhouses. either by members them
selves. by persons acting as, their
messengers or agents. or by any COM
baggage Of such members or other
persons. or in any manner whatsoever
United States attorneys in all states
operating under local option laws and
having both dry and wet territory
have been instructed to report to the
Department of Justice all cases of
transportation of liquor into dry areas
in such states. the department notifica-
ton stating that from such reports
test cases will be prepared and prose-
cuted.
1t is believed the Interpretation
placed on the Reed amendment will
drive out Of business the mail order
liquor establishments. whose attorneys
are reported as saying the interests
they represent purpose to obey to the
letter the law as construed by the De-
partment of Justice.