Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-23
RECALLS INSTRUCTIONS
TOILET LIQUORS COME IN
Treasury, After Issuing Order Al
lowing Importation, Asks Attor-
ney-Gencral to Rule.
ON NEW REVENUE LAW
Until Department of Justice Acts,
Food Bill Prohibition VIII Remain
in Observation-Disclosures Decision
Would Make Big Supply Available.
fBy Associated PresnI

WASH. NOTION. October 22.-Instruc-
lions TO an customs collectors through
out the country to admit to entry dis
titled spirits produced abroad prior to
October last. either for beverage
purposes or for other than beverage
purposes" were made public and re-
called within the space of a few hours
to-day by the Treasury Department.
The Issuance OF the Instructions,
which were sent out by Assistant Secre-
tary Rowe last Saturday. was based
upon an Interpretation of the food and
revenue laws given by Lawrence
Becker. solicitor of the Treasury De-
partment and official of tho Depart
ment Of Justice. Mr.. Becker ruled
that the revenue law approved October
repealed provisions of the previously
enacted food control law. which fatty
prohibited the importation OF any dis
titled spirits. Now the question has
been placed before the Attorney
General himself for a decision. and in
the meantime the food law prohibition
remains in effect.
That section of the food law, passed
August 10. after prohibiting the manu-
facture OF distilled beverages In this
country. says:
Nor shall there be imported into
the United States any distilled spirits"
BAN ON LIQUOR PRODUCED
AFTER PASSAGE OF ACT
Section 3ol of the revenue law. passed
nearly two months later. provides:
THAT no distilled spirits produced
after the passage of this act shall be
imported into the United States from
any foreign country or from the West
Indian Islands recently acquired from
Denmark (unless produced from prod
ucts the growth Of such island, and not
then into any State or Territory or dis
trict Of the United States in which
the manufacture or sale OF intoxicating
liquor Is prohib!ted). or from Porto
Rico or the Philippine Islands,"
Mr.. Becker held that the words,
produced after the passage of this
act" In the revenue law In effect, Fer
mitted the admission to entry Of spirits
distilled prior to the enactment OF the
act. Instructors consequently were
| addressed to all electors advising
them to permit the importation of dis
titled spirits reduced abroad DR.. or 20
DC, ober 3.
To-day these instr auctions were re-
called. high officials of the department.
taking the stand thu. -Attorney-Ceneral
Gregory should .,a,s upon the uues-
ton.
GREAT STOCK OF BEVERAGES
WOULD BE AVAILABLE
The effect of the decision Of the soil.
citor would be TO make available for
importation and consumption here the
great store OF whisky. cordials. liqueurs
and other distilled beverages produced
abroad prior to the enactment of the
revenue law. 1t also would permI.
importation Of spirits distilled from
virgin island products. either before or
after the revenue bill became law.
How far Mr.. Beckers Interpretation
of the law became operative before
the recall of instructions Is unknown.
The instructions were forty-eight hours
old when recalled. The collector at
New York. for example. had all Of to-
day in which to permit the entry of
distilled spirits into the country.
Such admission applied not only to
importations arriving to-day. but also
to shipments reaching the United States
after the enactment of the food control
law, and seized by customs officials to
await final disposition by the depart
ment.