Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-20
EXPECT BONE-DRY LAW TO
INCREASE B0OTLEGC|NC
Question Is Raised as to Who Is to
Pass on "NIedical'
Shipments.
400 QUARTS PER DAY AVERAGE
Express Companies Report About
That Daily Business Under One
Quart Provision OF State Law,
Which Is Soon to Be Superseded.

NO instructions for the transporta-
|tton OF liquor into Virginia after July
!. when tho "bone-dry" law recently
enacted by Congress, prohibiting the
shipment OF liquor into dry" territory
except for medicinal purposes, had
becn received In Richmond yesterday
by local agents OF the Southern and
Adams Express Companies. They had
received no information supporting the
rumor that liquor would not be re-
ceivcd by tho express companies n flor
to-day Tor shipment into Virginia, and
did not believe such orders had been
issued to shippers OF whisky
Meantime. tho express agents and the
consumers OF liquor arc much pcrplcSed
over tho provisions OF the new law.
The act provides that only liquor can
he shipped Into dry" States for medi-
cinal. pharmaceutical. mechanical and
sacramento purposes. but the police
are chiefly interested In what will be
held TO DO termed medicinal pur-
poses"
or the various discussions OF the sub
)ect. the report has been circulat ted tina
every order for liquor must be ac-
companied by physician's prescrip-
ton showing that the shipment was in
tended for medicinal purposes. This
report, however. has been denied be-
cause OF the impracticability OF such
requirements. Rev. J. Sidney Peters
Commissioner OF Prohibition, has made
no statement as TO what action his
department will take beyond the plain
assertion that the law will be enforc-
cd
EXPECT MORE TROUBLE
FROM ILLICIT SALES
Mr.. Peters and the police departments
or every city and county in the State
T,J ,
from the Illicit sales OF whisky. Major
Werner said yesterday that the local
department was preparing to handle
the situation with a strong hand, and
II needed. additional men would be as
signed to break up the ira fic.
I'm my mind. we will have TO deal
with more violations OF this kind after
the first Of the month" he said be
cause when the shipment OF liquor 20
individuals is stopped, those people will
create new field for the 'bootloEsers'
In recent months many people have
been content with quart ever
month. and have not attempted to pur-
chase liquor illegally. But with ship
ments stopped. they will look to other
fields for their refreshments. and the
trafHc VIII certainly be increased"
Agents OF the express companies
were the authority for the statcmc nj
yesterday that approximately 400
quarts OF liquor is being shipped into
Richmond daily. The majority Of the
shipments being made into this city are
from Baltimore and Washington. AL
though small percentage Is from
other sections OF the country. Since
November !. when the prohibition la W
became effective in Virginia. the ship
mcnts to Richmond have averaged
about 400 quarts daily. which neces-
Stated the express companies opening
AN Office in South Twelfth Street TO
handle this trade alone.
According TO the police. In recent
weeks "bootlegEcrs" have changed
their tactics In importing liquor into
Richmond. When officers uncovered
their divers ways OF bringing the
whisky from Baltimore and Washing
ton. they switched orders. and many
shipments packed in unsuspicious- loo ok :
ing boxes are arriving from Florida.