Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-10
ALLOW SENDING
OF LIQUOR OUT
OF FIXED ZONE
New Interpretation OF Restriction
Regulations Makes Possible
Outside Shipment
COURT RULING Is RECEIVED
Decision in Parallel Case Is Reply
OF Attorney Generals ONCE
TO Brewers Request.

Intoxicating liquor may be manu-
featured within the fve-mile dry
zone instituted by the government
and may be shipped 10 points out
side this area via the railroad OF
other common means of trans orta-
ton.
An Interpretation TO this effect
was received from the United
States attorney generals Office some
time ago and was made public az a
late hour yesterday. The COmmUnI-
cation. obtained through soliciJa
ton of brewery officials, cited a
court ruling. delivered in a Mary
land test case. concerning cOndi-
tons parallel TO those now in exist
enCe here.
AT a meeting with United States
Commissioner G. L. Walker late
yesterday afternoon, 6. A. Tegeler,
secretary and treasurer OF the Rock
Island brewery. submitted the new
ruling 10 the commissioner Mr..
Walker stated the Interpretation as
given therein to be final.
The decision Of the court specifi-
caIIy provides that alcoholic bever-
ages may be transported outside the
restricted area. although it does
not designate the mode of convey
ance 1t is taken, however, that
the usual means of transportation
or common carriers IS they are
termed in the fve-mile regulations
are meant as the means Of shipping
: mentioned in the new ruling.
IN 1t was pointed out that the gov
Eernment in limiting definite dry
areas about military and naval
posts seeks merely 10 keep intOXi-
eating beverages out of reach OF
members OF the United States fight
ing forces. Efficiency in obtaining
this result would not be enhanced
ii was declared. by the prohibition
Of shipment outside such dry terri
tory.
ReverSes Ruling.
Previous to his knowledge Of the
existence of a contrary ruling, Com
missioner Walker yesterday de
clared it to be doubtful whether or
dinarv means of trans pOrtatiOn
could be used by the brewery in
shipping alcoholic liquors outside
the newly established dry zone.
His Interpretation was that carriers
in the employe of, or operated by,
the local concern would offer the
only lawful means making possible
outside delivery.
Bona Eide Drink DefuHct.
Although the bona fide drink in
the family or among friends in the
home is permissible, Commissioner
Walker holds that no intoxicating
liquor may be purchased from sur
rounding wet towns and shipped
within the five-mile limit. This
means that the lawful bona fide
drink virtually becomes impossible.
It would seem that the new ruling
applies also to those having large
quantities Of liquor stored within
the extended zone Many individ-
uals were informed that the beyer-
ages could not be stored inside the
five-miIe limit undisturbed during
the period Of the war Under this
condition an inventory would nave
TO be taken by government oper-
atiyes before storage. The only 9TH
er alternative mentioned. hereto
fore. has been instant removal OF
the wet goods TO points outside re
stricted territory. Now, however
indications are that liquor may law
fully be stored inside the zone and
may be shipped to buyers without.
Should such a decision be upheld
by United States Commissioner
Walker and other federal officials
much JOY would be occasiOned
among erstwhile liquor dealers who
have vast stores Of the alcoholic
beverages on hand, awaiting Out-of-
town DISPOSAL.