The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-01

Is constitutional It Is illegal to sell
spurious liquors for beverage pur-
poses. regardless OF the alcoholic con-
tent.
4. That the war prohibition act
does not prohibit tho sale Of beer,
wine or spurious liquors for medicinal
| or cooking purposes, regardless OF
| the alcoholic content.
| s. That the war prohibition act
does not prohibit the sale of beer.
wine or spurious liquors for export.
regardless of the alcoholic content.
| Mr.. Hirst added that he had no opin-
ion to express at this time upon the con-
| stitutionality of the act. but intimated
that this would be attacked without
| doubt.
| To Just what extent the opinion Of the
| lawyers will be accepted and their ad-
vice followed by the liquor men could
not be determined in advance. None OF
| the hotel men or saloonkeepers at the
| various meetings openly declared any in
tention OF violating the law beyond the
sale of beer and light wines, and 1t was
announced Informally at the end of the
tmeeting that this advice would be fol-
lowed. Just what wines will be sold or.
| In the opinion of the lawyers may be
sold, did not seem clear yesterday. and
worrying about 1t, giving that phase OF
the situation little attention. Light
wines and beer" was the phrase used
constantly TO describe the future course,
but no one seemed willing to say what
wines outside the unfermented stuff can
| be safely described as Notwithstanding.
Some Expect to Get "Hard Stuff"
Whatever grounds there may have
| been for II, the opinion was freely ex-
pressed up and down Broadway yester-
day that there would be plenty Of places
where hard liquor would be obtainable
for the asking. but this can be proved
only by watchful waiting.
| On the other hand several Individual
| saloon men announced their intention Of
adhering vigorously to the advice OF
| counsel in the belief that by doing so
| they will not merit or suffer any penalty.
This opinion was held to despite state
nlcrts from Washington that the Attor-
ney- Generals department would make
every effort to enforce the law. even to
the extent OF requesting the cooperation
of State and municipal police authori-
| ties.
| Some few saloon men announced their
intention of closing their places entirely
until rehabilitation is declared complete.
siderable difficulty in attempting to con-
duct their places on the light wine and
beer basis. These. however, were few
and, In most cases. were men whose
trade was principally in the more ex-
pensive drinks like highballs, rickeys
and mixed connections.
With a course laid out involving a
test of the law chief interest conferred
! in the preparations OF the Federal au-
4. nh
the men who believe that the Depart
ment Of Justice facilities are practically
negligible are likely to get some sur
prises.
u. 8. OaiSiaIs investiga ting.
It was learned yesterday that under
J instructions from Washington agents of
the Department OF Justice were to visit
considerable portion OF New York city
last night, investigate conditions after
midnight and report to the Attorney
General. No raids were contemplated In
this programme. however. and II seemed
probable that there would be no arrests.
District Attorney Swami announced
yesterday that he would not interfere
and passed the buck' to the Federal
authorities. Mr.. Swami made this state
ment:
"As far as the District Attorneys Of
nee Is concerned the saloons in New
York city may remain open. The new
prohibition law liz n Federal act and II
is up to the Federal authorities to en-
force II. Any saloon or hotel man In
this city who has a new State license
may continue to do business without
any interference from this ONCE.
understand Congress made financial pro-
vision to carry out the Federal law on
prohibition. There Is no state law
under which / can act"
Collector Edwards's Statement.
William H. Edwards. Collector OF
Internal Revenue and the Federal super
vising authority over liquor licenses is
sued the following statement:
THE only instructions that we have
received are that products upon which
tax is provided by law will require evil
dence of the payment of the tax by
having the prescribed tax stamps affixed
No instructions have been received that
! the sale OF tax stamps to be affixed to
fermented liquors. which are beer, ale,
porter and other malt beverages con-
tanning one half OF per cent. or more
of alcohol by volume. and wines Is to
be discontinued.
1.-THE instructions received rega riding
the sale OF special tax stamps Is that
| such stamps are TO be sold to the APP
plicant without granting any immunity
for violation OF the law II sales are
made for beverage purposes or in the