The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-04
WILL NOT ATTEMPT PREVENT
SALES OF MILDER BEERS.
Regulations Issued by Internal Rev.
enue Bureau as Nation Enters
Dry Period.

Dry Period.
Washington, June 30.-As war
time prohibition took effect tonight
The department of justice announced
that it's agents throughout the coun-
try would not attempt tomorrow to
stop the sale of two and three-quart-
ers per cent beer.
This eleventh hour development, a
flat reversal of an earlier ruling to-
day by the department, was due to
the uncertainty as to how the feder-
al district court of New York might
rule on a pending claim by brewers
that beer containing that much alco-
hol was not Intoxicating. But while
this uncertainty existed as to beer of
lighter alcoholic percentage than that
sold generally heretofore, full warn
ing was given that with respect to
whiskey and all beverages as to
whose Intoxicating powers there was
no doubt, every governmental agency
would be set to work in a determined
effort to prevent their manufacture
and sale.
How long the sale of two and
three quarters per cent beer might
continue would depend ordinarily up
on the speed of the courts, but con-
gress meanwhile will step to the
front in an effort to complete the
effectiveness of the wartime law.
Will Now Pass Bill.
Exactly what they have refused
heretofore to do, prohibition mem
bers of the house now will attempt
passage of straight, clear-cut bill,
for enforcement Of wartime prohibi-
tion.
When word spread tonight that the
attorney general, by his ruling, had
permitted Der saloons and breweries
to remain in operation, members of
the judiciary committee counted
noses to find a sufficient number
ready to go to the front to demand
separation of the enforcement meas
hre so as to get through at once
bill that would stop the sale OF all
beer containing more than one-half
of one per cent alcohol.
Congressional leaders, it was said,
refused to abandon plans for recess
beginning probably tomorrow;Siii or
der to put the bill through as an
emergency measure, and the-Whole
question of prohibition will be held
up until next Monday, at the earliest.
There were indications tonight. that
a hard fight would be madesin behalf
of an amendment to be offered BY
Representative Igoe, Democrat, Of
Missouri, which would permit the
president to set aside the wartime
act insofar as it relates to light wines
and beers. e
judiciary Committee Takes Stand.
! While the attorney generals staff
was wrestling with the question OF
intoxicating Ind Misunderstanding
beer the judiciary committee sent to
the house it's report in which the bold
assertion was made r that anything
over one-half. of enc per cent alcohol
was intoxicating within. the :purview
of the general law, and that congress
a1d net the court; should fix the. al
,coholic percentage Of all beverages,
sale of which is restricted by prohi-
bition statutes.
But while the milder brew Of beer,
like some notable was accorded I1,-
usual honor by the joyful throng, a
long, dry finger moved across the
man tonight at midnight and blotted
out of existence a mans legal right
to. buy or sell liquor. Sale of these
intoxicanvs again will be legal with
rehabilitation of the army, date Of
which will be determined by the pres
ident, and until January 16, 1920, at
which time it will be prohibition for
many day by constitutional amend
ment.
Celebrate Barieycorn's Funeral.
In every city where the saloons
lights blazed for perhaps the last
time, the merrymaking kept up until
the tolling of the midnight hour. The
finger then moved across the man
from east to west, and when the bells
sounded the closing warning at Bos-
ton, the folk at San Francisco still
had three hours to drink.
Attorney General Palmer, in his
statement as to the policy of the de-
nartment. called attention to the fact