Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-03
PLAN TEST CASES
TO SETTLE DISPUTE
OVER 23-4PCT. BEER
GOVERNMENT WILL TRY OUT
SUITS AGAINST ATLANTIC CITY
WET SPOTS" ATTORNEY GEN.
ERAL PALMER ANNOUNCES.

Washington. July 3.--AtterDey Gen
eral Palmer yesterday announced that
he had directed the district attorney
In Atlantic City to make an investiea-
ton OF reported fragrant violations OF
the war prohibition act and make az
rests if the situation warrants
The attorney general said the de,
partment of justice would proceed
with test cases in states where the
act is being violated, but said he
should think 1T is up to Congress to
provide definite law under which to
proceed
Beer Respite May Continue.
to congressional action, there is
,4on the respite which mild beer
is now enjoying may continue DRY"
leaders in Congress decided to go
slow in carrying out the plan deter
mined upon Tuesday to rush through
separate legislation for the enforce
ment Of wartime prohibition
This decision ito make haste SLOW
ny was IEuNtiCu VIZ uASobul vi
spreading fear that President Wilson
might veto bill with provisions sol
drastic as to prohibit 275 per cent
beer
torday between the house and senateI
it was reported the limit Of alcoholic
content for beverages as fixed in the
prohibition enforcement law may yeti
be raised SO as to permit the sale Of
275 beer
Palmer Outlines Policy.
Attorney General Palmer said yes
erday that he would carry out the law
as Congress writes it. The attorney
generals position in the meantime
was explained by him in the follow. |
ing words:
I'll proceed in all the states until
I'm stopped"
His reference is, of course, to the |
states that are still wet He Is re-
ceiving reports from department of |
justice agents regarding the prohibi, |
ton act situation in the various juris
dictions, and his plan is to institute |
test cases as fast as the agents find
violations
Baltimore Test Case Delayed
The attorney general said the Balti- |
more case would be carried to the Su.
preme Court, but pointed out the court |
would not convene until fall He said
specific legislation by Congress might
easily obviate the necessity of set
Ting the question by carrying an ap-
peal to the Supreme Court. Should |
Congress define what constitutes an
Intoxicating liquor" be said, then the
only question In given case would be
whether the liquor contained the
stated alcoholic content"
The attorney general called atten-
ton to the opinion of Judge Rose of
which reached Washington
yesterday. 1t was pointed out that
while Judge Rose had given an opin
ion adverse t6 the contention of the
government, the judge made it clear
that beer had been defined as liquor
more than one-half of per
cent alcohol, which is the ruling under
which the department of justice Is
now proceeding.
But Judge Rose said in the opinion,
in view Of the decision in the New
York case, and also because he
thought the war prohibition act should
be uniformly construed, he was con
strained to decide adversely to the
government so that the case could
be carried direct to the Supreme
Court. IA
Dry Drop Haste Plans.
The plan Of the drys in Congress-
o rush through separate wartime
prohibition enforcement legislation to
stop the sale of 275 per cent beer is
likely to be abandoned as the result
1T conferences yesterday between dry
eaders In the senate and house,