Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-03
MOVES TO PUNISH
DEFIANCE OF LAW
AT ATLANTIC CITY
Attorney-General Palmer
Orders Investigation Of
Resorts Saloons.
CONGRESS MAY ALLOW SALE
OF "NONINTOXICATING" BEER
Indications at Washington Said
to Point to Wartime Pro-
hibition Compromise.
MAY NOT NEED TEST CASES
u
MAY NOT NEED TEST CASES
II Measure Is Adopted Specifying
What Constitutes Intexicant, En-
forcement Will Be Simplified.

WASHINGTON. July 3 Attorney
General Palmer announced that he had
directed the district-attorney in At
lantic city to make an Immediate in
yestlgation of reported nagrant viola
tions of the war prohibition act and
TO follow with arrests If the situation
warranted.
Attorney General Palmer said that
the Department of Justice would pro-
ceed with test cases In states where
the act Is being violated. but said he
should think 1T Is up TO Congress 10
provide a definite law under which to
AS to Congressional action there is
indication that the respite which light
peer ~ now enjoying may continue.
TO go slow In carving out the plan
through separate Legislation for the
enforcement Of wartime prohibition.
Fear Presidential Veto.
This decision 10 make haste slowly"
was reached account of spreading
fear that Presiden, Wilson might veto
prohib a5 per een 50 Beer eras''a as 10
I Following a numbar OF conferences
St.ay between the House and the SEN
fixed in the prohibition enforcement
law may yet be raised go as TO permit
Attoruey-G sneral Palmer said today
that he would carry out the law as
Congress writes IL The a.torney-sen-
expressed by him in the following
words:
"I,li proceed in all the states until
The Attorney General's reference Is.
OF course. 70 the states that are still,
tn2rfmpnl
the prohibition act situation In the
various. jurisdictions and his plan lis
agents find violations, iS
Garry Baltimore Case Up.
Mr. Palmer said tha. the Baltimore
case would be carried TO the Supreme
Court. but pointed out that the court
would not convene until fall. He said
tha.Tspecihc legislation by Congress
yE9ht easily ohviate the necessity of
70 'hs ne 6y o,r Garryng
Congress define what constitutes an
intoxicating liquor. he said. then the
only question in q given case would be
stated alcoholic content"
The Attorney General called attention
more. which reached Washington to-
day. Il was pointed out that while
Judge Rose had given an opirion ad-
ment,, that. the, judge made it clear
that beer has been defined as liquor
containing. more than one-half of per
cent, which is the ruling under which
the Department of Justice is now pro-
ceeding.
Constrained to Decide Adversely.
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 uni
formly construed. ne was constrained
TO decide adversely to the government,
SO that the case could be carried direct
TO tie Supreme Court.
The. plan of the "drys" in Congress
torush through separate wartime pro-
hibttton enforcement Legislation to stop
the sale of 2 IA per cent beer sis likeyl
ferencss abandoned the result Of con-
in the Senate and House.
At any rate. 1T has been definitely
decide decided l. not TO take any precipitate
hibition. The plan agreed upon yes
terday was to separate wartime en-
foTeement legislation from the omnibus
tional prohibition and industrial aico-
hol, and 10 push 1t through with the
least possible delay.
To Stop Loop-IIoIe in Inv.
18th The ~ purpose ,na of this scheme was, to
law. through which 3 IA "a per per cent cent beer beer
escapes, and to give the Attorney
General full authority to prevent the
than one-half of per cent of alcohol.
overnight consideration OF this pro-
sra,n snnns resuI.ea @ IN change OF opinion
i the conferences of Senators and Rep
rssentatives res interested in the subject
Ihs prs.,dagggs a,sdnggestiGn ;,1so was advanced that
drastic as to prohibit 2 "a per cent
beer. Proponents of this suggestion
are undersiood to have declared that.
gress that the ban on light wines and
beer be lifted, the President might be
2 1expeeted 1st3ee 9o TO- disappreye of direct iegis
his recommendation, should go SO far
as as to absolutely prohibit the very
mitted. De per-
Might Create Worse Condition,
Should this situation be created. the
dry leaders realized. worse condi-
ton than that which now exists might
be brought about. Sufficient votes to
be mustered, 1t is believed. and the
\ be left just where il is.
Ihe failure to enact enforcement
d. legislation. as a result of the veto,
would shake the publc's respect for
the original law. and Widespread vio-
5flations might result. Handicapped by
lack Of adequate machinery to en-
force the statute. the Department of
Justice would not be in position to
cope with such a condition.
The word went forth. therefore. that
Z the original plan to bring up the oi.s.ni-
bus bill would bo carried out. Chair
man volstead, of the House Judiciary
Committee, said this course would be
L followed IL m
~ But even in this event, the President
ultimately will bs confronted with tho
same situation. The portion of tho
ornnibus bill dealing with wartime
beverages at one-half OF / per cent,
which Is expected to meet with the
Presidents disapproyal.
With this In mind, the dry" leaders,
1t WAS learned. are considering appeal
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