The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-01
U. S. OFFICIALS
TO AWAIT COURT
RULINGON BEER
Attorney-G General Instructs
Agents to Arrest Dealers
in Other Liquors.
TO FIX STATUS SOON
Asks Aid Of Municipal Author
tiles in Prohibition En-
forcement.
TO FIX STATUS SOON
Special Despafch TO TIE sus.


WARRINGTON, June 80. Attorney
General A. Mitchell Palmer to-day is
sued a statement defining the stand of
the Department Of Justice on the en-
forcement Of war time prohibition as
follows:
After to-day It will be unlawful TO
sell for beverage purposes any distilled
spirits and any beer wine or other in
toxicating malt or vinous liquor. except
for export This prohibition will con-
tinue under the terms OF the law until
the conclusion Of the present war and
thereafter until the termination Of de-
mobilization.
"As long as the law thus remains in
force It must be obeyed. and l intend
that the Department of Justice shall do
its utmost to perform the duty which
the Congress has placed upon It
This law has been held to be con-
stitutionsl and valid by the Circuit
Court Of Appeals sitting In New York
1t plainly makes unlawful the sale Of
whiskey. brandy and other distilled
spirits and wine. The only controversy
that has arisen is as to whether the sale
OF beer containing SO little alcohol as not
to be in fact intoxicating is prohibited.
The Governments contention has been
that the act prohibits the manufacture
and sale of beer containing as much as
one-half of one per cent. Of alcohol. but
the Interpretation of the act Is not free
from difficulty and l am endeavoring to
have the question settled by the Court
at the earliest possible moment.
MY course with respect to beer con-
tanning less than ~ per cent. OF alcohol
which It is claimed Is not Intoxicating
will depend upon the ruling which
will soon be made by the District
Courts in which cases are now pending
or in which other cases may be brought.
II have no power 20 grant amnesty
to anyone who may see Mt to manutnc-
ture or sell beer pending an authorita-
tive judicial construction OF the law,
and am sure that brewers and dealers
generally understand that the pendency
Of litigation will be no protection against
prosecution for offences under the law.
But with respect to whiskey, brandy
and other distilled spirits. wine, and
beer containing more than 2% per cent.
OF alcohol, and other Intoxicating malt
or vinous liquors. the prohibition Is be-
yond controversy, and but one course Is
open to the Department OF Justice.
"All persons found selling such liquors
must be arrested and prosecuted. The
District Attorneys will cause warrants
to be issued for all offenders as to whom
| evidence is furnished by the Bureau OF
Investigation. the agents of the Internal
Revenue Bureau of the Treasury Depart
ment, local officers or others. and the
Marshals and their deputies will proba-
bly, serve such warrant.
with the cooperation OF local au-
thorlties II is believed that the law
can be made effective. For this reason
l call attention to the fact that 1t IL
the duty OF local arresting officers to
make arrests for offences committed
In their presence. whether the offence
be against the laws of the State or the
laws OF the United States confidently
expect the hearty cooperation OF local
municipal authorities and earnestly re-
quest that all police officers be In
structed to arrest persons found selling
In violation OF the war prohibition act
and to take such persons before United
States Commissioner. when the District
Attorney will cause warrants to Issue.
Local officers should also report to the
United states Attorneys evidence OF Of
fences not committed In their presence"