The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-01
ATTY.-GEN. INTERPRETS
LAW ON LIGHTER DRINKS

WASHINGTON. July THE depart
ment of justice will take no action,
pending decision in present litigation,
against persons manufacturing or sell
ing beer and wines containing 2A per
cent or less alcoholic content This
announcement was made last night by
Attorney General Palmer.
The attorney p generals statement
said.
after today It will he unlawful to
sell for beverage purposes any distilled
spirit and any beer or other intoxicating
malt or vinous liquor, except for OK
port. This prohibition win continue
under the terms Of the law until the
conclusion Of the present war m there
after until the termination Of demo
bilization. As long rs the law thus
remains I'm force II must be obeyed, and
! intend that the department OF justice
shall do its utmost to perform the duty
which the congress places upon IT..
This law had been held to be con
stitutional and valid by the circuit
court Of appeals sitting in New York
IL plainly makes unlawful the sale Of
whisky, brandy and other distilled spir-
its and wine The only controversy
that has arisen as to whether the sale
of beer containing 50 little alcohol as
not TO be in fact Intoxicating Ia pro-
hibited. The governments contention
has been that the act prohibits the
manufacture and sale OF beer contain
ing as much as one-half Of | per cent
Of alcohol But the Interpretation OF
the act Is not free from difficulty, and
] an e"ndeavOrlng to have the question
settled by the courts at the earliest
possible moment. My course with re-
spect to beer containing less than ~
per cent Of aIcohol-which 1t Is claimed
Is not intoXicating-wil 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. ! have no power to
grant amnesty to anyone who may see
1T to manufacture or sell beer pending
an authoritative judicial construction OF
the law, and | am sure that brewers
and dealers generally understand that
the tendency OF litigation will be nc
protection against prosecution Tor or
lenses under the law.
"But with respect to whisky, brandy
and other distilled spirits. wine and
beer containing more than IN 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 he arrested and prosecuted. The
district attorneys will cause warrants
TO issue for all offenders as to whom
evidence is furnished by the bureau OF
Investigations the agents OF the inter
Iltl WV W. NNH N& so 80
partment, local officers or others, anc
the marshals and their deputies vii
promptly serve such warrants.
with the cooperation OF local au'
thorities It is believed that the Law
can be made effective, For this reason
I call attention to the fact that 1t |
the duty of local arresting officers 4
make arrests for offenses committed Il
their presence, whether the offense b.
against the laws Of the state or a
laws OF the United states, | conf
IDENTIFY expect the hearty corporation
Of local municipal authorities an
earnestly request that all police officer
he instructed to arrest persons foun,
selling in violation Of the war prohibi
tIon act and to take such persons be
fore a United States commissioner whej
the district attorney will war
rants. Local officers should also repor
10 the United states attorneys evi
dence OF otfenses not committed
their presence,