Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-07-19
Palmer Instructs District
Attorney to Start Prose
cutions at Once
80 PER CENT OPEN
Quaker City Saloons Sell 2.75 Beer
Government to Prosecute All
Who Defy the Law.

| Philadelphia. July 20-Who!esale
arrests Of persons selling 2.75 per
cent. beer in Philadelphia are eN-
pccted to follow an order issued yes
terday by the Department of Justice
at Washington.
Instructions have been sent to Un-
tied States District Attorney Kane.
here, to begin prosecutions at once
against all persons selling beer con-
taiairg an alcoholic content of more
enan one and one-half per cent.
District Attorney Kane, up until a
ate hour last night. had not received
lie order. He refused to state wtas
action he would take until full in
siruc t;ons are received from Washing
ton.
The move on the part of the De-
partmcr., acting under orders from
Attorney General Palmer, followed :
receipt yesterday cf the full text
rf Judge Dickirson's decision, which,
according to the view of the Depart
nvnt, sustains The contention of the
Government as TO the legal percen-
tage of alcoholic contert permitted in
| the bevrags offrdtoreuh WaJdtasdr
the beverages offered for sale.
The instructions to District After
7ey Kane were contained in letter
prepared by Assistant United States
.4ttorney William L. Frierson, in
Charge Of the enforcement of prohi
t,ition legislation for the Departures.
cf justice.
Mr.. Frergon said last night al
Washington bhat the agents of the
Eu"eau of Investigation of the De-
paltmer5 would undertake to find ou:
the facts concerning those who are
Fine prescribed amount CT alcohol. In
addition, he indicated that the police
lderartment in Philadelphia would be
l:sked by, District Attorney Kane to
arrest all found guilty. and have them
taken before the, Urted States Com
missioner ~
, Speaking of the decision of Judge
/ II,ickinson,: :Assistart Attorney Gen.
a4!sErierso5n safa:s ~ (
"Judge Dickinson declined to pass
IN the demurrer now, holding tina:
.5fle question is one to be decided cn
he trial of the case, rather thar on
demurrer. He took occasion, however.
20 say that he was in accord with the
opinion delivered by Judge Thompson,
At Pittsburgh, which held that all beer
contairing as much a sone-haf of one
rcr cent of alcohol was prohibited.
GAS the question was fully arg
ucd before Judge Dickinson, the De-
partment takes this statement to
clearly indicate what his ruling vii!
be at the trial.
Constructions have, therefore.
been given for the arrest and pros
ecution of all persons found manu-
featuring or selling so called 2 81
ner cent. at the in that district.
The decision of Judge Dickinson
adds one more to the list that is al
ready either conflicting or slightly
different in character. That Of
Judge Rose. of Baltimore, support
cd the right to deal in 2.75 per cent.
beer. while that of Judge Thomp-
son. of Pittsburgh, was in srbstanti-
alton of the governments stand on
the alcoholic percentage above
which the beverage was held as in
toxicatlng.
The difference between Judge
Dickinson's decision and that OF
Judre Thompson does not lie in the
question of alcoholic content, hence
the action determined upon today
nv the Department Of Justice as to
-he means to be taken in Philadcl-
mia and generally throughout ths
Eastern District against violators 0!
tch law. The department will ap
neal the Baltimore decision to The
Supreme Court and will also ash
that the case be put we'll to tht