Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-16
HIGHEST TRIBUNAL
OPINION UNANIMOUS
War Prohibition Act May Only
Be Terminated by Presidents
Proclamation.
DISTILLERlES LOSE AT ZEAL
Decision Does Not Touch Valid
ity of Enforcement Law or
Beer Content Cases.
INV Associated prcss.1

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.--By unan.
imous decision. constitutionality OF
the wartime prohibition act was
sustained today by the Supreme Court.
The opinion, given by Associate Jus
tce Brandcis, held III effect however.
tfat the war-.nvoked dry" period
still may be terminated by presiden-
tai proclamation OF dcmobilization.
in rendering Its opinion. the court.
however did not act on the validity
OF the Nolstcad prohibition enforce
a!cohoiic content of beer, leaving those
cases to future opinions. which may
be handed down next Monday before
the rccesscs for the Christmas holt
days.
Today's decision practically swept
act being repealed before constitu-
uonal prohibition becomes effective
aidercd remote.
Attorneys Constention. Denied.
p,ncI nnS Gases defided were these Of the
Company of Louisville. XIV. and Drye
foos. Blum & Co., of New York.
Instituted for the purpose of compel.
from bond.
In both cases. the court denied con-
tentions of OF Elihu Root and other al
in violation OF the Constitution tr
private property without just com
ssnno,, sat1om, tn, that the period of thM|
nasscd, had ssr,niaatea. ,sr MaisS tSs t$at n
was an interference with tr IDAl
Iolice powers, and an undneN HI
OF the war powers OF CongresS }Nl
Congress did not intend for hI 3.
sime sInn ac act ITO to terminate at, on the. W az
view OF the court. which held thas
lhe conclusion of the war clearly did
not mean cessation Of hostilities'
AZ All Rests With President.
congress, therefore, provided" the
opinion added. that the time When hem
IN fne sxn, aGt ceased ,a to . be operative should
ms and proclaiming the date when
demohilization had terminated"
lila Lad t, the President on October IS last.
l.eved that rehabilitation had ter
Gnnhtist tf,natsd, the he court said. ''he would
tested strong conviction that festrfc
non, upon the sale of liquor should
Only by such proclamation con,a
me purpose of Congress be attained;
and the serious consequences attend.
IN uncertainty be obviated.
ease. the opinion continued. some
OK OK which have been referred to, that
concluded. that the railways are Sill
under national control by virtue OF
Mw'r powers, that other war activities
nave not been brought to a close. and
mat mat it cannot even be said that the
man power OF the nation has been re-
stored TO n peace footing. we arc un-
abIe to conclude that tho act has
ceased to be valid
Dfstilicries Had Ample Time.
me wartime act. the court also
neld, is not confiscatory, asserting thai
d;eti,,o. g;ern than nine months were given
which time the court behaved ~ ~.
adeTuate; The act also was not re-
pealed. the court held. by the prohibi-
tion constitutional amendment which,
IL asserted, is binding not only in
peace but also in war times
announcement was made tonjcbt
vnII un;ii inc House Agricultural Committee
VIII meet tomorrow TO vote on ths
moiion mo, 70 , table the bin of Representa-
i've Gal!iran, Democrat, Of Massa.
ttihusetts' when would repeal tho war.
Internal revenue officials explained
non ,"m'gnf a,f that tt the courts opinion wouil
forcing national prohibition in ti,a
least as al preparations had been
nide upon the assumption that the acr
was constitutional