Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-01
Many King Alcohol Wakes.

Obsequies of King Alcohol were con-
Quoted in all of the larger cities OF
the country last night with elaborate
ceremonies New York. Philadelphia.
Baltimore. Boston and other places In
the east carried the last rites to the
last second of the last minute allowed
by the law. and thousands of celebra.-
tors carried over to today more or
less painful mementoes of the occa-
sion in the shape of headaches. hang
overs and the various unpleasant re-
minders of a night spent not wisely
but to well
Conservative estimates on the value
of intoxicants stored by Washington
people against the time of drought
place the figures well over the million
dollar mark. Enough booze has been
stored in Washington cellars. cellar
etts, closets and other places of conceal
ment to float the Atlantic fleet, accord
ing to statisticians.
Persons who claim to have kept tab
on the number of Washington pill
erims to Baltimore in the last few
days declare that not less. than $4,000
men and women made the trip. Mary
land highway engineers assert that
wear and tear on the Washington
Baltimore boulevard in the last couple
of weeks has been fully equal to the
havoc wrought by Army trucks dur
ing the entire war period. AS for fraf-1
fic on the electric line and the steam
roads-wel1, the experts haven't made
more than fair start in figuring it
yet.
And, to top it all off. late yesterday
the House judiciary committee in
report on prohibition enforcement
from the office Of the Attorney Cen
the right or power to say, as a matter
of law, what percentage of alcohol is
necessary to make beverage or
liquid intoxicating. and held that this
was matter of fact and not of law
AS such. the report declared, the ques-
ton was clearly within the province
of Congress to determine%
Attorney Generals Statement.
The statement issued late yesterday
from the office of the Attorney Cen
eral. which was reversal of a
statement issued earlier in the day.
said:
after today It will be unlawful
to sell for beverage purposes any
distilled spirit and any beer, or other
intoxicating malt or vinous liquor.
except for export. This prohibition
will continue under the terms of the
law until the conclusion of the pres
ent war and thereafter until the ter
mination of demobilization.' AS long
as the law thus remains in force 1t
must be obeyed, and I intend that
the Department of Justice shall do it's
the Congress placed upon it.
This law has been held to be con-
stitutional and valid by the circuit
court of appeals sitting in New York.
1t plainly makes unlawful the sale
of whisky. brandy and other distilled
spirits and wine. The only contro-
versy that has arisen is as to whether
the sale of beer containing SO little
alcohol as not to be in fact intoxi-
eating is prohibited The govern
act prohibits the manufacture and
sale of beer containing as much as
one-half of I per cent of alcohol. But
the Interpretation of the act is not
free from difiiculty, and l am en-
deavoring to have the question set
possible moment. My course with
respect to beer containing less than
PA per cent OF alcohol-which it is
claimed is not intoXicating-will de-
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
any one who may see fit to manu-
facture or sell beer pending an au-
law. and I am sure that brewers and
dealers generally understand that the
tendency of litigation will be no pro-
lection against prosecution for Of
But with respect to whisky, bran
dy and other distilled spirits. wine and
beer containing more than On per
cent of alcohol. and other intoxicating
malt or vinouS liquors the prohibition
is beyond 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 issue for all
offenders as to whom evidence is fur
the agents of the internal revenue bu-
reau of the Treasury Department., To-
cal officers or others, and the marshals
and their deputies will promptly serve
such warrants.
with the cooperation Of local au-
thorities, it Is believed that the law
can be made effective. For this rea-
son I call attention to the fact that it
is the duty of local arresting officers
to make arrests for offenses commit
ted in their presence whether the Of
Tense be. against the laws of the state
or the laws of the United States. |
confidently expect the hearty cooper
alton of local municipal authorities
and earnestly request that all police
officers be instructed to arrest persons
found selling in violation of the war
prohibition act and to take such per-
sons before a United States commits
sioner when the district attorney will
cause warrants to issue. Local officers
should also report to the United States
attorneys evidence Of offenses not
committed in their presence"
In its report on prohibition enforce
judiciary committee held that the right
of Congress- to define Intoxicating