The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-04
Federal Agents Announce They
Will Not Stop Sale of 2 3-4
Per Cent Beer.
AWAIT ACTION OF COURT
Attorney General Makes Ruling
at Eleventh Hour Flatly Re-
versing Earlier Ruling of De-
partment of Justice.


time prohibition took effect Mon
day the department of justice an
nounced that its agents throughout
the country would not attempt to-
stop the sale of two and three-quar-
ters per cent beer.
This eleventh hour development a
fiat reversal OF an earlier ruling by
the department, was due to the un-
certainty as to how the federal dis
trict court o. New York might rule
on pending claim by brewers that
beer containing that much alcohol
was not Intoxicating.
But while this uncertainty existed
as to beer of lighter alcoholic per-
centage than that sold generally
heretofore, full warning was given
that with respect to whiskey and all
beverages as to whose Intoxicating
powers there was no doubt, every
governmental agency would be set
to work in determined effort to
prevent their manufacture and sale.
Congress to Act.
How long the sale Of two and
three-quarters per cent beer might
continue would depend ordinarily
upon the speed Of the courts, but
congress meanwhile will step to the
front in an effort to complete the eff
fectiveness OF the wartime law.
Exactly what they have refused
heretofore to do, prohibition mem
bers of the house now will attempt
passage OF a straight. clearcut bill
for enforcement of wartime prohi-
bition
When word spread that the attor-
ney general, by his ruling. had per-
mitted beer saloons and breweries
to remain in operation. members of
the judiciary committee counted
noses to find a sufficient number
ready to go to the front to demand
separation of the enforcement meas
ures so as to get through at once a
bill that would stop the sale of all
beer containing more than one-half
of one per cent alcohol.
Held Up Till Monday.
Congressional leaders, it was said.
refused to abandon plans for a recess
in order to put the bill through as
an emergency measure, and the
whole question Of prohibition will be
held up until Monday. at the earliest.
There were indications that a hard
fight would be made in behalf of an
amendment to be offered by Repre-
sentative Igoe. Democrat, OF Mis-
souri,, which would permit the Pres-
dent to set aside the wartime act in
sofar as it relates to light wines and
beers
While the attorney generals staff
was wrestling with the questions of
Intoxicating and notwithstanding
beer, the judiciary committee sent to
the house its report in which the
bold assertion was made that any
thing over one-half OF one per cent
alcohol was intoxicating within the
purview OF the general law. and that
congress. and not the court, should
HN tHt ultOHullC VI all
hEerages. sale of which is restricted
by prohibition statutes.
But while the milder brew of beer
like some notable. was accorded un-
usual honor by the joyful throng. a
loAg, dry finger moved across the
map at midnight and blotted out of
existence a mans legal right to buy
or sell liquor. Sale of these intox-
fcapts again will be legal with de-
mobilization OF the army. date of
which will be determined by the
President, and until January 16.
1920, at which time 1t will be pro-