Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-21
PROHIBITIONLAW
ENFORCEMENT ACT
UPTOWHITEHOUSE

WASHINGTON, OcL. zV.-Aho
prohibition law, deemed one of the
most sweeping acts ever passed by
congress, was to be sent to the White
House today by Attorney General
Palmer, who has been investigating
it's constitutionality.
The plan, it was learned, is to have
the bill remain at the White House
until October %, when it becomes
effective even without President Will
sons signature. From responsible
quarters there has been no hint of
a veto.
Under this law, on October 20, at
the latest, 1t will become a crime to
manufacture or sell any liquor con-
tanning more than one-half of one
per cent alcohol, or any patent med
icines or other compounds, fit for
beverage purposes, containing that
amount of alcohol.
Violations are to be investigated by
commissioners Of internal revenue
and reported to the local United
States attorneys. Commissioners
are authorized to swear out warrants
giving them q right to search for
liquor and arrest offenders.
The alcoholic liquids not deemed
illegal are denatured alcohol, me-
dicinal preparations if unfit for bev-
erage purposes which must have the
quantity of alcohol contained print
ed on each package, fiavoring eX-
tracts unfit for beverage use. vine
gar and preserved sweet cider.
Liquor manufactured before the
bill goes into effect may remain in
United States bonded warehouses,
and the alcohol content reduced to
bring it within the law or withdrawn
to be denatured.
Beer containing less than one-half
of one per cent alcohol may be sold,
but not under the name Of beer, ale
or porter.
Rigorous Penalties Imposed
Places where Intoxicating drinks
are sold are to be declared common
nuisances, and the fines imposed
shall rest as liens against the
property if the owner had guilty
knowledge Of what was going on in
his building. When such place is
discovered the law provides that an
injunction may be issued to stop
the Illicit sales and prevent removal
of the liquor.
Liquor which is seized may be de-
stroyed or delivered to any gov
ernmental agency for medicinal, me-
chanical or scientific uses or sold. to
persons having permits to purchase
it for such purposes.
Distilleries and bonded warehouses
may under the law, upon the filing
of a bond and the obtaining of per-
nit, be used as industrial alcohol
plants. The commissioner of in
ternal revenue is authorized to issue
regulations governing industrial al
cohol plants, to prevent illegal use
of alcohol and develop the non-bev-
erage alcohol industry.
Penalties under the dry law are
varied, ranging from prison SEN
fences to fines, according to what
section of the law is violated.
When the eighteenth amendment
to the constitution goes into effect
next January, many more provisions
of the law become operative. These
include the regulation of physicians,
who cannot prescribe liquor unless
they are in active practice and IL
censed, and the physician must be-
lieve it will afford relief to the pa
tient. Not more than one pint may
be prescribed within ten days. Pre-
scriptions must be made out on a
form supplied by the internal rev.
enue commissioner, with stubs-lika
check book-the book to be turned
in after all the blanks are used,
for official records. No prescription
may be filled more than once, and
druggists must keep a record, SIM
liar to a poison record. of each sale,
time, place, etc.
Prima Facie Evidence
Advertising, manufacture and sale
of tablets or formulas for making
liquor at home is prohibited.
Advertising of liquor in any way
is made illegal.
Even the giving of information as
to where it may be obtained is l W
breaking. Vehicles used for trans
porting it shall be seized.
With regard to possession of al
coholic drinks, the act says posses
sion after February l, 1920, shall be
prima facie evidence of intent to
violate, except that liquor in private
homes legitimately purchased before
the law went into effect. This liquor
may be used only for the personal
consumption of the owner, his fam
lily and guests.
Private dwellings, cannot be
searched unless it is suspected the
beverage is being sold in them, or
part of the house is used for bust
ness purposes. Hotel and lodging
house rooms which are transiently
used may be searched. Those perma-
nently occupied by the same persons
are regarded as private dwellings,.
Buildings used for selling liquor