New Britain herald., 1920-01-16
12:O1 the Fatal Hour.


 Washington. Jan. 16.--Constitu- tional prohibition becomes effective at midnight tonight.
 From 12:01 a. n. the "nanufac- tufe, sale or transportation of intoxi- eating liquors within, the importation thereof into. or the eNportation there of from the United States and all tor ritoty subject to the Jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is prohibited by the 18th anendnn nnt to the constitution. and the United States becomes the first nation of Hthe world to make such provision part of it's basic law. Congress has defined aa intoxicating liquor as any bevcr- age containing one-half of one per cent. or more, of alcohol
 Actually, the advent of constitu- tional prohibition will make little diff ference in the daily life of the people Of this country, as they have been living under the nationwide wartime ban on alcoholic drinks since last July. There have been eager hopes enter tanned by the thirsty, by distillers and by spectators holding large ouanti ties of Whiskey for higher prices. that wartime prohibition would be lifted before today in accordance with the recommendation of President Wilson to congress, but congress refused to
 
 to begin under authority of the na- tion's constitution, which prohibitiop- ists declare will continue in effect for all time inasmuch as it could be re- Toked only in the same manner in which 1t came into existence will permit no opportunity for the replen- ishment of private cellars or the 11n loading of investment stocks There are two cases pending in the supreme court. however, attacking constitu- tional prohibition. one by the state of Rhode Island. the other on behalf of the Retail Liquor Dealers assoc:a tion of New Jersey.
 Thousands of Gallons Left
 Thousands of gallons of whislzov remain in bonded we rehouses with no chance to be sold at prevailing high prices. The liquor can be taken out only for medicinal and scientific uses with the Bureau Of Internal Revenue eXerting extreme precautions to see that none of it is used in violation of the law. During the last two months, many owners Of alcoholic liquors. foreseeing no opportunity for sale in this country have endeayored to rush the surplus 10 other coun- tries. Lack of shipping space pre- vented moreE than a fraction being eX- ported. Cuba and the Bahamas have received most of what was sent abroad. There were 70.OO0,0OO gal Ions on hand, when wartime prohibit ton went into effect. The amount exported is not known but is prob ably less than 20.0OO.00O gallons.
 Attacks on constitutional prohibi- ton, begun in several states. appar- entlY are not viewed with alarm by the reform forces. After the supreme court upheld the constitutionaIity of wartime prohibition and the meas nres to enforce it, Wayne B. Wheeler general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League of America, announced that the only question left on which tho vets could make a fight was whether prohibition was a proper subject for constitutional action and whether the amendment had been adopted legally. He contended there was no doubt on the subject. New Jersey of } f1cials. who searched state department records of the ratification of the amendment. announced they had found no variations in language which would warrant attacking it.
 Enforcement of constitutional pro- hibition was lodged by congress with the Bureau of Internal Revenue which for years has been in close touch with distilling and brewing fn-