The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-01-02
Supreme Court Deals Hard Blow
to the Vets and They Stand
Up to Get Another.
NOW ATTACKING AMENDMENT
Attorney General Palmer Persuades
the Packers to Abandon Their Side
Lines+Fiume Agreement Blocked
by D'Annunzio's Troops-Grow-
ing Sentiment for Peace
Treaty Compromise.
By EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Like real tragedy to great many
citizens of the United States was the
chief event of the past week-the deci-
sion of the Supreme court of the Unit
ed States unfolding the constitutional
ity of the wartime prohibition act.
1t was q severe blow not only for the
men who hoped to renew their fast
dwindlng supplies of private stock"
before January 16, when the constitu-
tional prohibition amendment gees in
to effect, and to the dealers who had
hoped for a chance to dispose of their
vast stores of liquors, but also to many
banks that had made loans on whisky
| certificates totalling perhaps 100000
600. 1t was estimated that the govern
ment would lose in taxes about $780,
| 100000, and that the loss in physical
value of plants and other property
would be 500, 100000. The total was
roughly put at billion and half
of dollars.
The cases decided were those of the
Kentucky Distilleries and Warehouse
company of Louisville. Ky, and Dry
| ZOOS, IBiuIu " w. VI 4NC" III n, ibSta
tuted for the purpose of compelling
the government to release whisky
from bond.
In both cases the court denied con-
tentions of Elihu Root and other at
torneys for the distilleries that the act,
in violation of the constitution, takes
private property without just compen-
sation; that the period of the war
emergency, for which the act was
passed, had terminated; that the law
was an interference with the state po-
lice powers and an undue exercise OF
the war powers of congress.
The wartime act. the court held, Is
not contiseatory, asserting that more
than seven months were given distil'
lers to dispose of their stocks, which
time the court believed to be adequate
The act also was not repealed, the
court held, by the prohibition constitu
tional amendment which, il asserted
is binding not only in peace, but alst
in war times.
The vets did not give up all hope
but at once went to work on new
lines, previously prepared" The Re
tail Liquor Dealers association of New
Jersey and the state of Rhode lslan'
5 both asked the Supreme court for per
! mission to institute original proceed
| ings to have the national prohibition
: amendment declared demonstrations
! and TO enjoin federal officials iron
n enforcing it, Rhode Island is one o
. the states that did not ratify tn
amendment, and the present actiO
was taken by direction of the legisla
ture. These attacks on the amendmen
are based on the allegation that
violates the fifth amendment TO tn
constitution. which prohibits the tai
ing of private property without jus
2 compensation, and also on the charg
d that Ii is an interference with III
g state police powers
: Another attempt TO repeal the wa
time prohibition law was made in col
Q gress, but the house agriculture col
a mittee reported unfavorably on the bi
n by vote of 10 TO 3. RepresentatiN
r. Rainey of Illinois made the only arg
/ ment for repeal, urging that the VI
II period should be allowed, so the pc
sons of small means could lay IN
stock of liquor for medicinal pu
= poses, and the government could &C
- lect 100000 in revenue taxes.
= Ever since he assumed the Off
:. of attorney general. Mr.. Palmer h
been at work on a plan to curb u
- fast growing interests of the big pac