New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-17
Floating Saloon
Becomes Object
OF Dry Inquiry
Question of Destination Is
Raised by Prohibition
Officers Against Liner At
tending the Yacht Race
Orizaba Is Challenged
Shevlin Says He Will Get
Full Information Com
corning Wet Steamer

Did the Ward liner Orizaba clcSr the
three-mile limit last Thursday when
she carried more than 500 passengers
TO view the international yacht race
If so, did she clear officially for for
cign port?
These questions are pertinent to the
investigation now being conducted by
James S. Shevlin, prohibition enforce
ment director for New York, into the
charges that the Orizaba was floating
saloon from the moment she cleared
the Narrows.
"You may say that am making this
investigation thorough and complete y
said Mr.. Shevlin yesterday. 81 have
detailed two agents to probe the
charges to the bottom and, if the in
vestigation discloses violation of the
prohibition law in the sale of liquor on
beard the Orizaba, | shah take imme-
date steps to prosecute thvse who are
responsible for the violation of the
law"
No Liquor To-day
Asked if he would place any of his
enforcement agents aboard the liner
when she leaves for the yacht races to-
day, Mr.. Shevlin said that he did not
care to discuss that subject.
1t was said last night at the offices
OF the Ward Line that orders had been
given that no intoxicants were to be
sold or served on to-day's trip.
Mr. Shevlin said that he had directed
August Hassenflug. legal adviser of his
department, to confer with the port au-
thorities on the question as to whether
the ship had cleared for a port out.
States when the barroom was opened
and the passengers, as it is alleged,
thronGed inside and virtually forgot
that there was yacht race on
p Under the present Interpretation of
the Eighteenth Amendment and the
Volstead enforcement act vessels of
American registry are permitted to sell
intoxicating beverages after they have
cleared the three-mile limit if they
have also officially cleared for foreign
pert. Coastwise vessels are denied this
privilege even if their course from port
TO port carries them outside the three
mile limit.
Ruling To Be Asked
Mr.. Shevlin said that the Orizaba
case may call for special ruling from
ashlngton, and he intimated that he
would seek such a decision. Informa-
ton has reached Mr.. Shevlin that there
IS being projected in New York finan-
cially powerful corporation which will
take over a ship of foreign registry, or
no registry at all, to be anchored Just
outside the three mile limit as float
ing saloon. According to this informa-
ton it is planned to run excursion
steamers to this ship, where a cabaret
entertainment and a moving picture
show will be among the features.
Colonel Francis G. Caffey. United
States District Attorney, said that he
had received no complaints about the
Orizaba's conduct last Thursday This
is a matter which is up to Mr.. Shevlin
and the port officials" he said. "When
the complaints are sent this Office will
act"
Reports that a customs Inspector
had been aboard the Orizaba when she
steamed for the yacht race were denied
yesterday by Thomas Rush, surveyor
of the Port of New York. Ward line
officials yesterday told Mr. Hassenflug
that no orders had been given by them
to sell liquor aboard the ship, but they
said that some one, unknown to them,
had broken open the ships wine cellar
and had taken thirty bottles of whisky
and several bottles of beer therefrom
They are now conducting an investi-
cation of their own.