The Washington herald., 1920-02-16
FEDERAL SHIPS
TO STAY DRY
SAYS SHEPPARD
Senator Who ''Saharaized'
D. c. Takes Issue With
Payne.
SCORES SHIPPING HEAD
Declares Prohibition Law
Won't t Hurt Maritime
Business.

Senator Morris Sheppard, of Texas.
force in the Senate for Con-
prohibition, said last night
that he takes issue with John Bar
ton Payne. chairman of the Shipping
Board. on the latter's contention that
the American government
merchant marine cannot compete with
foreign lines because our ships can
not sell intoxicants.
'1 think further trial of the gov
ernment ships will show that Judge
Payne's contention that dry Amer
lean ships cannot compete with for
eign lines equipped with bars, will
be found incorrect.
II believe Americans will prefer to
travel on the ships operated by the
board. where they will not encoutner
the nVisances produced by the sale
of intoxicants, and will not have TO
take passage with drunkards. The
Shipping Board should go ahead and
operate ships without bars"
Volstead Act Aided Decision.
Chairman Payne recently an
nounced that he believed it neces-
sary to dispose of the great fleet
of ships now operated, and that
one Of the prime factors in in
huencing this decision of the Ship.
ping Board was the fact that un-
der the constitutional prohibition
amendment it would be impossible
to sell liquor on government ships
He further stated that when
these ships were sold, and had
passed permanently into private
control it would be within the dis
cretion Of the owners whether they
would be allowed to carry bars
In this connection it is known thai
several ships, one of them the
"manchuria." formerly operated by
the board. have made trips out OF
American ports with supplies of In
toxicants.
II Is not unlikely that Congress
convinced that an inequality exists
in this respect, may take action tc
prevent ships of foreign registry
entering American ports with
liquor on board.
1t is considered probable that dry
members of Congress shortly will
move for an amendment to the Vol.
stead prohibition enforcement act
which would make it unlawful fol
foreign ships TO enter our ports with
intoxicants on board.
An attempt was recently made b,
internal revenue agents to bring thI.
issue to the fore for a decision, wher
government officers went on boarC
an italian liner arriving in New Yorl
and seized the stocks of liquor car.
ried. A complaint was filed by off.
GERS OF the vessel with the Italian
consul. who took the matter up will
Treasury officials here.
1t was claimed by officers of thu
steamer that the wine on board was
in the nature of a ration" for tbs
Italian seamen. who use wine at theil
mess. Apparently. this claim was al.
lowed to stand, because the Internal
Revenue Bureau subsequently rulec
that the wine seized by revenu,
agents should be returned to the Gus,
tody of the Italian liners officers.
The ruling stipulated. however. thai
ships could not sell any intoxicanti
to Americans when they arrive in ou
ports. and that the intoxicants OF
board must only be used for tn,
crew, as part of their daily rationini
system.
shipping Inquiry This Week.
The special committee appointed b.
TIE House to investigate the activities
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.