The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
URGE PARTIAL T|LT|NG
 0F LID 0N LIQUOR
Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalians Insist Restric-
 tions Proposed Would
 Jeopardize Vintage
Bx Associated Press

Washington, March 6.--Regulations fur. ther restricting the distribution of liquor now confined to manufacturers and wholesale druggists have been drawn up and await the approval of the new ad- ministration.
 Tie regulations, as drafted by pronihi- ton officials, would limit manufacturers forbid them to dispose of other manu- factures containing alcohol Such a step, in the opinion of prohibition officials, would greatly restrict the sale of in- toxicants and, by cutting off the slight latitude now allowed manufacturers, coupled with the elimination of the wholesale liquor dealer, would practically limit the distribution of liquor to whole sale druggists
 Protests against tho total elimi- nation of wholesale liquor dealers have been received by the treasury from representatives sof Catholic, EpiscopaI and Lutheran denominations. These de- nominations have been accustomed. spokesmen for the churchmen have ex. plained, to purchase the wine used for sacramental purposes from certain deal CTS who provided them with wine of standard quality.
 SUPPLY THREATENED
 With the elimination of the dealers, churchmen declared their source of sup, ply has been cut off As remedy, the prohibition authorities have been asked to permit reputable dealers who have been in business more than three years continue the distribution of sacramental wines. Early this week a hearing on the matter is to be held by the internal revenue bureau.
 Disposition of the question as to wheth- CT beer may be prescribed for medicinal purposes by physicians. prohibition off, cials said, also will come up for early consideration. An opinion is understood to have been prepared for the treasury by the department of justice which would permit tn euse of malt liquors for medicinal purposes similarly witl wine or vinous liquors as entrusted with the restrictions of the prohibition act on whisky or spirituous liquors. Use of beer is opposed, however, by the prohi- bition enforcement authorities, who maintain that by permitting it's mauu- facture for medicinal purposes the al ready perplexing problem of handling the breweries would be made more diff ficult.
 The attitude of the new administration toward the breweries is awaited with ia-' terest by the present enforcement off cials in view of the steady campaign Commissioner Kramer has been waging against the manufacture of beer con. tainng more than the legal amount of alcohol and the numerous seizures of property which have been made in the past few months.
 EMBASSY PROTESTS,
 Another question for the new heads of the department to decide is the matter of transhipment of liquor via this coun- try when shipped from one foreign coun- try to another. On the protest of the British embassy, the opinion rendered by the department ~ justice holding tran shipments of liqN6r and vessels touch- ing at American ports with liquor aboard to be violators of the prohibition laws has been returned for review. Meanwhile, both. questions remain in status quo.
 In connection with the shipping angle to the prohibition question some prohi- bition officials have suggested the pos sibility of a new policy regarding liquor on American ships. Under the present law as defined by the department of justice, prohibition follows American ships beyond the three-mile limit. ard the sale of intoxicants on them is pro hibited. Strong protest against this in depreciation, however, has been made by shipping interests, and Chairman Ben son of the shipping board has informed the House that such a policy is in furious to the American merchant ma rine. For these reasons the new admin istration gave careful consideration to the matter of divorcing liauor from ships.