Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-14
SHIP OWNERS SEEK
LEAVE SELL LIQUOR
PAST SMILE LIMIT
Unable to Compete for
World Trade Without
1t, They Declare.
PASSENGERS CANCEL SPACE
TO SAIL ON BRITISH SHIPS
Wheeler Opposes Move, Saying
All Nations Will Be Dry
in Short Time.
INTERESTS NOT MOLLIFIED
Tell Committee They Have to Deal
With Prcscnt-Day Problems,
| Not Theories OF Future.
PASSENGERS CANCEL SPACE
TO SAIL ON BRITISH SHIPS
INTERESTS NOT MoLLlFIED
Tell Committee They Have to Deal
With Prcscnt-Day Problems,
Not Theories OF Future.
IBy Associated Press. ]

BY Associated Prcssl
WASHlNGTOE, Jan. i3-American
passenger steamship officials. appeal
ing today TO the House Judiciary
Committee for modification of tho
Nolstead act. frankly declared they
would be unable to compete with
shins of foreign registry for the trade
OF the world unless permitted to han
die liquors for use by patrons beyond
the three-milc American limit
About the only consolation they OBJ
tanned at the end of an all-day hear
ing was prcdiction-not for the
record-by Representative Dyer, Re-
publican. Missouri. that they didn't
nave chance" This comment was
made in open session after Wayne
" hreler, general counsel for the Anti
saloon League. in opposing any let
down in the present law expressed
the opinion that some day the world
would he dry and that the ships of
ali nations would sail over the seven
seas without drop OF liquor aboard.
The shipping interests insisted,
however, that they had to deal with
prohiems OF the present day, that
'here had been wholesale cancellation
OF reservations on American ships by
travellers who found other vessels
bound Tor the same ports Unaffected
by prohibition restrictions and that.
the great task OF trying TO mako tho,
american flag supreme on the-seas Y
could not be carried on in competition
with Great britain and other nations
Tree OF all legislative handicaps.
Speaks With Scriouxncsn.
P.,-A. ;. F'rankiin, president of tho
international Mercantile Marine.
warned the committee that the death
kneil OF the merchant marine was
sounded IL Nhe ruling by Attorney
General Palmer that American ships.
at sea or anywhere in the world, could
not sell liquor, were permitted to
stand. Speaking as he said in all
seriousness, and with no attempt Mt
iiippancy," l.. y. Quarles. president of
the United States Mail Steamship
Company, declared owners would be
mt subjects for examination in q psy-
chopathic ward" il they invested any
vast sum in the building and condi-
t!oninE OF ships without assurances
that they would be allowed to COM
pete on equal terms with the coun-
tries cndeavorins now TO dominate
ocean commerce. Representatives OF
"ther lines said all they could hope, to
obtain was the overflow OF travel.
Harris Livermore, president CT the
United American Line. told the COM
mittee that construction OF many
transatlantic vessels had ben con-
tcmp!atcd. but that with this hang
ing over us we cannot so ahead until
the question is determined" Half a
dozen witnesses. representing many
corporations. testified that as the
law stood today IL gave n distinct
and tremendous advantage to foreign
traders because foreigners and n null
titude of Americans refused to travel
on dry ships il they could book pas
sage on others where the serving OF
vines with meals was not crime,
Wheeler Pleads Alone.
MI Wheeler alone was heard in op-
position to the plea of the steamship
!oik, made at Il hearing on bill by
Representative Edmonds, of Penn
sylvania. ranking Republican mem
oer OF the Merchant Marine Commit
tee. TO exempt passenger vessels en-
gagged in foreign trade from pro-
visions CT the Volstead law. Assert
ing that many ships now were boot
Logging, Mr.. Wheeler said tho
amendment would multiply the din
Guilty of the dry laws enforcement
and that IL would be n bad precedent
10 rush to the relief OF everybody
whose business was damaged by pro-
addition.
IL was IN answer to a suggestion by
Representative Igce. Democrat. Mis-
souri, that the ship owners merely
wanted an equalization OF liquor laws
so that they would be on the same
footing with Great Britain. that Mr..
Wheeler touched upon the hope OF
spreading the nght against saloons
to the four quarters of the earth.
"'rhc steamship companies are un-
duly alarmed Nr. Wheeler declared.
The company that adopts n sound
policy looking TO the moral welfare
and protection OF the people will win
in the end. The public wants SER
vice. not booze. And let me say that
the company that renders good SER
vice and less liquor finally will DOM
inatc"
Representatives Edmonds. in urging
approval of his amendment. said he
looked at IL strictly as business
proposition.
III we wait for the world to 20
dry, while other nations arc going
ahead with their shipping" he add
ed. we won't have any flag. We are
dealing with condition, not a
theory. and right now 1t means that
construction. reaching up into the
millions. must stop. because Amcrjy
can companies cannot now compete
squarely with the rest or the world"
Representative Neely. Democrat, OF
West Virginia. suggested that the
hotel owners in Buffalo might jus.
Continued on Second Eage.l