Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-25
LOCALIZED BEER

CECRETARY MELONS ruling of
~ yesterday, by which n formal right is
extended to physicians to prescribe beer in
unlimited quantities, virtually lcgnlzcs that
brew.
You may like that prospect or YOU may
regard It as n calamity or n partial collapse
Of the Volstcad act. hut the central fact
remains clear and unclouded for the ini-
tiated eye.
The brewers now are automatically per-
mitted to manufacture beer on an unlimited
scale. That is all that they have ever de-
sired Once manufactured, beer may be
easily circulated, It may be shipped vr-
tually without fear Of interference.
Since doctors aren't asked to limit the
number of their prescriptions, It appears
that the Treasury Department has no inten-
tion to put any check on the use of the
lighter stimulant. Prohibition enforcement
officers know that tho only way to enforce
the dry" laws is by restriction at the
sources Of manufacture and supply.
Since n physician will bc authorized under
Mr. Melons ruling to prescribe the total
output of q brewery in n single day II he
20 wills. no sort of legal restriction will be
possible at the brewCrcs. Wine. too. floats
back into the pale under the beer order.
There will be CONSERVATION in the dry
camp. There may be CONSERVATION in the
wet" camp. too. since one of the first
effects Of the beer order will be to dehate
the price Of whisky held in large quantities,
by spectators.
Some people believe that the traffic in
whisky and the consumption of all Its vile
limitations Cnn best be reduced and elimi
mated by the method which Mr.. Mellon has
adopted. That remains 70 be seen.
It will not do to believe that the order
from the Treasury Department is in any
way inspired by n scientific regard for the
Nations health Beer is not a medicine.
Doctors seldom or never prescribed 1t in
the days before Nolsteadism. They were
more likely to denounCe it. not because they
thought 1t a dangerous intoxicnnt, but be-
cause they knew that most Of il was impure,
hastily manufactured and therefore injurious
to the general health of those who con-
sumed it,
Mr.. McllouS ruling follows inevitably
upon the failure of Congress 70 interpret
in amen, nntS TO the NOlstcad act. some
sections Of that law which are still ambig-
uous.
Because Mr. Palmer. when he was Attor-
ney General. expressed the opinion that
no definite restriction could apply to
"mpdicinnl beer under the Nolstead act
the "drys" in the House drew up an
amendment intended to put beer forever in
its grave
The Senate refused 10 accept that
amendment unless the House comnittc:
agreed to accept an amendment which the
Senators themselves had drawn. The Sen
nte amendment would havn rigidy limited
the authority Of enforcement officers In their
search for contVaband whisky. 1t would
have made scarch Of n house or a motor
car or trunk or any other sort Of personal
baggage illegal unless the srarrher appeared
with q specific warrant. The House con-
mittee pointed out that such provisions
would make II impossible to stop the illegal
import md transportation of intoxicants
But the Senate remained firm.
A deadlock Cnsued and the question OF
beer was high IN the air until Mr.. Mellon
brought 1t down Yesterday and settled it,
temporarily at least. with n whrl Of his
pen. The ruling will probably stand unless
the House and the Senate can come to an
agreement TO outlaw beer. But at present
there are no signs to indicate that commit
tees will find it possible to reconcile the
divergent views Of the Senate and the House
on the later aspects of the prohibition Ques-