The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-01-15
THE DRY ACT
IS OPPOSED
AMERICAN STEAMER OFFICIALS
COMPLAIN OF LOSS OF BUsI-
NESS As RESULT OF VOL
STEAD ACT.


American passenger steamship Off
cials, appealing today 10 the house
judiciary committee for modification
of the Volstead act, declared they
would be unable to compete with
ships of foreign registry for world
trade unless permitted TO handle
liquors for use by patrons beyond
the three-mile limit
About the only consolation they
obtained was a prediction-not for
the Record-by Representative Dyer.
republican. Of Missouri, that they
did not have a chance f" This COM
ment was made after Wayne
Wheeler. general counsei for the
anti-saloon league in opposing any
letdown in the laws. expressed the
opinion that some day the world
would be dry and that all ships
would be devoid of liquor.
The shipper interests insisted.
however. that they had to deal with
present problems; that there had
been wholesale cancellations OF res
ervations on American ships by tray
elers who found other vessels unaf-
fected by prohibition restrictions. and
that the task of trying 10 make the
American flag supreme could not be
carried on in competition with Great
Britain and other nations free Of all
handicaps.
p. A. S. Franklin. president of the
nj 10 Nuw q
warned that the death knell of the
Merchant Marine was sounded If the
ruling by Attorney General Palmer
that American ships could not sell
liauor was permitted TO stand
z. A. Quarles, president of the
United States Mail Steamship COM
pany, declared owners would be fit
subjects for examination in psyche
pathic ward" If they invested any
vast sum in the building and condi-
tioning of ships without assurances
! that they would be allowed 10 COM
pete with the countries endeavoring
| now 10 dominate ocean commerce
Harris Livermore, president OF the
United American line. declared that
construction of many Atlantic YES
sells has been contemplated, but that
with this hanging over US we cannot
go ahead until the question is de-
termined" Half a dozen witnesses
| testified that the law gave trem-
| endous advantage to foreign traders
Mr. Wheeler alone was heard in
opposition TO the plea ON the steam
| ship question. made at hearing on
bill by Representative Edmons. re-
publican, of Pennsylvania, TO exempt
passenger vessels engaged in foreign
trade from provisions of the Vol
law. Asserting that many ships were
s'bootlegging." Mr.. Wheeler said the
amendment would multiply the diff
| ficulty of the dry laws enforcement
II was in answer TO a suggestion
/ by Representative Igoe, democrat, Oh
Missouri, that the shipowners mere
ly wanted an equalization OIL liquor
laws, that Mr.. Wheeler touched Oh
the hope of spreading the figh'
against saloons TO all the world.
The steamship companies are un
duly alarmed" he deeltred. Th'
company that adopts sound policl
looking to the moral welfare and pro
lection of the people will win. Th'
public wants service-not booze
And let me say that the company tina
renders good service and less liquo
. finally will dominate"
Representative Edmonds. is urg
ing approval of his amendment, sal
he looked at il strictly as bushes
proposition.
"If we wait for the world 10 3
dry while other nations are goin
! ahead with their shipping" he add
ed, I'VE won't have any flag. w
are dealing with condition. not
theory"