The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-09
LIQUOR QUESTION
UP AGAIN
congress Will Have More Trou.
bic in Regulating Sales

washington, March 6.-RegulatiOns
lurthef restricting the distribution
ol iiquor-now confined to manufac-
.o'ers ana Wholesale druggists-have
oeeh drawn up and await the an
p'oVai or the new administration.
| Inc regulations as drafted nv
prohibition officials would Iin,it
manufacturers to sale of their own
products and forbid them to disnosr
of other manufactures containi ,g
alcohol. Such a step in the on,nion
lof prohibition officials would great
~ restrict the sale of intoxicants and
by cutting off the Slight latitude now
allowed manufacturers, coupled with
the elimination of the wholesale
liquor dealers would practically limit
the distribution Of liquor to whole
sale druggists.
Protests against the total elimina.
'on or the wholesale liquor dealers,
however, have been received by the
treasury from representatives of the
catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran de-
nominations. These denominations
nave been accustomed. spokesmen for
the churchmen have explained, to
purchase the wines used for sacra-
mental purposes from certain deal
ers who provided them with wine of a
standard quality.
Church mn Protest.
with the elimination of the dealers.
churchmen declared their source of
supply has been cut off. AS q
remedy the prohibition authorities
have been asked to permit reputable
dealers who have been in business
more than three years to continue the
distribution Of sacramental wines as
an exception to the general regula-
tions now in force. Early this week
hearing on the matter is to be held
by the internal revenue bureau.
Disposition Of the question Of
whether beer may be prescribed for
medical purposes by physicians, pro-
hibition officials said, also will come
up ,for early consideration by the
new administration. An opinion is
understood TO have been prepared for
the treasury by the department Of
justice which would permit the use Of
malt liquors for medical purposes
similarly with wine or vinuous liqu-
ors as contrasted with the restric-
tions Of the prohibition act on whis-
key. Use of beer is opposed how
ever, the prohibition enforcement
authorities maintained that by per-
mitting manufacture for medical pur-
poses the already perplexing problem
OF handling the breweries would be
made more difficult.
The attitude of the new admins
tratiOn towards the brewereis is
awaited with interest by their pres
ent enforcement officials in view of
the steady campaign Commissioner
Kramer has been waging in various
| sections of the country against beer
containing more than the legal amount
Of alcohol and the numerous seizures
by the gOvernmnt in the past few
months.
Foreign Question Enters.
Another question for the new heads
of the department to decide is the
matter Of trans-shipn of liquor
via this country when shipped from
one foreign country to another. On
the protest Of the British embassy the
opinion rendered by the department
Of justice holding trans: aipments
of liquor illegal and Vessels touching
at American ports with liquor aboard
to be violatOrs Of the Prohibition
laws has been returned fer review.
Meanwhile both qrestions lemain in
status quo.
In connection with the shipping
angle to the prohibition. some pro.
hibition officials lave suggested the
possibility OF n.w policy regarding
liquor Of American chips. Under the
present law as defined by the de-
partment of justice prohibition fol-
lows American ships beyond the three
mile limit and the sale of intoXicants
On them is prohibited. Strong pro-
test against this Interpretation, how
ever, has been made by shipping in-
terests and Chairman Benson of the
shipping board has informed the
house that such policy is injurious
to the American merchant marine.
For these reasons, officials asserted
the new administration will probably
give careful consideration to the mat
FOR NJ diyorcinp liuuor from ShinS