South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-14
IAP EMBASSY APOLOGIES
Fight For Right
To Sell Liquor
On L. S. Ships
Steamship Officials Claim Dry
Rule Will Ruin Passen-
ger Business.
BY Associated Press :

WASHINGTON. Jan. 13.-Amer-
lean passenger steamship officials,
appealing Thursday TO the house
judiciary committee for modification
of the Volstead act. frankly declared
they would be unable TO compete
with ships OF foreign registry for
the trade Of the world unless pre-
mitted TO handle liquors for use by
patrons beyond the three mile Amer
lean limit.
About the only consolation they
obtained at the end of an all day
hearing was a prediction-not foI
the record-by Rep. Dyer. repub-
lican. Missouri, that they did not
have a chance"
This comment was made in open
session after Wayne Wheeler, gener-
al counsel for the Anti Saloon
league, in opposing any let-down in
} the present laws. expressed the opin-
ion that some day the world would
! be dry and that the ships OF all
nations would sail over the seven
seas without a drop Of liquor on
board.
Wholesale Cancellations.
The shipping interests insisted,
/ however. that they had 20 deal wit
problems of the present day. that
there had been wholesale cancella
tions OF reservations on American
ships hy travellers who found other
/ vessels bound for the same ports
IL affected by prohibition restrictions
and that the great task OF trying u
make the American flag supreme on
( the seas could not be carried on In
! competition with Great Britain and
other nations free Of all Legislative
| handicaps.
7. A. s. Franklin. president OF
/ the International Mercantile Marine
warned the committee that the
death knell OF the merchant marine
was sounded II the ruling by Atty
Gen. Palmer that American ships
at sea or anywhere in the world
could rot sell liquor. were permitted
TO stand. Speaking. as he said, IN
all seriOusness, and with no attempt
at flippancy," F. A. Quarles. presi-
dent of the r. 5. mail steamship
company. declared owners would bs
fit subjects for examination in
! Ipsychopathic ward" If they invested
any vast sum in the building and
conditioning of ships without assur
anCes that they would be allowed tC
compete on equal terms with tht
countries endeavoring now 10 dom
mate ocean commerce. Representa-
tives Of other lines said all thel
could hope TO obtain was the over
flow of travel.
Can Not Build.
Harris Iivermore, president O
the United American Line told th'
committee that construction Of man!
transatlantic vessels had been con
itcmplated. but that with this hang
ing over us we cannot go ahead unit
:he question is determined Hal
la dozen witnesses, Representing
many corporations, testified that a
the law stood today. II gave a dis
tinct and tremendous advantage u
fcreign traders because foreigner
and a multitude Of Americans re
lfused 70 travel on dry ships If the,
lcould book passage on others wher
the serving of wines with meals wa
not a crime.
Mr.. Wheeler alone was heard il
opposition TO the plea OF the steam
ship folk made at a hearing on
bin by Rep. Edmunds of Pennsyl
Vania. ranking repub lean Trembe
of the merchant marine committee
to exempt passenger vessels engage
in foreign trade from provisions o
the Volstead law. Asserting tina
many ships were now "boOtlegging