The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-18
BOOZE SHIPS
TAKE Law
into COURT
Judge Hand Issues Re
straining 0 T d e +
Against Prohibition
Enforcement Off
GERS
ashington. Oct. - (By the As

Washington, Oct. y (By the As
sociated Press3.-1ssuanee by Fed
eral Judge Hand in New York of
a temporary order restraining pro-
hibition and customs agents from
enforcing the liquor ban against
vessels of the American line was
accepted today il government cir
cles as effectively bringing before
the courts the question Of the au-
thority of the government in this
respect.
Failure bfcounsel for the Brit
ish owned Cunard and Anchor lines
to obtain similar order was ex-
pected to lead to renewal Of their
petition either in New York or
some other judicial district with
more detailed showing of the
damage. which they aIlege would
result from operation of Attorney
General Daugherty's Interpretation
of the liquor statutes.
PRONUNCIATION of regulations by
Secretary Mellon to carry out the
terms of the liquor ruling was ex-
pected TO be automatically post
poned by Judge Hands action. The
initial drafts of these regulations
were laid before Secretary Mellon
today but it was indicated that sew
eral material changes we've in his
opinion desirable before they could
be officially approved.
An important phase Of enforce
ment still under discussion whetf-
er foreign vessels convicted of vio-
lation of the transportation sec
ton Of the Solstead act. would
be a1ncnable to the forfeiture
penalty imposed by that section. At
torney. General Dausherty ruled
formally that in such cases the
ship. whether palatiaI liner or a
coastal tramp. would be liable to
seizure and sale by the government.
Secretary Mellon. however, indicat-
ed that such drastic measures
would not be required effectively to
achieve the r,irpose Of the law
and gave tile impression that the
penalties imposed for the tine at
least. w1o55id BE 5sisscuaned cuaIfned to seizure
OF the Illicit carsocs and inposure
of fines.
Reports from Paris that French
and British shipping interests
would initiate other suits to test
the validity ios the ruling We're
welcomed at the department Of
justice. as offering additional hope
of a. speedy determination of the
issue in case the Gunard lines suit
should prove defective in some
technical element. officials here
were under the impression that
the "realt7e court fight would be
made upon She aaestion Of wietf-
er the Ne1stcaf act. infringes upon.
the rights sef fria,11s nations and,
If so. whether an act Of congress
which had .sucll effect was consti-
tutional. 49,
In order to remove as far as
possible the discrimination operat-
ing against American ships Sas
result of the extension to October
ii of the ban against entrance into
Americap waters OF foreign liquor
carriers. Secretary Melton issued
Instructions today that ships which
have voluntarily surrendered their
liquor stocks, but which are
scheduled to Kali on or before Sat
urday, woul1 be allowed to regain
such stores. 10 sales will be per-
hoWeyay. on american yes
sells anywllere OF on foreign ships
within American territorial waters
to the reporting Of the
last ships which cleared on octo-
Der Ii. American ships now in for
eign waters which, gave UP their
beverag ges stock '.will be allowed TO
recover and take them into foreign
ports" Mr. Mellon announced.