Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-10-14
RULING WILL
Be ENFORCED
Sale Of Liquor on American
Ships Will Cease at Once
U. S. SHIPPING WILL SUFFER
Chairman Lasker Admits Ruling Gives
Blow To United States Mer.
chant Handicapped To
Court Next.

Washington.-All vessels. American
and foreign owned, are prohibited
from having liquor on board in Amer
lean territorial waters under an in
depreciation of the prohibition amend.
ment and the enforcement act handed
down by the Department of Justice.
Moreover, the transportation or sale
OF intoxicants on American craft,
wherever operated, was held to be
inhibited.
American territorial waters were
construed to include those not only
within the three-mile limit of CONT
mental United States. but also those
within the same limit of the Philip
pines. the Hawaiian Islands. Porto
Rico. the Virgin Islands and Alaska
The law would not apply in the Pan.
anna Canal Zone. as that zone is spe-
officially exempted by the statue IT,
self.
So far as American ships are con-
cerned, the sale or transportation OF
liquor will cease at once. or as soon
as those vessels reach their home
ports. In the case OF foreign ships
the decision will become operative as
soon as the necessary regulations can
be prepared and promulgated by the
Treasury Department.
Court action looking to a final de-
termination of the application of
American dry laws to foreign ships
entering American ports was foreseen
by both Attorney General Daugherty
and Chairman Lasker of the Shipping
Board. Mr.. Daugherty said he already
had been advised that case was
about to be filed which would bring
the issue to the Supreme Court.
Chairman Lasker was OF the opin-
ion that the first move OF foreign
lines would be to seek an Injunction
restraining the government from en-
forcing the law. He said II was rea-
sonable TO suppose that the courts
would grant such an injunction with
a result that foreign ships would con
time to arrive with liquor on board
until there was a final decision by
the highest court. The Attorney Cen
eral said his department would CO.
operate in every effort to expedite a
ruling by the Supreme Court
Publication of the opinion OF the
Department OF Justice followed n
White House conference to which
President Harding summoned Mr.
Daugherty. Secretaries Hughes and
Mellon and Chairman Lasker. Vari.
Gus phases OF the situation were dis
cussed. including the possible results
OF enforcement upon the international
relations of the United States.
High Administration officials ex-
planned that there was no course for
the Executive branch OF the Govern.
ment except TO enforce the law as in
terpreted by the legal department.
The Interpretation was based upon
recent decisions of the Supreme Court
In case involving the authority OF
the United States TO interfere with the
transfer OF liquor cargo from one for
eign ship 10 another In an American
port.
In a divided opinion the court con.
frmed the authority Of prohibition
agents to prevent such transfer and
in the view of the Attorney General
went so far as to hold that the Eight.
zenith Amendment and the Volstead
act repealed prior existing treaty
with Great Britain.
Chairman Lasker predicted that
enforcement of the law would operate
to an immediate disadvantage OF the
American merchant marine and would
make more necessary enactment of
the ship subsidy bill. II the American
flag was to stay on the high seas