New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Smile Liquor
Ruling of u. S.
Now i'm Effect
Time Extension Ordered by
Harding Expires; Sug-
gestions for Additional
Grace Not Approved
Hope for Decision Here
Enforcement Officials De.
sire Law Interpretation
Before Violation Occurs

OF the liquor statutes held by Attorney
General Daugherty to prohibit trans
portation and sale Of alcoholic bever
ages on American vessels anywhere
and on foreign vessels within three
miles of the United States coast be-
came effective tonight at midnight.
The extension Of time ordered by
President Harding to permit ship lines
to arrange their affairs to conform to
the ruling expired at midnight, and
enforcement officials declared supges-
tions for further extension had not
been approved.
1t was considered probable that
several days would elapse before cus-
toms and prohibition forces would
have at hand specific instructions as
to the scope of their authority under
the Daugherty opinion, but this, it
was declared, would have no effect on
the operation Of the law.
Penalties Hang Over Seas
A foreign vessel, sailing with inhi-
bited cargo after to-day, 1t was said.
would be liable to the penalties fixed
by the Volstead act if and when she
entered American coastal waters bear
ing that cargo.
American ships, under the ruling of
the Attorney General, which received
the formal approval of President Hard
ing, are prohibited from "possessing''
liquor regardless of where they are in
operation. The han was made opera
tive as to Shipping Board tonnage as
soon as the ruling was published
though time was allowed for the dis
posal Of any illicit stocks on board yes
sells of the feet then at sea.
enforcement officials are hopeful Of
q a decision coming from the Federal
District Court in New York-where
the new Interpretation Of the law is
under fire by both foreign and Ameri-
can lines-before the arrival of ves-
sci IN violation of the ban necessitates
punitive action against the ship, the
agents and her master, as required by
law.
1t Is pointed out that only vessels
which clear from foreign ports after
midnight tonight come within the re-
strictions, thus giving further "auto-
matte stay" Of five to seven days in
the cases of most ships on the regular
Atlantic routes and Of an even longer
period with respect to ships crossing
the Pacific.
United States Would Appeal Stay
Absence Of formal instructions as to
their procedure will not serve as a
deterrent on customs and prohibition
forces, it was declared, as the regu-
lations now standing are sufficient to
permit them to act in cases Of suspect
ed violation.
Administration officials looked to an
Ill n s1y4 fr,N Y,,Is
New York to clear the situation. If
Misunderstanding permanent In
junction which would restrain the gov
ernment from enforcing it's interpreta-
tion Of the law-the decision would
act as an automatic stay pending ad-
judication of the appeal which the De-
partment Of Justice has indicated
would be taken Immediately.
Should Judge Hand vacate the tenn
porary order, however, the government
would be free to proceed with enforce
ment unless and until the lines af-
fected brought some new action in the
courts.
Await Report on Emerald
Reply by the State Department to
the protests of Great Britain against
seizure Of the Canadian schooner En-
erald tonight still was awaiting re-
port from the New York prohibition
director giving details Of the case
against that ship. The brief report re-
ceived yesterday, declaring the Emer-
aid had illegally communicated with
the shore by means oftsmall boats, was
not considered sufficiently informative
for the purposes of the State Depart
ment, which had requested Secretary
Mellon to obtain and transmit all de-
tails bearing on the seizure.
Under the policy announced by Pres
ident Harding, enforcement of the IL
quor and customs laws at sea would be
restricted to the three-mile zone ex-
cept in cases Of ships which had estab-
lished communication with American
territory by their own boats, or In such
q manner as brought them within the
purview Of court decisions holding such
craft to be legally within the gone, al
| I. v,t, 81 e+x,,I IL