The New York herald., 1922-10-08
fGEST TO BE MADE
President Gives Weeks
Grace to Vessels TAX
ing On Intoxicants
Abroad.
TO PREVENT INJUSTICE
Believed Application of Ban
May Be Held Up Until
Mid-November.
LASKER ISSUES ORDERS
Administration Thinks Sub
sidy Bill Will Have Better
Chance Of Passage.
LASKER ISSUES ORDERS
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HraArp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C., Oct .

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HEaA1p.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. C., Oct :.
President Harding to-day issued
supplemental instructions to Secre-
tary of the Treasury Mellon giving
one weeks grace in the matter OF
transportation of liquor to all foreign
ships and to American ships loading
in foreign ports.
Vessels taking on liquor as cargo
or as ship stores up to October Il will
not be molested in American ports
under the Presidents instructions.
The grace period, however, does not
apply to the sale of liquor, and par
ticular note of this is made with
reference to American vessels.
The President issued the supple
mental instructions in order that a
rule of reason might be applied to
transportation of liquor 1t was real
lied that vessels either loading or
| loaded, or which had contracted for
cargo for American ports, should not
be molested because a portion of such
cargo might be liquors.
Practically all vessels loading at
European ports and taking on a
mixed cargo for United States ports
as well as those of Canada. Mexico
and the South and Central American
countries. find liquor stores on the
billing. To penalize ship captains
who had contracted in good faith for
cargoes would. il was realized. work
hardship, and perhaps injustice.
Presidents Letter.
1t was for this reason that the
President sent the following letter
to Secretary Mellon to-day:
My DEAR Mr.. SEcaErARY:
Supplementing my letter of in
struction Of October relating to the
enforcement Of the Eighteenth
Amendment and the prohibition en-
forcement act as applied to carriers
at sea. you will please direct United
States customs officials to give no.
tice to all shipping lines that pend
ing the formulation of regulations
the enforcement Of the prohibition
OF transportation Of cargoes or ship
stores will not be practicable in the
case Of foreign vessels leaving their
home ports or American vessels
leaving foreign ports on or before
October il, 1922. Any earlier at
tempt at enforcement In the absence
Of due notice and ample regulations
would be inconsistent with just DEAL
ing and have tendency to disrupt
needlessly the ways OF commerce.
This delay in fun enforcement does
not apply TO the sale Of intoxicat-
ing liquor on vessels sailing under
the American flag.
Very respectfully yours.
WARREN c. HARD1NG.
Extension of the loading time for
all vessels means that ships reaching
American ports possibly as late as the
middle Of November will escape the
ban.
Regulations for foreign ships under
4 the Daugherty opinion. made publ,
/ yesterday, holding IL contrary to law
for any vessel to bring liquor In any
guise inside tho three mile limit. will
he promulgated by Secretary Mellon
early in the coming week Customs
officials have been instructed 20 give
notice To- all concerned OF the At
tornay- Generals opinion and the con-
tcmplated steps for it's enforcement.
Court Actions Expected.
Despite the gestures made. officials
expect that court actions and other
interpretations will be devised BY for
oign ship owners 70 delay applica-
lion of the Daugherty ruling. In this
connection it was learned officially
that the Department Of Justice Is
ready and willing 20 expedite su-
preme Court decision OH the Attorney
Generals holding The first test case
brought by any OF tho shipping COM
pauias will be certified TO the highest
court upon a finding OF fact. Mean
time foreign shin owners and ship
companies are expected to make no
change in their schedules or ports OF
call.
Administration leaders do not be-
Heve any OF the shipping companies
would so TO the extent of changing
their port OF call TO Halifax or
some Canadian port In the East 20
evade the opinion or possible su-
preme Court decision. Such a course
would be economically impracticable.