Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-10-20
HARDING TO MODIFY
NEW LIQUOR RULE
SHIPS MAY CARRY GOODS" IN
INTER. PORT TRAFFIC.
MAY STOP AT "WET" PORTS
Diplomatic Enjoys Made "Immune"
From "Dry" Resuiatlons-can
Have Plenty Of spirits-Plan
to Search Baggage.

Washington d. C.-President Hard
ing will direct a modification OF the
drastic rule barring liquor from Amer
ican ships, cabinet officer has de-
clared.
Under certain circumstances Amer
lean vessels will be permitted to en-.
gage In the transportation of liquors,
1t was said. This is to be inter-port
traffic, where American ships stop at
wet" ports.
United States ships are frequently
offered cargoes of liquor from Shang-
hal to Hong Kong. or between South
American ports, it was said. Such
traffic is regarded as a regular COM
merciai proposition and not in viola
ton of United States laws. officials
hold.
The president will also call upon
the Treasury, State and Justice de-
partments to clarity numerous prob
lens not anticipated when the ruling
was promulgated.
The outstanding instance applies to
the Philippine Islands. The attorney
generals rule prohibits ships of all
flags docking at an island port with
liquor aboard. The voIstead act on
which the ruling is based is not oper-
ntive in the Philippines. however. and
prohibition officials stated they did
not believe the new rule could apply
there.
rfie eighteenth amendment itself
applies to the Philippines, It was said.
Under the terms Of the island govern
ment, hpyeyer, no law enacted with.
in the United States can be enforced
until the Philippine Legislature has
adopted enforcing measures. The
Philippine government has refused to
pass such legislation and still is list
ed in the wet column.
The new ruling also would make
1t impossible for foregn embassies to
obtain liquors. Under the wide lati-
tude of diplomatic immunity" and
extra territoriality. foreign ENJOYS are
permitted to have all the liquor they
desire.
Attorney General Daugherty holds
that ships cannot enter American har-
bors with liquor in their cargoes, SO
the ENJOYS win not be able to get any
unless the ruling is modified. Off
cials state.
As the law specifically permits the
possession OF liquor under these cir
cumstances, 1t was pointed out the
regulations will be relaxed to permit
transportation for this purpose
Some arrangements are to be made
also for the transportation of wines
and liquors for medicinal, scientific
and sacramento use, all permitted in
the volstead acs, officials believe.
Treasury officials are stiIl busy
drawing up the necessary regulations
to enforce the Daugherty decision. 1t
will be several days before they can
be completed, 1t was said.
These regulations will name the
branch of the government to see that
shipping comes within the terms of
the law. 1t is understood that Gus
toms officers will supervise foreign
ships, while dry agents will keep the
American ships free Of liquor.
Dry agents state that while they do
not expect any violations by ships,
they expect much trouble with indi-
viduals. 1t is said that unless pas
sengers and baggage are searched it
would be impossible to prevent the
thirsty tourists taking their bar with
them.