New-York tribune., 1922-10-12

fief. oetnher g, relating to the esaforse
3 a1sas OF the Eighteenth AsneBdnssnj
assd ss,e prohibition enforcement act az
s NIspiied 20 cagTaers o. sea, you viii
please direct United States casacuss of.
isciafs te give notice to ali shipping
lines that pending the forrnasien ot
regulations tie enfafcene of trans
poFtation of cargoes or ships stores
will not be prarsicabie In she case Of
foreign vessels leaving their home
ports en- or before October ia. 1922
Any earlicr enforcement, in the All.
sehce Of due notice and ample segula.
ssons, wcuid be inconsistent with Just
dealing and have q tendency TO disrupt
needlessiy the ways Of commerce.
This delay In full enforcement does
not apply Go the sale of Intoxicating
liquors on vessels sailing under the
American aags
Very truly ronrs,
"WARREN G. HARD1NGs
The first bone dry shin to get unda.
way from an American port was the
President Polk, Of the United States
Iines, which put esst from. Pier 8.
aoboken, with Captain John D. Seho-
1ieid in command.
Three Refuse to Sail
Three cancellations were reported by
passengers who refused to travel On
i dry shir. The President Polk viii
touch ut Queenstown, Plymouth, Cher
bonrg aud London. Liquor Will be
removed to-day from the President
aarfield, same lire, and now in port
II also Is expected that American
snip owners viii make an issue before
the courts, though the exact method
ot procedure could not be learned yes
terday. The American Steamship Own
ers' Association, after two meetings
On the question, made public state
ment saying that while the order is
disastrous in its effect onsthe United
states merchant marine no Joint ac-
ton will be taken. The matter will
be left 10 individual companies.
Representatives OF foreign ship lines
refused TO comment upon the informa-
ton from Washington that ships en-
tering port with liquor aboard would
ne seized. The report that the
Homeric, of the White Star Line. will
be the first to feel the effect of this
ruling was brought to the attention
international Mercantile Marine Com
paay, who said he had not heard of it.
Blow to Merchant Marine
at seems that additional obstacles
TO the development of an American
merchant marine are arising every
month"; Mr.. Franklin remarked. aIJnder
the recent tariff bill we cannot have
n ship painted abroad without paving
duty on this work when she returns. .
Sir. Franklin pointed out that the
tarin bill imposes a duty of SO per
cent on ship repairs, except emergency
Jobs, undertaken abroad. The prohibi-
ton ruling is another severe Flow. in
his opinion.
Inquiry at the offices of the Ameri-
can Line, subsidiary of the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine, and at the
United States Lines, showed that ad-
aitional cancellations are coming in
from passengers who do not wish to
travel on dry ships.
Mr.. Franklin said he did not know
of any meetings between local repre-
sentatiHes of foreign lines to discuss
the prohibition law, as reported from
London. Ii Is the feeling of these COM
panies, ne said, that they are within
the law IN bringing in liquor as part
81 the snip S stores, to be consumed at
sea. The question will be taken up to
the Supreme Court, he added. saving
that the companies will obey the law.
no official notice of the Attorney Cen
said. - ""'
Subsidy Remedy
The position of the American Steam
snip owners Association was outlined
IN the following statement:
The association has given careful
eonsideTatlon to the opinion. of the
Attorney General and the effect of the
me enforcement OF the Eighteenth
amendment and the national nrohibi-
llon act Will have upon American shin
ping and American foreign trade If
fney are enforced in accordance with
lhe construction placed upon them NV
me attorney General. The associa,
tioh reels that the question of meet
ihg the situation thus produced bv the
astoIhey Generafs opinion is one
w. ~ni1h .i snouia be left to the discretion
OF the individual companies.
In the Judgment of the association
however, it is forepone co1cInsio,,
that If the Interpretation of tha A..
Jorney General is ultimately sustained
american ships will be placed at such
great disadvantage with foreion
stlips that national aid must be imme-
e-stely given If privately owned Amer
'ean snips now operating are TO be
maintained and the merchant rnar;ne
ana foreign trade developed. The lose
profits to American ships from ihe
saie OF liquors will be inconseouential
ana really Is not substantial factor
IN the situation. The serious loss will
come from the driving of passengers
70 lorelgn passenger ships, not onIy in
the transatlantic trades but more nar-
ilcuiariy IN the rans-Pacific. South
and central American and West Indian
trades, where all ships customar;lv
touch at intermediate foreign ports.
Passengers between such ports will
travel on the ships of foreign lines on
which they can obtain their customa ~
vines and other beverages. In travel
ing by American ships they will eithe,
nave to forego the opportunity of oh
tanning such beverages in an omen anf
law1al manner, and either deprive
themselves OF them or resort to sIb.
tertnge. This is certain to arouse a,
%nimus against American ships. and n
driving the passengers to foreip,
! ships viii make those ships the instrn
hents by which the trade of our com
petitors Will be advanced and deyel.
oped. W 81
here is but one way in which This
disadvantage can be met, and that L
by national aid along the lines now
provided for in the national shiupine
olii. The association believes that ths
Afiends of prohibition appreciate the
situation and will se among the strong,
esl advocates of giving to American
Shlps every assistance that is neces.
sary TO maintain and upbuild the mer.
chant marine"