The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-10-07
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"a'tHN A'AAt W.. ttw Ht fAtts
utive branch of the government
was proceeding 10 the Immediate
enforcement today OF the .nter.
pretailon of the prohibition
amendment and the enforcement
act By the legal branch as pr0hi.
biting the transportation or sale
OF liquor on American vessels.
wherever operated and The pres.
enee Of liquor on foreign ships
anywhere within American terri.
iorial waters.
Acting on orders issued by
President Harding Immediately
after publication Yesterday Of the
opinion handed down by the de
partment Of justice. Chairman
Lasker Of the shipping board.
was moving to stop at cnce the
sale or transportation e liquor
on government ships. while See
retarN Mellon was proceeding 20
give due notice to private own
ers, the prohibition as to both 10
take effect al once. or - soon as
vessels reach home ports The
treasury secretary also was
charged with the formulation Of
regulations for the enforcement
as to foreign ships to begin as
soon as such regulations can be
promulgated.
The next development awaited
IN the situation as foreseen by
both Attorney General Daugher
~ and Chairman l4asker. was q
move bv foreign lines to secure
final determination in the
courts of the application 81
American dry laws 70 foreign
ships entering American terri
torial waters. In the opinion |
these were construed so include
waters not only within the three
mile limit Of continental United |
States but also Of the Philippines,
te Hawaiian islands, Porto Rico,
the Virgin islands and Alaska.
the Panama Canal Zone being
exempted because Of It's specific
exemption i, the Enforcement
statute itself.
With the govcrnmen; already !
advised that a case is about 20
he filed which would hiring the
issue as TO foreign sslps TO the
supreme court. Chairman Lasker
was Of the opinion that the for
cign lines would first seek TO
restrain enforcement Of The law
hv an injunction. which he stated
il was reasonable TO suppose the
courts would grant
Mr.. Lasker foresaw not only .
STAY of enforcement as TO foreign
ships by this couse but also cx-
pressed the opinion that regard
less Of the decision Of the SUI
premc court. American ships
would be placed az permanent
disadvantage. citing as an Illus
tration that even though the IN
ierpretation as 10 foreign ships
was upheld Il would no. prevent
her selling liquor up 70 he 3
mile limit where remaining stocks
conld be dumped overheard. The
shipping board chairman further
expressed the opinion that the
enforcement would undoubtedly
hamper the boards efforts 10
build up American shipping to
he Orient and South America.
The disadvantages which he he
licved would rcsul to the Ameri-
can merchant marine would make
more necessary. he said, enact
ment of the ship subsidy bill II
the American flag was to stay
on the high seas.
The opinion handed down by il
the attorney general. in response
70 a request from Secretary Mel
Ion last June. was based as to ITS
Interpretation regarding foreign
ships upon recent decisions OF
the supreme court upholdine inc
authorities of federal prohibition
agents to. prevent the transfer OF
> liouor cargo from one foreign
-: a. .no.her in an American