Evening journal., 1922-08-16
rum ARGUMENT
STARTS IN HOUSE
Vets, by Resolutions Ask
About BoozelSales,on
Ships (
WOULD SELL U.tS.
SEIZED WHISKY

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 Omitted
Press) The controversy over
booze-selling on American ocean
vessels broke out anew In theSHouse
today when resolutions were intro
duced. demanding that the United
States Shipping Board inform Con-
gress where the liquor now being
dispensed on its ships is purchased.
The resolutions sponsored by Rep
resentative Brennan, Republican. Of
Michigan, and Representative CALI
van. Democrat, of Mass, called upon
the Shipping Board TO tell eCongress
Immediately whether 1t is true that
agents of the board are buying
liquors from distlllers in England.
while. at the same time. the prohi-
bition officers oflthis government are
seeking EnglandSs cooperation un an
effort to prevent English ships with
booze aboard from touching at
American ports.
Then, the resolutions in effect, in
quire OF Chairman Lasker OF the
shipping board as to whether II
would not save money from the
American taxpayers pockets for the
board TO arrange" with the prohi-
bition office at Washington to get
liquors from sequestered stores
which this government has seized.
The charge that one arm OF the
American government cthe shipping
board) is buying liquor in England
for sale on American ships while
another arm (the prohibition en-
forcement until is trying to get the
British governments aid in stamp
ing out liquor traffic between the two
countries was first made by A. A.
Busch, former st. Louis brewer who
has just returned from trip to
Europe.
Brennan and Gallivan say the
Busch charges have never been an
swered and that they are out to
force Chairman Lasker to either
affirm or deny them"
The Brennan and Gallivan reso-
lutions. which were identical in
wording, were seen as the first move
in Congressional campaign to force
the liquor issue before the American
people and give moral aid" to
wv 0NtA AAt AOAIAAls
Brennan and Galiivan in their
resolutions. specifically demanded
that the Shipping Board report to
Congress on these points:
Whether the sale OF liquor on
ships is a permanent policy with
the board.
Whether the chief source OF supply
is chiefly In England.
Whether II would not be "practi-
cable and legal" for the board TO
acquire liquor from the stocks held
in seizure by the prohibition unit OF
the government so. as to provide a
Suitable outlet" for these contra
band liquors.
How much money appropriated by
Congress has been spent by the board
for liquor since the prohibition law
became effective.
'The primary and ostenslble pur-
pose of this resolution" Brennan
said in n statement, "is to have the
shipping board. II II insists upon SELL
ing liquor on its ships. get the stocks
in the future upon the most reason
able terms so as to save the taxpay-
ers money.
''It Is very probable that II would
be found to be legal for the prohi-
bition unit OF the government TO turn
over liquors without charge to the
board. There Is no property
right in seized llquors-they have
no recognized value in dollars and
cents-and II the prohibition officials
have the right to dump seized liquors
in the cutters, surely they would
have the power to turn them. over to
the shipping board which says II
must have liquor to keep the Amer
lean flag on the seas"