The New York herald., 1922-10-14
TO ASK CONGRESS
President Is Impelied
to Seek Change in the
Enforcement Of the
Liquor Laws.
INSULAR TRADE HURT
Authorities Fear Collapse
of Business LabOriOus-
ly Cleaned.
SHIP STORES ARE SAFE
IntOxicants for Crews Of Ital-
ian Steamships Not to
Be MolesteG>
SHIP STORES ARE SAFE
Special Dispatch to TIE New York HERALD.

Special Dispatch TO TIE New foEK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau
Washington. ID. C.. Oct. IL.
President Harding feels impelled ia
go before the next session of Congress
and recommend an amendment to the
Volstead act, which will relieve the In
sular possessions of the United States
from the provisions OF the law and the
Daugherty opinion where foreign ships
are concerned
This action would open up the ques-
ton of application of the strict pro-
visions OF the law TO foreign ships.
particularly in respect of ship stores,
with a view to relieving the existing
confusion in enforcement and the un-
questioned international complications
which viii follow.
! Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon,
however will insist on the application
OF the rule of reason" TO all enforce
ment measures. He will not permit
seizure of foreign ships which might
bring a grave ENHANCEMENT OF foreign
affairs and will insist that the rights
of other governments with regard to
ship stores be recognized.
Secretary Mellon has in mind the fact
that the laws Of the Italian Govern
ment make il necessary for all Italian
ships to carry rum for the use of crews
Consequently they cannot sail without
liquor in their stores.
Postponed to October is.
I
day postponing enforcement OF the law
IN regard to the transportation of liquor
until october IS. when the rule on the
| injunction granted by Judge Hand IN
! New York yesterday is returna'ole. Al
the same time he made II known that
the injunction would apply to the en-
tire country. although legally speak
! ing II was operative only in the Sec
ond District of New York.
| Chairman Lasker OF the Shipping
Board declared that the temporary re-
prieve granted to private vessels under
the American flag does not apply TO
Shipping Board vessels.
shipping Board vessels will remain
! dry" he declared. The President de-
creed that Government ships are Amer
lean territory and therefore the Noi-
stead act applies"
II appears to be necessary for the
/ President TO go before Congress 10 pre-
| sions unless there is some way of pro-
, curing modification OF the Suprems
/ Court decision on the Daugherty ruling.
! Therefore IL is hoped the President will
I recommend to Congress Immediate leg
! islation TO relieve the Government from
a situation which is becoming more and
more embarrassing.
The entire situation was canYassed by
the Cabinet meeting to-day. but Secre-
tsry Hughes was not at the meeting.
and his department has a deep inter-
est and much OF the responsibility 10
carry in the application Of enforcement
under the Dausherty opinion.
Fear slump I'm Trade.
Under the court decision and the
Daugherty ruling. It was explained that
a foreign SHIP with liquor aboard could
not stop, en- route. at Porto Rico. ITa-
wait the Philippines, or any OF the
insular possessions OF this country.
Although that foreign ship may not in
tend TO call at any port OF the United
states proper Il cannot so to the isl
ands 10 pick up a cargo.
Chairman Lssker has insisted that a
strict application OF the ruling would
have disastrous consequences upon this
trade of those insular possessions. Az
an illustration it was pointed out that
"A Spanish ship bound for Cuba WITH
liquor on board could not call at Porto
Rico 10 pick up cargo Of cotton.
All South American vessels. although
not bound for United states ports. would
be similarly debarrcd from touching
insuar possessions.
The same situation would apply 10 ali
foreign vessels with liquor on board
and the Administration. II was asserted,
sees ahead not only an enormous slump
IN trade bst the complete unhingng
of trade routes laboriously built up
Unless Secretary Mellon and Sccretar.
Hughes BY the application OF the rule
OF reason rather than the rule Of Vol
stead. can formulate regulations that
will obviate foreign entanglements tho
President viii have no alternative but
TO ask Congress for a modification ci
the Nolstcad act
Confer with Mellon.
Secretary Mellon held a conferences
with Prohibition Commissioner Hayre'
and J. J. Britt. solicitor for The pro.
hibition unit OF the Internal Revenue