Evening star., 1922-06-14


modification Of the Volstead act
Many prominent citizens now
think the time has come when the
Congress of the United States should
be frankly informed by the President
that the utmost efforts of the gov
ernment have failed to such substan-
tial extent as to prove the need OF
reasonable amendment. In TINS
connection it is suggested that the
governments practice in exemptine
it's ships from the operation OF the
prohibition law is an admission that
AUGUST A. BUSCH"
Reply From Lasker.
Chairman Lasker's letter in reply to
the two Busch letters follows:
''Mr. Adolphus Busch, sd.
"AnheuserBusch Brewery Company.
est. Louis, Mo.
'My Dear Sir:
'The President has referred your
letter. addressed to him, under date
of June 8. to the writer for answer
the President is unacquainted with
the subject you cover. for obviously.
the management OF the several de-
partments must rest with the respec-
tive heads.
when the present board came into
office. one year ago today. one of the
first steps l took as chairman was to
get the opinion of our general coun-
legally sold on American ships. hav-
ing learned that the Shipping Board
ships under the Wilson administra-
ton were serving same.
Our general counsel, and subse-
quently his two chief assistants. rem
n ,y.s
beyond the three-mile limit were not,
within the meaning of the term as
used in the eighteenth amendment.
territory subject to the jurisdiction"
of the United States. and that, there
fore. neither the Volstead act nor the
eighteenth amendment applied to the
American merchant marine, when out
der this opinion l did not order the
serving of liquor outside of the three
mile limit discontinued.
Palmer Ruling Ignored.
IAN assistant to Attorney General
Palmer during the prior administra-
tion had held different opinion from
that of the present general counsel
of the Shipping Board; the prior
chairman had issued orders that the
Palmer opinion must be respected
but it is true that in fact during the
Wilson administration in SO far as the
Shipping Board operated passenger
ships liquor was served.
II understand that there was vital
difference of opinion in the Depart
ment of Justice during the Palmer
administration on the soundness of
the opinion given by Mr.. Palmer's
assistant and that Mr. Palmer him
self rendered somewhat different
opinion. l believe firmly that the
opinion given by our general counsel
who has had large experience in con-
stitutional questions. is sound one
of course. if the Shipping Board
did not hold the view that it was
legal to serve liQuor on ships under
its control it would not do so.
THE last to break the laws of the
government should be the govern
ment. but the Shipping Board holds
that neither the Eolstead act nor the
eighteenth amendment apply to Amer
lean ships outside of the three-mile
limit.
Having thus disposed of your con-
tention that we are breaking the law
let me refer to the practical side OF
what is involved.
There is a vital bill pending be.
fore Congress now providing aid for
American shipping. which, if enacted
into law, stamps the belief of Amer
lative body) that We have reached
that point in our national life where
an established merchant marine is
essential for our prosperity in times
of peace and our protection in times
of war.
mo type Of ship is so essential
for either of these major purposes
as the fast passenger and conlbina-
ton passenEer-and-c cargo ships OF
this type Great Britain has $50
whereas we have but fifty; when
speed and age are considered the
factor is even greater in favor OF
Great Britain.
$50 long as Great Britain, Japan
France. Germany and other maritime
nations continue to serve liquors to
American passengers l am ashamed
to state that my experience leads
me to believe there is a sufficient
number of Americans without proper
would divert their trade to the for
eign flags to the extent that the
competition would be, from a profit
operating standpoint. very heavily
against the American ship.
Equal Rights Necessary.
"T do not believe 1 speak mad
visably when I state that so long
as foreign ships can enter America
serving liquor the LACK of that priv
ilege might be the very determining
factor in the life or death of the
American merchant marine, and that
so long as foreign ships are allowed
the privilege of entering and de.
parting from American ports serving
liquor that same privilege must be
allowed our merchant ships.
IF the sale of liquor be prohibited
on all boats entering or departing
from American ports there is nc
voice in the Shipping Board tina,
would be raised in protest.
Both from the standpoint of legal
right and from the standpoint OF
the life and security of our national
merchant marine, the Shipping Board
has permitted, and will continue tc
permit, the serving of liquor on itt
ships. SO long as foreign flag ships
are allowed to enter and depart from
.Tn your circular to the press you
reproduce an editorial from the Chi.
cago Tribune of May which covers
the possible effect Of prohibition or
American ships as the same applies
to American ships; you refer to the
the offices Of the Tribune on May
and insinuate that the editorial was
inspired by that visit. virtually boast.
ing that you covertly received your
information concerning the visit
from an unfaithful employe.
Il was the official who visited the
Tribune on May s.. and I wish to
record my emphatic denial that I in
any way knew before or at the time
Of my visit the views of the editors
of the Tribune on this subject.
did not discuss the subject of prohi-
une at that visit or at any other
time before or since. The fact is