Evening journal., 1922-06-15
NO SUBSIDY
FOR SHIPS IF
rum IS SOLD
'DRYS" AVER
Continued From FIret Page.

/ Dill.
A storm OF opposition tha
seriously menaces the success of tn
ship subsidy bill broke out amonI
the powerful dry forces in Congress
today as the result of the Shippinj
Boards ruling that all kinds o
liquors can be sold outside the thre,
mile limit on ships flying the Ameri
can flag.
Republican drys lead in the de.
J nunciation of Chairman Lasker's de-
cision asserting that under no cir
cumstances would they ever approve
the government entering the liquor
business"
The small wet minority was glee-
ful, but frankly feared the drys in
one way or another would soon
bring an end to the EZRA Of Ameri-
can cases on the high seas"
Nothing in recent months has
caused such a stir in Congress as
Augusta Busch's charges that the
Government itself Is the nations
biggest bootlegger and Lasker's re-
ply that liquor must be served on
American ships if they are to COM
pete with those of foreign nations
Administration leaders. endeavor-
Ing to carry out President Hard
ing's insistent demand that the ship
subsidy be passed. were frankly
alarmed at the situation knowing
full well the great bipartisan
strength Of the prohibitlonists.
The action the drys will take and
the future fate of the boards wet
ruling were still uncertain today,
but these points were outstanding
in the situation which is fast as
all the appearances of an
Did time prohibition battle.
1. Threats are being made by |
many drys that they will vote against |
he ship subsidy bill. II liquor can |
De sold on American ships
2. Moves to enact legislation 1
making American ships |
zone dry or to prevent vessels dis
,ensing booze from receiving any of
he proposed aid in the subsidy bill.
ire under consideration.
hElHklIk VI NthA NNLHt ~ uE-
ermine whether Lasker's ruling or
he opinion of the Department of
Justice in the last administration
hat the law follows the flag" shall
tand.
4. Demand that the question be
gain submitted to the Department
Il Justice and that its ruling be
binding on the Shipping Board. the
lrys being confident the preponder-
,nce of legal opinion is on their side.
s. Possible conflict between gov
,rnmental agencies loomed when It
became known that some State De-
lartment officials believe the board
-uling. II allowed to stand, would
make 1t most dificult to apply other
avs. protecting Americans and
heir interests while on American
hips
G. whether the ruling would
low the establishing Of floating
saloons" Just outside the three-mile
one off big cities. officials would
OF state definitely.
The contention is made that should
hartman Lasker be upheld In MS
osition that the law does not fol-
wv the flag outside the ocean
oundarles of the United States pro-
,ction no longer could be accorded l
merican vessls whose rights are In
.lnged upon in international waters.
the prohibition act is not apph-
,ble to ships past the three mile,
Is argued, neither is any other
w. This might apply to mutiny
\ the high seas participants in
hich are now punished upon their
rival in an American port and to
imerous other conditions which
,uld be cited. Also much litiga- I
on is anticipated should efforts be
ade to accomplish Chairman Las
,r's alternative proposal Of pro
citing the American merchant ma
ne by the enactment of legislation
.ohibiting the entry OF foreign yes
Is into American ports with liquor /
,oard.
Dry leaders are hourly growing
ore angry at the ruling.
Arguments OF Chairman Lasker
at liquor must be sold on Ameri- a
n ships to enable them TO compete
tn those OF other countries have
weight with the drys. In effect,
ey say that II the government m
ust go into the liquor business TO OF
we a passenger marine, the coun- 4
y might as well give up hopes Of x
wing such a fleet. II
Senator Sterling, leader of the
VS. in the Senate, said some action p
Is certain to be taken. 10
1T is deplorable." he declared, er
hat a government agency such as W
e Shipping Board should allow w
uor to be sold on its vessels. The
uation must be corrected at once. M
hough l don't know yet what ac- 70
n must be taken" bt
This has made America and her II
ohibition law the laughing stock n!
the world" said Representative ''
oper, Ohio, a leading dry in the th
,use. So
IF they want to pass a ship sub g,
ly bill TO put more ships on the OF
a to sell booze under the American
z this ruling must be changed" OF
Wayne B. Wheeler of the Anti sn st
loon League said it is now up to be
torney- General Daugherty to give H
opinion regarding the question. NJ
2 intimated that his organization ~
ould confer with dry leaders in W
,ngress today regarding means Of II
rocking out the shipping boards 3,
cision. w