The Washington times., 1922-07-14
RIGHT Of SHIP
BOARD To SELL
RUM.|N BALANCE
Justice Department Conducts
Three-Hour Hearing-Both
Sides Present Arguments.
BY Universal Service.

For three hours yesterday after
noon Department of Justice heads
listened to arguments for and
against the sale OF liquor on Amer
lean ships snd the admission 10
American ports of foreign ships
carrying liquor stores for sale on
the high seas.
The hearing was on two uues-
tions referred to the Department
OF Justice by the Treasury Depart
ment. together with a request for
reconsideration of the former
opinion of the Department Of JUS
tice rendered November /, 1920, by
Acting Attorney General Frierson.
The two questions submitted are:
/. Whether the Eighteenth Amend,
ment and the national prohibition
act prohibit possession, sale and
transportation Of Intoxicating liquors
on board American ships while on
the high seas.
2. Whether under the authority
Of the cases Grogan VS.. Walker
and Anchor Line VS.. Aldridge, de-
cided by the United States Su-
preme Court May Is. foreign YES
sells may bring liquors, as ships
stores. within the three-mile limit.
The first question arose from
the admission by the Shipping
Board that liquors are being served
r1 fCt6 Ia
the three-mile limit and the opinion
Of the Shipping Board counsel that
such is not a violation of the dry
laws.
Ship Board Absent.
The Shipping Board was not
represented at the hearing, though
copy of the opinion Of Counsel
Schlessinger was filed with the
Attorney General.
Arguments and briefs in defense
of the sale of liquors on ships were
made by Ira Campbell, of New
York, counsel for the American
Ship Owners Association, and Will
lam r. Harr, of Washington, coun-
sci for the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company.
Opposing arguments and briefs
were presented by Wayne B. Wheel.
er, counsel for the Anti-Saloon
League, and John J. Britt, counsel
for the Prohibition Bureau.
Others who were heard in opposi-
ton were the Rev. Sam Small, for
the National Reform Association;
the Rev. e. o. Watson, for the Fed
eral Council OF Churches; the Rev.
Edwin c. Dinwiddie, for the Ma
tional Temperance Union.
A plea for continuing liquor on
the ships was made by DIR. John
p. DAWN, representing the New
York American Liberties League
and the Central Trades and Labor
Council of New York.
Proceedings Enlivened.
The proceedings were of the cold.
dry, matter-of-fact character that
mark a court argument until DIR.
DAWN, the last speaker, got the
floor. He produced the only laughs
OF the three-hour session. He
ship, boys" And then delivered
himself OF these trite remarks:
Most of the victories for liberty
were won outside the three.mile
limit"
I'VE have n monument to pro-
hibition in New York-Civic Vir-
tue. 1t is fair, fat and fatuous."
when Roden carved his statue,
The Thinker was he thinking of
near-beer and grape juice?"
Attorney General Daugherty ask
ed him II he was a practicing ply
sician. He replied he had been
practicing "for thirty-five years at
the bedside. and not before Con-
gress."
The departments opinion will
not be handed down for several
days as opposing counsel asked per-
mission to file supplemental briefs
on the new arguments presented.