Evening star., 1922-10-22
SHIP LIQUOR Lid
SLAPPED ON TIGHT
Vessels Sailing Today With
Forbidden Cargoes Face
Penalties.
U. S. FORCES MARK TIME

Provisions of the liquor statutes.
held by Attorney General Daugherfy
to prohibit transportation and sale of
alcoholic beverages on American ves-
sells anywhere. and on foreign ves-
sells within three miles of the United
States coast, became effective last
night at midnight. ..~ 49,,
Tho extensien- cy etrne ordered by
Presidsnt Harding to permit ship
lines to arrange their affairs to con-
ftfm to the ruling. expired 1t mid
night. and enforcement oficials de-
clared suggestions for q further ex-
tension had, not been approved.
1t was considered probable that
several days would elapse before Gus
toms and prohibition forces would
have at hand specific instructions as
to the scope Of their authority under
the Daugherty opinion, but this, 1t
declared. would have no effect on the
operation Of the law. A foreign ves-
today, it was said, would be liable
to the penalties fixed by the volstead
act IL and when she entered Ameri-
can coastal waters bearing that
cargo.
American ships ~Bsne Dry"
American ships, under the ruling
of the Attorney General, which re-
ceived the formal approval Of Presi-
dent Harding. are prohibited from
possessing" liquor. regardless of
where they are in operation. The
ban was made operative as to Ship
ping Board tonnage as soon as the
ruling was published. though time
was allowed for the disposal OF any
Illicit stocks on board vessels of the
feet then at sea-
Enforcement officials are hopeful
of a decision coming from the fed
eral district court in New York
where the new Interpretation Of the
law is under fire by both foreign
and American lines-before the ar
rival of vessel in violation of the
ban necessltates punitive action
against the ship, the agents and her
master, as required by law.
1t is pointed out that only vessels
which clear from foreign ports after
midnight tonight come within the re-
strlctlons,. thus giving a further "au-
tomatlc stay" OF from five to seven
days IN the case OF most ships on the
regular Atlantic routes and OF an even
longer period with respect to ship.
crossing the Pacific.
Absence Of formal instructions a. tc
their procedure will not serve as a de-
terrent on customs and prohibition
forces. it was declared, as the regula-
tions now standing are sufficient to
permit them/to act in cases of sus-
pected violation.
Await Judge Hands RulinE.
Administration officials looked to an
early decision from Judge Hand In
New York to clear the situation. II
affirmative-granting a permanent in.
junction which could restrain the gov.
ernment from enforcing its interpre.
tatior Of the law-the decision would
act as an automatic stay pending ad.
judicauon of the appeal which, the
Department of Justice has indicated
would be Immediately taken.
| Should Judge Hand vacate the tenn.
pofary order. however, the govern.
ment would, be free to proceed with
enforcement unless and until the line.
affected brought some new action IL
| the courts. II
Reply, by the State Department t.
the protest: Of Great Britain agains
| seizure Of the Canadian schooner EN-
erald tonight still was awaiting a de.
tailed report from the New Yorl
prohibition director giving details o.
the case against that ship. The briel
report received yesterday declaring
1 the Emerald had communicated lille
eally with the shore by means o,
small boats was not considered SUN.
ciently Informative for the purpose.
Of, the State Department. which had
requested Secretary Mellon ito obtain
T. (Continued onsPage 2, Column g.