Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-02
Cabinet Confers on Question


Washington, May 1.-The liquor
problem again became the paramount
concern Of the federal government
To-Day as result of the decision of
the supreme court drawing a prohi-
bition deadlne around the territory
and territorial waters of the United
States.
On the one side officials turned
thelr attention searchingly to the
question of what to do in the face
of the courts ruling that outside the
three mile deadline American ships
can become under the present law as
wet as they desire
On the other hand there arose a
new cause for perplexity and inter-
natlonai disagreement over the edict
of the court that no foreign ship can
bring liquor inside the three mile
limit despite the fact that some of
the nations require their vessels to
nave liquor aboard and to serve it to
their crews wherever they may be-
over these two features of the
situation President Harding and his
cabinet put their heads together.
The net result Of the days DELHI
crations was for the most part negas
tivefi but there were many indica5
| tons that Developments involving
every phase of the situation were in
the immediate offinG.
At the white house, before the cab.
met meeting. Chairman Lasker Of the
Shipping Board conferred with the
president and indicated afterwards
| that the policy of the chief executive
toward resuming liquor serving on its
vessels outside the prohibition dead
line would be set forth shortly in a
Public statement His observa tons
led. too. to the impression that the
Shipping Board fleet probably would
stay dry as a matter of policy.
The treasury department. which is
responsible for administration of the
Nolstead act. began likewise the prep-
i aration of Il statement which will lay
down the principles on which the de-
cision of the highest court will be ap-
piled to shipping at American ports Of
arrival and departure.
Attorney General 'Daugherty prepar-
cd statement holding that the real
effect was to strengthen the position
/ by him in favor of drastic enforcement
Among the foreign diplomats and at
the state department there We're evil
denccs that a prolonged and perhaps
o"llcate international exchange of
views was in the making.
What the state department will say
ir: reply to such representations ad-
mittedly is one of the most defeats
questions involved in the whole prob
lem as il now confronts the executive
branch OF the government.
Intimations that the administration
hight ask Congress to amend the law
so as to exclude foreign ships in
American ports from the sweeping
prohibition laid down by the supreme
court aroused an immediate protest
from the dry baitalons in the Senate
and House.
1t is evident that the treasury re-
CARDS the question Of stoppage of for
cign ships at the three-mile limit if
they have liquor aboard 6 a most in
tricate phase Of the situation. 1t in
wolves many troublesome possibilities,
not the least of which is the sanction
which the decision appears to give to
American craft to run excursions out
SIDE the thrce-mile limit. obtain their
liquor stocks there and maintain float
ing bar rooms until they are reaedy
10 return TO port. on the face OF the
decision some officials believe there
would be no way OF checking such a
practice