Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-04
Treasury 70 Make No Al
tempt to Alleviate Sit
alton in Conflict With
Foreign Laws
Supreme Courts Con-
struction of Dry Law
to Be Rigidly En-
forced - Only Hope
Lies in r e m e dial
Legislation by Con-
gress - COnsidera-
ton for Ships Forced
to Make Port

Washington, June 3-The treasury
tossed on the International doorstep
tonight it's new regulations carrying
out the Supreme Court decision bar
ring all beverage liquors from terri
torial waters of the United States
after 1901 A. NJ, June 10. No loop
holes have been left, according to a
Treasury spokesman, and the courts
| recent construction of the dry law
will be rgidly applied.
Having failed to find any way by
| which conflict with foreign laws
could be avoided. the Treasury based
its new ship liquor rules on q literal
reading of the courts opinion and
prepared to let come what may. Its
| only hope of alternating situation,
| which most officials agree will be
embarrassing to international COM
mercc, was said to lie in remedial
! legislation from the next congress.
Except for the exemption granted
medicinal liquor, the usual immunity
accorded diplomats and the privi-
legcs allowed foreign vessels of war.
the regulations permit of no in
bound passage of alcoholic bever-
ages. Consideration is given, how
ever, TO ships forced by the extrem-
! ity of distress to put into an Ameri-
/ can harbor. But even such vessels,
, if they have liquor aboard, must
| show that the necessity was grave
and 1.-THE proof must be convincing"
after which they will be requested
| to give bond for faithful observance
of the American dry law.
L CONCERNING the hone among foreign
maritime powers of relief from what
! is regarded as one of the most dras-
tic interpretiOnS ever given by the
! Supreme Court. some Treasury Off
Gals felt tonight that congress might
lind way of circumventing the inn
port deadline. Others were con-
WINGED that the barred zone was due
to remain until change was made
bin the eighteenth amendment.
In this connection 1t was pointed
out by the latter that tho decision Of
the Supreme Court was based fun
damentally on the sweeping provis-
ions of the amendment rather than
on the enforcement act and that the
court held, regardless Of whether
liquor for beverage uses was being
imported. its being carried for any
such purpose within the three mile
limit constituted transportation
which is specifically forbidden by the
amendment. Legislation to relieve
the situation from the foreign view
point, it wa contended. could
scarcely be other than in contraven-
ton of the constitution and there
fore invalid.
Specifically the regulations pro.
vide:
mo merchant vessel, domestic or
fnrniUnN Ia vr-f,,
within the territorial waters Of the
United States any liquor for use for
beverage purposes; liquor for nom
beverage purposes may be transport
ed within the territorial waters OF
the United States under permit in ac-
cordance with the provisions Of Sec
ton SO of Regulations 80 medicinal
and sacramentaD.
1T is unlawful for any United
States or foreign vessel within the
territorial waters OF the United
States to carry or possess as sea
stores any liquor Whatsoever for
beverage use" Il.
AS regards the exemptions accord
cd, the regulations have set down re-
strictions that require permits and
reports Of a character and quantity
sufficient to give the government
complete check on all liquor thus
brought into the barred zone or
landed on American soil. Provision
has been made, however, that the
seizures directed and the fines all
lowed to be imposed may not apply
to vessels which have left foreign
port prior to June 10 and which
reaches a port OF the United States
after the ban is operative.
No limitation is prescribed for the
amount Of medicinal liquor which
any craft may possess in American
waters, the regulations stating only
that reasonable" quantity may be
retained for such non-beverage pur-
poses until the master Of the vessel
has had a fair opportunity to obtain
either permit or certificate OF
medicinal need"