Evening star., 1923-05-06
new YORK REPEAL
BIGGEST DRY BLOW,
VIEW IN CONGRESS
Death of Enforcement Code
Felt to Mean Heavier
Federal Expense.
LAW WILL BE UPHELD.
LEADERS HERE ASSERT
Prohibition Sentiment Gains in
Country as Whole. Declares
Senator Curtis.

The severest blow that has yer
peen dealt national Prohibition en-
forcement." is the way in which n,en-
oers or Congress friendly to prohibi-
tion-some Of them-last night char.
acterized the repeal OF the state pro-
hioition enforcement act by the New
York legislature.
They see huge federal appropria-
tions required for the enforcement OF
prohibition by federal agents-with-
out the cooperation Of state officials.
They see the morale of prohibition
enforcement in other state. lowered
by the action Of New York.
On the other hand, some Of the
spokesmen in Congress for prohibi-
ton forces were defiant when the
action Of the New York legislature
was called to their attention The
FEDERAL government will see to II,
they insist. that the prohibition law
will be carried out. Among these
were Senator Curtis of Kansas, re-
publican whip; Senator Sterling of
| South Dakota and representative
Graham Of Illinois candidate for the
next House.
Jusserand Sees Hughes.
Meanwhile another phase of the
prohibition questionable Supreme
Court ban on bringing liquor into
Amer waters-is regarded as
likely to become a subject of diplo-
| matte exchanges. French Ambassa-
dor Jus5erand discussed this subject
! with Secretary Hughes yesterday at
| the State Department. but with what
result did not appear.
The embassies Of all Of the foreign
governments were without instruc-
tions regarding the Supreme Courts
decision. Copies Of that portion OF
the decision which applies to foreign
ships were given to them Friday by
the state Depa rtment for the informa-
tion of their governments, and 1t was
not expected that any formal protest.
| would be made until the exact word
! ing Of the decision had been studied
! abroad.
Congress at it's last session appro-
| priated $s,0oo,oo0 for the enforce
| ment Of the federal prohibition Law.
| If the federal government is to be re
| quired to "go it alone" in the matter
| Of prohibition enforcement in New
York and other states IN which the
wet" sentiment predominates, un-
| doubtedly the appropriations will
| have TO be largely increased, it IS
said.
Vets TO Try Economy.
| Proposals for increased appropria-
! tions will bring loud and prolonged
criticism from the 'wets." who Will
! shout economy and the failure OF pro-
| hibition enforcement. When the last
| appropriations for prohibition were
| before the House and Senate, the
"antis" in Senate and House insisted
| that the sum was entirely too small
/ for real prohibition enforcement
They maintained that $50.000.00o or
even sl00.000.o00 would not be suf-
ficient to bring about rigid enforce
ment of the law. Senator Broussard
| of louisiana, wet" challenged the
prohibitionists to join with him in
raising the appropriation for prohibi-
| ton enforcement TO s9o,0Oo,0oo or
| more.
! One effect OF New Tork's latest
| action on the dry question, 1t was
predicted by political observers,
would be 10 make prohibition an even
larger issue in the coming campaign
than il would otherwise have been.
| Seek Dry Lesisiature.
The suggestion was made that the
| prohibitionists would Immediately
launch a campaign for the election OF
q dry" Legislature in New York. n
! new legislature, of course. could un-
! do the work of the present body and
| re-enact q state prohibition law.
Senator Curtis of Kansas is among
those who assert that the federal
government will go ahead with the
| enforcement of prohibition in New
York and in any other state with
all its mower. no matter what the at
+itude of the state legislatures.
J THE law will be enforced all
right" said the Kansas senator.
"Prohfbition is growing stronger the
country over-not weaker"
| Senator Sterling of South Dakota,
republican, who was chairman of thS
Senate judiciary subcommittee which
i handled the Volstead act and later
the anti-beer bill. when thoss meas
ures were before the Senate, also ex,
dressed confidence that the federal
government will be able to deal with,
| the situation.
Expects Ample Funds.
1t will have to redouble its err
ergy in New York. am conhdsn;
/ that the Congress will appropria<
| whatever sums of money are neceEH-
!! sary to carry out the law. 1 dc mn
know at this time just how much az
| tho state authorities have been rem
dering in the enforcement Of the pr'$
hibition law. If they have been dt>
ing little, then it is possible that TIA
government can go ahead with It's
enforcement in New York state VIII
comparatively little additional en-
pense."
When asked how he would regard
the situation in the event that Ne"
Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania Mas
L..