San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-19
CITY LIQUOR
LAW WILL Be
PASSED HERE
Provide for Fines in Cor
poration Court in Zip
Pocket" Gases.
RELIEVE u. S. DOCKET
Wide Difference in Federal
and State Law Brings
1t About.
RELIEVE U. S. DOCKET

A city ordinance, similar to those
in effect in virtually ell northern
cities. making it an offense punish
able by fine for possessing intoxicat-
ing liquor. and providing that such
cases shall be tried in corporation
court. will be suggested to the city
commission as a means of relieving
the federal and state dockets OF much
of their burden. Mayor John w. To-
bin said Wednesday. The mayors an
nouncemcnt was made when it was
brought TO his attention that police
Officers are now filing charges in the
state courts where persons are found
in possession Of small quantities of
liquor which do not warrant the filing
of charges in federal court.
Charges against +. ID. Denison, a
soldier. were filed in the state courts
Wednesday and he was placed in the
Bexar county jail. He was charged
with having in his possession small
quantity of liquor. less than pint.
Four other cases Of similar charact-
er have been filed in the state courts
by the police within the last week.
Federal Court Doesn't Want Them.
A short time ago Federal Judge
Duval West instructed tiiatsfederel Of
ficers file liquor charges only where
the quantity seized warranted ii and
to let the chip pocket cases be tried
IN the corporation court. THE federal
docket was so crowded Judge West
said that the court could not devote
its time to trial of these minor cases.
Federal Prohibition Head Mckay
Wednesday, said he has declined to
file charges where the quantity 81
liquor seized was n small one, letting
the police department file in such in.
stances. Mr.. Mckay said he has not
been responsible for the filing of the
eases in state courts but the matter
has been left up to the police.
Orders were issued by Police Chief
Albert o. Van Ripper several days ago
that the police department should file
in the state courts when liquor was
seized. The police chief had copies of
the law regulating the disposition of
seized liquor printed and distributed
among his men. Since that time the
police officers have been filing in state
courts and the liquor has been turned
over to the sheriff's department n
compliance with the law. Reports
called for i'll the special law also are
being filed.
Says Law Unjust.
1t was pointed out to Mayor Tobin
"Wednesday that the penalty for pos
sessing liquor under the state laws
is much more severe than under the
federal law. For instance n man might
be caught with a large quantity of
liquor, complaint filed in the federal
courts and he might escape with 4
fine. On the other hand he could be
taken with less than a quart and COM
plant filed in the state courts and he
could be sent to the penitentiary.
Mayor Tobin declared, that this
would assuredly be unjust and that he
thought cases of this character should
be tried in police court. He said he
would take the matter up with the
commissioners and the city attorney
and if possible he would have an
ordinance passed by which the cases
could be tried in the corporation
court.