Imperial Valley press., 1932-12-19
ROLPH ISSUES
PARDONS WHEN
DRY LAW ENDS
Governor Frees Wright Act Vio-
lators When Mandate OF
Voters Becomes Effective.
HOLIDAYS TO BE WET
Los Angeles And Other Sections
Of State Thrown Open To
Liquor Traffic.

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Dec. 49,
W.R>-For the first time in approx
mately 10 years California today
had no state prohibition enforce
ment law.
Repeal of the Wright act was
effective last night at midnight, and
from now on prohibition enforce
ment will be carried on principally
by federal officials, although At
torney General U. S. Webb has
ruled that cities and counties hav-
ing local dry laws still on the
books may enforce them.
What California "wets" are cele-
brating as the beginning of the
end of the prohibition era will be
climaxed today when Governor
Rolph signs approximately $50
Christmas pardonS authorizing the
release of bootleggers still in jail
for having violated the now de-
funct enforcement law.
The governor has indicated he
desires to have all such prisoners
out of Jail by Christmas.
SACRAMENTO, Cal, Dec. 49,
W.PJ-Governor Rolph today signed
pardons for 1873 violators of the
Wright act, Californias prohibi-
tion enforcement law, repealed by
voters at the last election.
In addition, the governor par
doned five violators of the Jones
act, state law providing penalties
for possession of a still. These pris-
onerS were confined in the two
state prisons, while all the Wright
act violators were serving county
Jail sentences.
Originally Rolph had planned to
issue the pardons sometime today.
Last night he came to Sacramento
by train and went direct to the ex-
ecutive mansion.
after I went to bed, got to
thinking that this law would be
dead at midnight" the governor
said this morning, land these poor
fellows would be still lying in Jail.
$50 I got up and dressed, tele-
phoned for some secretaries, and
went to the capitol. Shortly after
midnight finished signing the par
dons."
Rolph requested Judge William
A. Smith, his private secretary to
notify all sheriffs by telephone that
the pardons had been ISSUED and
the prisoners could be released at
once.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10. U.P)-
The wettest holiday season since
pre- -Volstead days was in prospect
for Los Angeles today, with the
states liquor enforcement act wiped
from the statute books.
Only the Gandier ordinance,
which merely regulates, not pro-
hibits the sale of liquor was ef-
fective in Los Angeles city, as fed
eral officers, never too numerous,
admitted they had little hope OF
drying up the city.
The Gambler ordinance forbids
the sale of intoxicants in restaur-
ants or public places without per-
NIT from the police commission,
which has not seen fit to hand out
any licenses so far.
Chief of Police Roy E. Steckel
admitted that to his knowledge, no
arrests ever had been made for pos
session or transportation of liquor
under that ordinance.
He said he would seek a ruling to
determine if it was illegal for a
person to take his own liquor into
a public place for his own con-
sumption.
The county liquor ordnance, ef-
fective only in unincorporateG ter
ritory, has teeth in it. 1t penalties
the buyer as well as the seller of
liquor.
Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz, how
ever, said his men would concen-
trate on bootleggers and racketeers,
and would not molest private
homes.
With Los Angeles comparatively
"open," prices of liquor hit bottom
today. Good Bourbon whiskeys
sold as low as $l15 pint in case
lots, with gin quoted at SO case
Or less