Evening star., 1932-11-17
ACTUAL STEP MADE
|. TO LEGALRE BEER
Farley to Pave Way for Re-
porting Out Bill Held
by Legislators.
tcontinued Prom First PAGE )

tSOAtAAA0C0 EAoS GAN-J
law would apply here unless the people
Of the District do not want It," The
Maryland Senator said later on he
would ascertain the present status of
the local prohibition law. He said II
might be necessary to have a separate
clause relating to the District in any
national modification legislation.
In his letter to the District CommiS-
sioners today John r. Dryden, execll-
tive commander Of the Washington
branch of the Crusaders, called atteIa-
tion to the impending discussion Of ma
tional prohibition in Congress. Mr..
Dryden said there are IS States, includ-
ing Maryland, In which beer could be
sold legally if Congress modifles the
Volstead act. At that time, he added.
"the question is bound to arise as to
whether or not beer may legally b
sold in the District of Columbia"
Sheppard Law More Drastic.
an 1917" Mr.. Drydens letter con-
tinued, what is known as the Shep-
pard act brought prohibition to WASH
ington. This act was much more dras-
tic, particularly in Its provisions for
search and seizure, than the Volstead
act. After the Volstead act became
cllSCblNG III OdIludIJs 1S<Os tAc O1SSIASb
authorities apparently felt that the
Sheppard law had been repealed by
implication and the Volstead act had
become the prohibition law Of the Dis
trict, and since its adoption they have
been governed by the provisions of the
Volstead act rather than the provisions
of the Sheppard act"
The letter from the Crusaders then
called attention to testimony taken in
connection with the Howell bill indi-
eating doubt in the minds Of some aS
to how far the national prohibition act
affected the Sheppard law The Shep-
pard act, however, Is incorporated In
the District code as revised March Z,
1929. the letter pointed out.
In view OF the above apparent con-
fusion" the Crusaders letter conclud-
ed, I'VE earnestly request that you give
US your opinion as to whether or not
the Sheppard act has been repealed by
passage Of the Volstead act" .E
In 1927 the Commissioners asked the
corporation counsel whether the pro-
visions Of the Sheppard Law were af-
fected by the national prohibition act
In so far as the manufacture. transpor-
tation and sale OF intoxicating liquor is
concerned in the District.
Corporation Counsel Replies.
Corporation Counsel William w.
Bride, In his opinion to the Conn
missioners at that time, replied: This
office has on several occasions before
became corporation counsel held that
the provisions Of the Sheppard law In
those regards were repealed by the ma
tional prohibition act. With that view
I am in absolute accord. I desire.
however. to amply this statement by
giving you some of the reasons for my
view" The opinion went on to COM
pare the detailed provisions Of the
two laws
Representative O'Connor made known
his intention Of consulting District au-
thortties as to what the effect OF O.
change in national prohibition would
have on the District, and indicated he
favored making the proposed changes
in the national prohibition law appli-
| cable to the District.
F. Scott Mcbride, general superin-
tendent Of the Anti-Saloon League.
commenting On the question today.
said that If 1t should develop there Is
no legislation to take care of the Dis
trict, efforts would be made to keep the
District from becoming wet. Mr.. Nc
Bride said these efforts would continue
In succeeding Congresses.