A BEER BLOC

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 11

A BEER BLOC

IN AMERICAN CONGRESS

SEEKS MODIFICATION OF

VOLSTEAD LAW

(by cable—rr.Ess association corntiairr.) (Al-STfiALU.V AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION'.) (Received March oih, 6.5 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, March A. Fifty-six identical Bills are announced for presentation in Congress. Thisi corresponds with the present membership of tho Boer Bloc, which began oiX'rat ions a week ago with a nucleus of 40 members.

It is part of the Bloc's plan to emphasise the campaign fnr tlve liberalisation of tho Volstead Law by having each additional recruit to the Party present an identical Bill. AGAINST MODIFICATION. NEW YORK STATE. (BT CABLK —PRESS A6SOCIATIOX COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND b'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March sth, 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 4. A message from Albany, New York, says that the State Assembly rejected a resolution memorialising the United States Congress, on behalf of a modification of the Volstead Law permitting light wines and beers, thus declining to support the action this body took last year. The Assembly, however, passed a resolution asking Congress to eliminate the "doublo jeopardy" feature of the Volstead Law, whereby an offender can be punished both by State and Federal Courts for the same violation. Steps are also being taken to secure tho passage through the Now York Legislature "of a measure to replace the famous Mullin-Gago law, which has been repealed. The latter measure — as does its proposed substitute —aimed to socure State aid in the enforcement of Federal Prohibition.

Tho foregoing all seems to indicate a change in the feeling concerning Prohibition, which a year or more ago was very much disfavoured.

LIQUOR SHIPS.

ANGLO-AMERICAN TREATY.

(Received March sth, 8.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March i. The text of the Ship Liquor Treaty between Britain End the United States was disclosed for the first time here today. It declares the firm intention to Tip. hold the principle of the three-mile territorial limit, but authorises tho search of British vessels suspected of carrying liquor anywhere within a distance from the coast of the United States which can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected. Britain is pledged against raising objection to the boarding of private vessels under the British flag outside terri. torial waters, to search, when there is reasonable ground for suspicion.

The seizure of British vessels and their detention in American ports for adjudication is stipulated.

IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

COMPULSION NOT FAYOUEED. (Received March 6th, 12.30 a.m.) ADELAIDE, March 5. The' Premier, in a policy speech referring to the liquor question, said the Government held the view that r South Australia was a sober and well-ordered community, and that strict supervision laws would ensure better progress in temperance than a system of compulsion.