PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 17

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

LIQUOR ON SHIPS. NEW YORK, October 23. Judge Hand upheld Mr Daugherty's ruling, and refused the application by the various shipping companies. They will appeal to the Supreme Court. The Washington authorities announce that the Daugherty order will now be rigorously enforced. Regarding the judgment on Mr Daugherty’s liquor ruling, Judge Hand pointed out that the decision was not applicable to American ships on the high seas. He invited counsel for the United States Shipping interests to submit memoranda inasmuch as the ruling was nebulous concerning west-bound ships. SHIPPING CONCERNS PERTURBED. NEW YORK, October 25. The decision of Judge Hand has caused serious disquietude among foreign and American shipping concerns here. It has aroused a great deal of public interest, and has left the Harding Administration indecisively in mid-air , The legal experts point out that Judge Hand could not do otherwise than uphold the Daugherty ruling ; yet a further interpretation of Judge Hand’s decision shows inconsistencies. He permits foreign vessels whose national laws order grog rations among the crews to continue such if each deposits a 25,000 dollar bond to assure that the liquor will not be used tor otherpurposes, and lie permits American vessels bound for the United States to load liquor if they consume it .before reaching United States territorial waters. It is pointed out that American vessels are in American territory; therefore the Daugherty ruling regarding the prohibition of liquor on American territory allows American vessels in mid-sea to carry liquor. White House first authorised the announcement, immediately after Judge Hand’s decision was published, that the Daugherty ruling would be immediately enforced." This was later altered, it is believed upon unofficial representations by the- foreign Chancellories. It was pointed out that insular possessions. which depend on foreign vessels for the maintenance of their trade, would seriously suffer because foreign ships would refuso to call there, as a result of the liquor ruling. It was further pointed out that American shipping, for which the Administration is anxious to secure a subsidy in order to enable it to compete with foreign lines, would receive a grave setback, as even if it obtained a subsidy it could not supply liquor to passengers.

A special meeting of the Cabinet was called for to-day to discuss these various points, after which it was intimated that the Daugherty ruling would not be enforced until tho Supreme Court gave its final decision, which is expected in six or eight weeks’ time. Meantime the foreign and American lines are pooling their resources, and have sent a formidable legal staff to Washington to defend their interests. The whole subject is being heatedly discussed in the press, and concern is felt for the outcome. WASHINGTON, October 25. The Supreme Court refused the foreign shipping companies’ application for a writ of supersedeas preventing the enforcement of the Daugherty ruling. SOME STATISTICS. NEW YORK, October 25. With the elections a fortnight a wav, in which the prohibition issue will officially lie tested, the statistics relating to five States issued by the leading pro and con organisations are considered significant. THe Anti-Saloon League announced that 125 prohibition agents had been killed and 3500 wounded in their efforts to enforce tlie Volstead Act. The association against prohibition, as an amendment, announced that the arrests for drunkenness in 56 cities numbered 252,000 in 1920 and 343,000 in 1921, while the arrests for all causes increased nearly 19 per cent, during the same period. AMERICA ADMITS BLUNDER. WASHINGTON. October 26. The Government has ordered the release of the Emerald, Mr A. W. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury) declaring that the seizure was a blunder. All tlie Emerald’s liquor will also he returned intact. It is understood that the American Gov-, eminent will send an ajiology. [lt is understood that the British Government protested to the State Department against the seizure of the British schooner Emerald eight miles from tho coast, allegedly for “boot-legging.”] AMERICAN SHIPS RULED “DRY.”NEW YORK, October 27. The Federal Court lias ruled against American ships carrying liquor in any territory wherever they may be. Thus, they cannot carry liquor even in foreign waters.