Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1917 — Liquor Law Ruling Gets Quick Recall. [ARTICLE]

Liquor Law Ruling Gets Quick Recall.

Washington, Oct. 22.—Instructions to all customs collectors in the country to admit to entry distilled spirits produced abroad prior to Oct. 3 last, “either for beverage purposes or fore other than beverage purposes,” were made public and recalled wthin the space of’ a few hours today by the treasury department - The question has been placed before the attorney general for a decision and in the meantime the food law prohibition remains in effect. That section of the f,ood law passed Aug. 10, after prohibiting the manufacture of distilled beverages in this country, says: “Nor shall there be imported into the United States any distilled spirits.” Section 301 of the revenue law, passed nearly two months later, provides : “That no distilled spirits produced after the passage of this act shall be imported into the United States from any foreign country or from the West Indian Islands, recently acSuired from Denmark (unless prouced from products the growth of such island, and not then into any state or territory or district of the United States in which the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquor is prohibited), or from Porto Rico or the Philippine Islands.” It was held that the words “produced after the passage of this act” in the revenue law, in effect permitted the admission to entry of spirits distilled prior to the enactment of the act. Instructions consequently were addressed to all collectors advising them to permit the importation of distilled spirits produced abroad prior to Oct. 3. Today these instructions were recalled, high’ officials of the department taking the stand that the question was one of such magnitude that Attorney General Gregory should pass upon it.