AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

THE PROHIBITION LAW. A CHANGE OF FEELING. [IIY TtXKCUAI’II- I'KK I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION.] NEW YORK. March L A message from Albany, New York, says that the Slate Assembly has rejected a proposal for niemoralising the United States Congress on behalf of the mod.iiication of lhe Volstead Law, permitting light wines and beers, thus declining to support the action winch this body took last year, as cabled on March 3rd. The Assembly, however, has passed a resolution asking Congress to eliminate the “double jeopardy lea tin f the Volstead Law. whereby an olfeniler can he punished hoih by a State and a Federal Court lor the same violation.

Steps are also being taken to secure the passage through the New Turk legislature ol a measure to replace tlie famous M till in-Gage Law. which has been repealed. The latter measure, as also its proposed substitute, aimed to secure State aid in the enforcement of I'ederal prohibit ion. The foregoing all seems to indicate a change of feeling regarding prohibition which a year ago was very mm-st disfavoured.

SEARCH (IF Sllll'S. WASHINGTON, .'larch L 11,,. XL cf the Ships' Liquor Tle.iiv between Britain ami the Failed Stales was disclosed for the iirsi lime here to-,lav. It declared a linn intention to uphold the principle of the three mile territorial limit, hut it authorises the search of British vessels suspected of earning liquor anywhere within the distance from ill" coast o' the 1 lilted States which can I" traversed in outlinin' by the vessel t-ieperlcd, Joi tain is pledged against raising auv ,»n (ration lo the boarding of I'l'ivalo tvs Sr'ls under the British Hag mitsul" ier tutorial waters to search when there is reasonable grounds for .suspicion. Ihe seizure of British vps-ds and their detention in .'merman ports for adjudication is stipulated. A BEER BLOC. WASHINGTON, March -I. Fifty-six identical hills are announced for presentation, (his number corresponds with the present membership of the Beer Bloc," winch began operations a week ago. with a nucleus of forty members. It. is part of the plan of the bloc to emphasise tin; campaign for the liberalisation ol the \ oistead Dry Law. by having each additional recruit to ihe-party present an identical hill. U.S.A. CRAFT. WASHINGTON, March 4 Two more Consxrossionjt l iuvestigalions were launched to-day liv IV dent Coolidge, and also independently beginning with an inquiry as the result of the. Forbes indictment (cabled Feb. 2Sth). it is persistently rumoured during the last two days that two members of the House of Representatives have been selling pardons, paroles and other forms of clemency to Federal prisoners, including soldiers incarcerated for military offences.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution to investigate and determine who the two members arc. while President Coolidge has requested the Department of Justice to immediately collect evidence and place tlie niatiei before a I’ederal Grand Jury tor the purpose of prosecution. The House also pas-md a resolution for an inquiry into the affairs of the United States Shipping Board.

OIL SCANDALS. WASHINGTON. .March t Messrs Pomeroiii and Owen, the Pro seen tors, spurred by the impatience •>; the Senate at there being nothing yet done by them to stop oil production by those on the navy leases, nmintmced they arc taking action. They an tiling equity suits to fitneel the le;tse‘ for tlie naval reserves. The legal steps being taken include criminal action:, alleging conspiracy and bribery against. Mr Fall, former (’ahim-i Minister, and others who have practipaied in the diverting of public funds to private exploitation.