New-York tribune., 1919-10-18
snecial Force of Revenue
Men Said To Be Ready
to Enforce Wartime
Statute to the Limit
Porter Waits Only
Word From Capital
Promises a Full Eclipse
of ]. Barleycorn and
2.75, His Little Brother

IN or about October 20. which is
hext Monday, the lid will be on-un-
less the unexpected happens.
Wartime prohibition, the thing that
sneyer could be done in New York"
Is about to be done, from all indca
sious. According to Daniel L. Porter,
suuervisor OF the Internal Revenue
Agents for the New York division Of
The United States Customs Service,
/. is going to be completely done Mr..
Porter is the man who will be sitting
on the lid.
Those die hards who have been ac-
customed to drop into the place up the
street where the bartender if asked
for sherry would, if sufficiently we'll
acquainted with you, hand over three
fingers Of "real stuff" to-day face the
fearful prospect of real drought.
Places where the recognized high sign
Is call for horses neck arc about
10 be similarly tabooed. The man who
asks for horses neck thereafter is
likely to get a horses neck-that and
nothing more.
Even 2.75 Is Banned
Even the largely advertised 2.75 no
longer will be able to sneak past
Under the enforcement act anything
Of greater alcoholic content than one
half OF per cent is Demon Rum.
Supervisor Porter called confer
ence of rewspapermen in his office at
the Custom House yesterday and told
them that there would be no side
stepping Of the issue. When Wash
ington picked Mr. Porter for the job
OF making New York dry Washington
picked man VINO had had experience
Of that kind before He was FOR seven
teen ard d half years in the United
States army and he retired in March
last with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Colonel Porter enforced prohibition in
camp zones curing the training period
In the south Atlantic states Lieu
tenant Colonel Porter's forces closed
more than 1000 illicit stills in four
months The moonshiners, in many
instances. objected, and there were
.wenty-nine casualties. few among
the revenue officers. He also enforced
cess. AS to his views on enforcement
Of the wartime prohibition act, he
said:
Expects Early Instructions
"The act providing for the enforce
inent Of wartime prohibition was sent
70 the President on the 10th of this
month. Ten days afterward, as I un-
derstand it, the act becomes law. l am
expecting ct any moment to receive in
structlons from Washington to COM
mence the enforcement.
Under this bill the duty of enforc-
Ing wartime prohibition in greater
New York devolves on this departmen
The territory over which the depart
ment has supervision runs as far north
as Westchcster County. 1t does not in
clude New Jersey.
u believe the saloonkeepers, brew
ers, rectltiers, distillers and other per-
sons affected by this act are law -abid-
ing American citizens. ! believe they
viii wish TO obey the law, when they
know what the law is. I have called
TINS conference MAT they may be prop
eriy informed as % what the law is.
Plans Thorough Investigation
We are prepared to begin enforce
Ment MMent directly we receive Instructions.
ne snail vigorously investigate any
circumstances which may lead US to
suppose that the law is being violated.
'ne law Is going to be enforced"
o'her po'nts developed in unofficial
>o"'eIsalson For instance the In
ssfnal Revenue force calls itself "The
Marines Of the Federal Service" 1t is
me ooast Of the men that they 90 any
where ard do everything in the line OF
eu'y' They didn't ask for this Job;
, Dus, It having been wished upon them
'ney aftirm the job will be fully com.
p.eted.
~ was developed also that paten
meoicines, showing a degree of medi
Sa'ioh less than the law requires, will
oe llaole 70 forfeiture and conhscation
.no 'hosc who sell them TO prosecution
eA charge Of maintaining a common
nuisance"
Private Stocks Immune
:, II vas admitted that the law CAV,
."e revenue officers no authority TO en-
Sr private mousse % seize liquor KEEP
'sr persona! consumption. But an,
a..empt 70 aide blind pigs" or speak
sssies under the guise Of brown
soDhc iroat Or Z synthetic marbi
sVaF'men, house wili DC liable to in
sesngati>n.
laere are $3.50 places in New Yor1
pncenSef 70 sell liquor at present. M
Porter helieges most Of them vii! e
W. q business voluntarily.
ne men who viii do the actual en-
..feing are civil servants, recruitc'
.iof all parts Of the Union. 1t wa
ttnNmsted shat d special force had bee
formed for tn. duty.
.ne wartime prohibition act ha
Ao'n'ag - do ~sth the const,tutiona
smendencnt dealing with the GAM