The sun., 1919-04-13
ENFORCEMENT
OF PROHIBITION
NOT DELEGATED
Roper Announces Revenue
Department Was Not
Given This Power.
CALLS FOR LEGISLATION
President by Proclaiming De-
mobilization Ended Could
Cancel Order.

wAsHINGoN. April .12.-Enforcement
OF war time prohibition, which be-
comes effective July 1. is not lodged
with the internal revenue bureau or
with any other Government agency,
but is merely left to the United States
Attorneys. Daniel c. Roper. revenue
commissioner, declared to-day after
analysis OF all statutes and regulations
Intimation that because OF the ap-
parent difficulty of enforcement the
President or Congress might be called
on to postpone the laws operation was
given by Mr.. Roper in a statement
saying that "the issuing of licenses for
the manufacture prohibited by the
war time prohibition act will. naturally
cease with July I. assuming, Of course.
that neither the President nor the Con-
gress stays the operation of the law"
In this connection 1t became known
to-day that a number of Administra-
ton officials and advisers of the Presi-
dent recently had urged him to pre-
vent prohibition from going into effect
July by proclaiming the completion
of rehabilitation by that time,
This view Is understood to be held
by Commissioner Roper. who is repre-
seStad as believing prohibition cannot
be enforced adequately without specific
legislation establishing an enforce
ment agency.
Enforcement Not Delegated.
After explaining in statement that
Congress had failed to pass bills author
izing administration of the war time pro-
hibition provision OF the agricultural bill
approved last November II, Mr. Roper
said:
enforcement OF the prohibition
contained in the act. therefore. Is not
placed with the Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue or lodged anywhere In
the Government. but Is naturally left
70 United States Attorneys to enforce
by prosecution under the section or
the act which provides that any per-
son who violates any OF the forego-
ing provisions shall be punished by
Imprisonment not to exceed one year,
or by fine not to exceed $1,000. or
both such imprisonment and fine.
IAN anomalous condition exists.
brought about by the failure of Con-
eress to enact at the last session the
necessary legislation and provide the
necessary money for the enforcement
Of war time prohibition.
Existing revenue laws with regard
to the control OF Illicit manufacture
and sale will. of course. remain In \
force until repealed by Congress
Their enforcement will continue to be
given the vigorous attention OF IN
ternal revenue officers until repeated
The Commissioner also expressed the
view that the only authority given to the
Internal Revenue Bureau by the war time
prohibition act related to regulating the
manufacture and sale of distilled spirits
for other than beverage purposes and
the distribution of wine for sacramental
medicinal or other than beverage pur-
poses
Only Relief in Congress.
This statement of mmissioner Roper
threw a new element OF uncertainty into
the status of prohibition between July
and January 10, when the prohibition
constitutional amendment becomes efrec
tive.
Some officials said this uncertainty
might he partially removed by enforce
nIent legislation IL a special session o.
Congress Is called soon, although revenue
bureau officials doubt whether an ade
ouate force of agents could be whipped
into shape between the passage OF suct
legislation. even II 1t were speedec
through Congress. and July l.
Il now develops that the Revenue
Bureau will be unable 10 assign all III
1000 revenue agents to liquor work
owing to the necessity OF employing
most of these men OH tax collector
business. Reports that 5000 agents
would be assigned 10 prohibition en-
rorcement work after July | now ap
near erroneous in the light OF the Reve
nue Conlmissi ioner's decision that he ha
no authority or appropriations necessar!
10 carry out the task.
Commissioner Roper and Secretar!
Glass always have been opposed 10 lodg
ing In the bureau the function or en-
forcing prohibition measures and nav
suggested that the Department Oh JUS
tice is the proper agency
New Legislation Needed.
The enforcement of revenue measure
which remain on the statute books regard
Ass OF the advent OF prohibition on Jul
I will not constitute AN adequate po
Icing OF the country so far as MAXIM
prohibition of the manufacture OF liquo
absolutely effective, or even coming nea
IL, revenue officials now explain Cam
paigns against moonshiners, which mere
tofore have engaged a large force o
revenue agents. have oeen very iimite