The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-04-25
OF PROHIBITION
LAW

chinery Ready-WhOle Nation To
Be Zoned-Large Increase Of Illic-
it Stills Expected.
Three thousand internal revenue
agents working in specially arranged
zones throughout the United States
will enforce prohibition after July l,
according to plans announced by the
revenue bureau. Nearly 800 inspect
ors will be trained for the work, to bd
added to the force of 2,2SS revenue
agents already available for police
regulations, and the machinery for
enforcement will be in working or
der before the date when absoI4te
prohibition becomes effective.
This force Of special agents will be
distributed among the districts
where law violation is threatened to
the largest extent, and special atren-
ton will be paid to cities where
revenue officials look for most per-
sistent efforts to make whisky lille
gally. In addition the revenue au-
,thorities plan to cooperate with To-
cal police, and to leave the greater
part Of the enforcement work to
these authorities in localities where
the police appear efficient. Without
such plan the force of even three
thousand federal agents would be
insufficient to police the entire coun-
try.
Although manufacture of liquor
for personal use will be equally il
legal with the production for sale,
revenue agents are expected to de-
| of %haiv m
mercial traffic and to leave the en-
forcement Of the law against per-
sonal manufacture to local police.
Internal revenue bureau agents,
under the direction Of B. G. Keith,
deputy commissioner, now are work
! ing on a plan to divide the country
into zones, which will be Independent
i'm many cases fir ON the "a COLLECTORS
zones already established. One chief
inspector will be assigned to each
zone, with as many assistants as the
character Of the territory indicates
necessary. The men will be espe-
cially trained in detection work,
most having served in that capacity
for many years. Although heretofore
liquor violations have been found by
revenue agents mainly among moon
ISulu6TS vi hOW
ever, prohibition is expected to stimu
late illicit distillation enormously II
cities where the demand will be mos
constant and consequently wher'
greater profits from the occupation
can be reaped.
One aspect of liquor law violation
has grown out of the hundreds o
recipes for home manufacture o
~ TNd
LIQUORS, now being circulated in al
parts Of the country. Booklets an
printed pamphlets Of these recipe
have reached revenue officers frol
4 scores of cities. 1t was eXplaine
that to make liquor according
these recipes will constitute cIea
violations Of the law, although
was admitted ii would be difficult
prevent the manufacture in mo
cases.
Private stills can Be acquirs
illegally only by registration with Il
Manufacturers of stills are und
strict regulation of the Reven1
-- Bureau, being required to pay $50
year license fee for doing busine:
and to pay a specific tax or $40
each still or worm sold. In additi
W the manufacturer Is required by X
to report the name and address
the purchaser, and the purchaser
the still Is required to report t
purpose of his still and the nature
the surroundings i'm which 1T ID to
placed. If a person 10 detected
operating still he IL liable to 4
the license fees ordinarily imposed
a distiller, in addition To fines 9
other penalties for law violations.
Great care is to be observed
revenue officials to prevent unnec
sary interferences with product
and distribution of alcohol for
dustrial and commercial purpol
under the Prohibition Act. Regr
lions governing production OF
on-beverage alcohol will be ISIS
soon
By a careful system Of administ
tive regulations, the bureau plans
make it difficult for the use
fiavoring extracts, perfumes, to
preparations and other articles 4