The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-11-02

, internal revenue in enforcing tn
prohibition enforcement law
a ANY floutng Of the law, Mr. RI
+ per declared, would bring into d.
D reputo the American form Of gov
, cnmcut.
While the bureau is made tn
agency directing the enforcement O
the measure, with the Department
Of Justic conducting prosecutions %
evidence obtained by the bureau
men, responsibility is hot confine
to federal officers, the commits
sioner said. State, county and mum
cipal officials are expected to da
full share in stopping and punish
ing violations and the successful ad
ministration Of The law, Mr. Rope
said, would be measured largely b
the manner in which. these official
meet their requirements.
Local Officers being expected t.
I take the initiative in enforcing tn
law in their territory, any failur
or derelietion to assume their ful
responsibility will be brought {
the attention of the law abidin
sitizens of the community by off
cials of the bureau.
Mr.. Ropers plans contemplate th
organization of prohibition en-
forcement staff which will be d
voted entirely to that work an
completely disassociated from Tn
tax collecting activities Of the bu
reau. There will be a deputy COM
missioner in Washington in charg,
Of the prohibition section and dep
uty collectors in each district Will
an efficient force of men under
them. Pending the organization
this force, employees qualified fo
the work who can be spared from
the tax work of the bureau nav,
been directed to cooperate TO tn
fullest extent with the public an
with local officers.
Agents TO Assist.
To prevent delay, collectors and
agents have been instructed TO con
fer with United States district at
torneys with regard TO cooperation
in obtaining and presenting evidence
"The national prohibition act j
now the law of the land" sale
Commissioner Roper. 1T makes tn
bureau of internal revenue the dir
Getting agency in the enforcement
Of both wartime prohibition an,
prohibition under the constitutional
amendment. The secretary and com
missioner of internal revenue VI
gently expressed TO both commit
tees Of Congress the hope that thi
important responsibility would no
be impoed on the Treasury Dcpat
ment, burdened as it is with flsca
and revenue matters. Congress do
creed Otherwise, and the departmeu
purposes to respond in the fulles
degree to the duty placed upon il
mot to enforce prohibition thor
oughly and effectively would ~
fleet upon our form Of government
and would bring into disreputc the
reputation Of the American people
as law-abidng citizens. No law
can te effectively enforced eXcop
with the assistance and evaporation
Of the law-abiding element. We hav
accordingly put into operation tn
necessary organization to co-operat.
with the public in the rilid en-
frcement Of the prohibition law
and as chief enforcement officer |
appeal to every law-abiding citizen
to give me his or her support.
Close Cooperation.
"Close cooperation between fed
tTdi ana STATE tpuilLg anu HAAtliA Atta
officers is Of the utmost mpor
lance. Collectors have been instruc
ted oget in touch with governors
and mayors in each state and re
quest their cooperation in urging
upon sheriffs and all other local OF
ficers the vital necessity of their
assuming their respon
Utilities under the new act.
1--WE expect unreserved support
from those moral agencies which
are 50 vitality interested in tn
proper administration of this law
Such agencies include churches, civic
organ lzations, educational societies
and other welfare bodies.
1--WE undertake the task entrusted
to us with a sense Of assuranc
prompted by the same abiding faitt
in the American people that enabled
us to appeal to them successfully il
the enforcement of the war revenue
laws. The public has supported Us