The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-22
To ENFORCE
THE DRY LAW
Expected the Department of
Justice Will Undertake
the Task
HAS SECRET AGENTS
AVAILABLE FOR WORK
President Can Transfer This Duty
Under the Overrnan Act, But Has
Taken No Stamps for 2.75
Per Cent Beer.

Per Cent Beer.
WASHINGTON, April 22-The de-
partment of justice is not averse to ac
eeptiLg the functions of enforcing the
wartime prohibition measure when i'll
goes into effect, July l, it was learned.
Consequently, it is expected, proposal
that the enforcement be intrusted to
this agency will be submitted to Prcsi-
dent Wilson on his return from Europe,
and that he will be urged to take this
action under authority of the Overman
act. which permits him to transfer du-
ties from one government department to
another.
Discussion of where the power to en-
4 force prohibition may be lodged was
prompted here by the recent announce
h ment of Internal Revenue Commissioner
\ Roper that his bureau had not the force
! to police the nation adequately with
respect to prohibition violations after
July l. Attorney General Palmer has
not stated officially that he viii welcome
the additional duties of enforcing pro-
hbition. but it is said that his advisers
lin the department of justice have told
him the cessation of war work has left
a number of secret agents available
for some kind of work, and that they
could take on easily the liquor enforce
, ment function.
| Whether the president has indicated
any definite intention of giving the
work TO the department of justice coult
mot be learned here. Indications were
l4l l..
Ereurn from Europe
Since Commissioner Roper announced
q week ago that his force of agent!
the problems of prohibition because O
iusufficiencv OF numbers and lack o
specific authority, no action has beer
Itakcn by the revenue bureau to prepar
;, for enforcement. Neither have Their
4 been any reports indicating whether TIL
i President was considering seriously sug
Il gestions said TO have been made to hin
II by high government officials that tn
II effectiveness of war time prohibition b
II postponed from July / through declaI
Il ing the period of rehabilitation at a
Il end.
Nothing substantial stands immedi
ately in the way of production by brew
frs of beer containing 81 Per cent 0
: alcohol. since the revenue bureau ha
e decided to<issue. revenue stamps II
g CURED for regular beer to these brew
II ers. This decision is not to be taken a
lie indicating the final attitude of the hr
reau, however. it was explained.
Formally, the bureau still holds tha
beer containing onc-half of ! per eer
Of alcohol is Intoxicating and cannot !
produced under the President i ordC
forbidding the manufacture Of intox
eating beverages after last Dee j. TIL
attitude is held in allegiance, howeve
IA pending an opinion from Attorney Gel
eral Palmer. which was sought aft
brewers in New York announced the
u belief that 34 per cent beer might J
made under existing laws and regul
tions This beer is now being market,
Sc in New York and similar actiop prob
&c bly, will be taken in other eommuniti
de soon The issuance of stamps by rev
Tx nue. collectors was approved by the d
I partment of Justice.
Y Ii it is finally held by the governme,
that manufacture of beer with mo
- than one-half of l per cent alcohol Vi
.w lates existing laws and regulations, t
4 producers of 81 per cent beer viii
sfliablc to prosecution. officials maintai