The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-21
|AlTORNEIGENERALTO'
FIGHT THE BREWERS
Has Force of Secret Agents
That Could Be Put
to Work.

WASHINGTON, ~. c., April 21.-
The Department OF Justice is not
AnverSe TO accepting the functions Of
enforcing the wartime prohibition
measure when It goes into effect July
1, II was learned today. Consequently
r 10 expected proposal that the en-.
torcement be entrusted to this agency
viii be submitted to President Wilson
ON his return from Europe, and that he
VIII be urged to take this action under
authority Of the Overman act, which
permits him to transfer duties from
one government department to anoth.
er.
Discussion OF where the power to
enforce prohibition may be lodged
was prompted here by the recent an.
nouncement of Internal Revenue Com
s missioner Roper that his bureau had
( not the force TO police the Nation ade-
Quately with respect to prohibition
4 Violations after July /. Attorney Cen
eral Palmer has not stated officially
that he will welcome the additional du.
ties Of enforcing prohibition, but it is
said that his advisors in the Depart
ment Of Justice have told him the ces-
sation of war work has LETT a num-
Der Of secret agents available for some
other kind of work, and as they could
take on easily the liquor enforcement
function.
Whether the President has indicat-
ed any definite intention of giving the
work to the Department Of Justice
could not be learned here. Indica-
tons were that he would not take &C
ton until his return from Europe.
Since Commissioner Roper announc-
ed week ago that his force OF agents
probably would not be able to handle
the problems Of prohibition, because Of
insufficiency Of numbers and lack Of
specific authority, no action has been
taken by the Revenue Bureau to pre-
pare for enforcement. Neither have
there been any reports Indicating
whether the President was consider
ing seriously suggestions said to have
been made to him by high government
officials that the effectiveness Of war
time prohibition be postponed from
July !, through declaring the period
! Of disqualification at an end.
Nothing substantial stands immedi-
ately in the way Of production by
! brewers Of beer containing az per
cent. alcohol since the revenue bureau
has decided to issue revenue stamps
required for regular beer to these
brewers. This decision is not to be
taken as indicating the final attitude
Of the bureau, however, 1t was ex-
planned today. Formally, the bureau
still holds that beer containing " Of
per cent. Of alcohol is intoxicating
and cannot be produced under the
Presidents order forbidding the man
ufacture of intoxicating beverages aft
er last December /.
This attitude is held in allegiance,
however. pending an opinion from At
torney General Palmer, which was
sought after brewers in New York
announced his belief that ~ per cent.
beer. might be made under existing
laws and regulations. This beer is now
being marketed in New York and SIM
liar action probably will be taken in
other communities soon. The issu-
ance Of stamps by revenue collectors
was approved by the Department Of
Justice.
II 1t is. finally held by the govern
ment that manufacture OF beer with
more than Y of per cent. alcohol VIC
iates existing laws and regulations,
the producers of 2X per cent. beer
will be- liable for prosecution, officials
maintain.