New-York tribune., 1919-04-13
Dry Act May
Not Go Into
Effect July /
Continued from page 1

force until repealed by Congress. Their
en1orcenlent will continue to be given
the vigorous attention of internal rev.
enue officers until repealed"
me commissioner also expressed the
view that the only authority given the
internal Revenue Bureau by the war
time prohibition act related to reeu-
iltlng the manufacture and sale of dis
Hiled spirits for other than beverage
purposes and the distribution of wine
1or sacramental, medicinal or other
than beverage purposes.
1hls statement of Commissioner
Roper threw new element of uncer-
talnty into the status of prohibition
between July l and January 16, when
the prohibition Constitutional amend
ment becomes effective. Some officials
s1ld TINS uncertainty might be par
tlally removed by enforcement legisla-
tlon II special session OF Congress is
called soon, although revenue bureau
officials doubt whether an adequate
force of agents could be whipped into
shape between the passage OF such
legislation, even if it were speeded
through Congress, and July l.
Can't Use 5000 Agents
1t now develops that the revenue bu-
reau Will be unable to assign all of its
5000 revenue agents to liquor work.
owing to the necessity of employing
most OF these men on tax collecting
business. Reports that 5000 agents
would be assigned to prohibition en-
forcement work after July / now ap-
pear erroneous in the light of the rev
enue commissioners decision that he
mas not authority nor appropriations rs
necessary to carry out the task.
Double Penalty Provided
Technically interpreted, the revenue
laws would constitute sufficient basis
! 1or detecting and prosecuting Illicit
manufacturers or dispensers Cd liuuor,
officials say, since it violates these laws
to make liquor without authority of the
, revenue bureau and without paying
the tax, and the bureau viii have no
authority after July / to issue licenses
Despite this, persons detected in the
manufacture of whiskey, beer, wine or
other liquors would be subject not only
, to the penalties provided by the prohi-
bltlon act, but those established by ex-
lstlng revenue laws and to the paymen
OF liquor taxes in addition.
Among the officials and influential
citizens who are said to have proposed
10 President Wilson that he consider
the proclaiming of the end OF demobil-
Ee'SlOil pS4O1C u4y tIlQ LUUS C6nUor
prohibition on that date Ineffective are
some ranked as advocates sof prohibi-
1on. Their attitude, it was explained
to-day, is that without proper pro-
vision for enforcing prohibition, there
would be many violations! that conse-
quentiy the cause OF prohibition would
be discredited and chat o revulsion of
feeling on the question might occur
President Remains Silent
There has been no Indication of anv
| intention on the part Of the President
to follow these suggestions fo~ the
sake of preventing the effectiveness of
wartime prohibition. 1t also was
stated to-day that the Treasury would
make no formal or official suggestion
regarding action to postpone the eff
fectlve date of prohibition and that any
question Mr.. Roper might take on this
phase of the question would be en-
tirely personal, and that in his official
capacity
A number Of members of Congress re-
Gently have discussed proposals that re-
peal Of the wartime prohibition measure
be sought if q special session is called
soon. Even some advocates of prohi-
bltion have discussed the possibilities
of this action, although they have not
indicated their adherence to any such
plan. Most prohibition supporters are
believed to be strongly opposed to
these suggestions.