The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-23
UNCLE SAM PREPARES
TO SWAT LAWLESS VETS
Three Thousand Revenue Agents to
Operate Eight Hundred Inspectors
Under Training.

The revenue bureau on April an
nounced plans for enforcement of the
prohibition law which becomes effec-
tive July ]. These plans include the
appointment Of 1000 internal revenue
agents for special work. operating in
specially arranged zones throughout the
United States Nearly 500 inspectors
Will be trained to be added to the force
Of 2,280 revenue agents already avail
able for police regulations and the ma
chinery for enforcement will be in or
der before the date when absolute pro-
hibit!on becomes effective
Those districts where law violations
are threatened will receive special at
tention Particularly will the big wet
cities be under surveillance Of these
offers, who will be on the lookout for
the much advertised home still,
The revenue authorities will coop
crate with local police. leaving the
greater part Of enforcement work to
these local officers, In the localities
where such officers appear efficient.
1t is the purpose of the department
to divide the country into zones. which
zones viii be independent in many
cases from the sixty-four collectors
zones already established. This work
Of districting is now being carried for
ward under the direction of E. c,
Keith, deputy commissioner.
One chief inspector viii be assigned
to each zone with many assistants
as the character of the territory indl-
Gates necessary. The men WIN be
especially trained in detection work,
most having served in that capacity
for several years,
The department warns that manu-
facture Of so-called homemade beer.
a'e, wine, viii constitute violations of
the law. It Is expected that attempts
TO manufacture such beverages will be
made, for even now recipes for these
drinks are being circulated throughout
The country.
privaIe stills can be acquired legally
only by registration with revenue col
lector of the district. Manufacturers
OF stirls are under strict regulations of
the revenue bureau, being required to
pay $50 license fee to. do business and
required to pay special tax OF $50 on
each still or worm sold, In addition.
the manufacturer is required by law
to report the name and address Of the
purchaser, ana the purchaser of the
still is required by law to report the
purchase of his still and the nature OF
the surroundings in which 1t is to be
placed.
A Washington dispatch says that
many reports of the manufacture of
family stills" on a large scale and
their sale at low prices have reached
the revenue bureau. but proved false
in most cases.
Great care Is TO be observed by rev.
enue officers to prevent unnecessary In
reference with production and distri-
button of alcohol for Industrial and
commercial purposes under the prohi-
bition act. Regulations governing pro-
duction CT non-beverage alcohol will
be issued soon. BY careful system
OF administrative regulations the bu-
reau plans to make it difficult for the
use of navcring extracts. toilet prepa-
rations and other articles containing
alcohol for beverage purposes Medi-
cine containing alcohol must have a
! imposition to make 1t physically i'm
possible t. take quantities as a bever-
age without producing nausea before
! intoxication