Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-30
READY TO ENFORCE
P20H|B|T0RY LAW
Internal Revenue Commissioner
Roper Calls on Citizens,
Churches and Civic Organiza-
tions to Lend Their Aid
ISSUES AN APPEAL
Local Officers Expected to Take Inin.
tive i'm Their Tcrritory-Close Co
operation between Federal and stnte
Officials Urged

Washington, Oct, 2S-Law abiding cit
liens, churches, civic organizations and
welfare societies were summoned tonight
by Commissioner Roper 20 aid the bureau
of internal revenue in enforcing the pro-
h.bition enforcement law.
Any flouting of the law, Mr.. Roper de-
clared, would bring into disrepute the
American form Of government.
While the bureau is made the agency
directing the enforcement of the meas
ure, with the department of justice con.
Quoting prosecutions on evidence obtain
cd b! the bureaus men, responsibility Is
not confined to federal officers, the COM
missoners said. State. county and mu-
ncipal officials are expected to do n full
share in stopping and furnishing VIOLA
tons and the successful administration
of the law. Mr.. Roper said will be meas
ured largely by the manner in which
these officials meet their requirements
Local officers being expected to take
the initiative in enforcing the law In their
territory, any failure or derelicton to
assume their full responsibility will he
brought to the attention Of the law abid-
ing citizens of the community by officials
Of the bureau.
Mr.. Ropers plans, contemplate the or
Canization of prohibition enforcement
staff which will be devoted entirely to
that work and completely ASSOCIATED from
the tax collection activities of the bureau.
There will be a deputy commissioner In
Washington In charge of the prohibition
section and deputy collectors in each DIS
trict with an efficient force of men under
them Pending the organization of this
force employees qualified for the work who
can be spared from tax work of the bu-
reau have been directed to cooperate to
the fullest extent with the public and
with local officers.
To prevent delay, collectors and agents
have been instructed to confer with Uni
ted States district attorneys with regard
to cooperation in obtaining and present.
ing evidence.
The national prohibition act is now
the law of the land" said Commits sioner
Roper. 1T makes the bureau of internal
revenue the directing agency in the en-
forcement of both wartime prohibition
and prohibition under the constitutional
amendment. The secretary and the COM
sioner Of internal revenue expressed to
both committees of Congress the hope that
this important responsibility would not
be imposed on L. treasury department
burdened as it is with fiscal and revenue
matters. Congress decreed otherwise and
the department purposes to respond in
the fullest degree to the duty placed
upon It,
mot to enforce prohibition thor.
oughly and effectively would reflect
upon our form of government anC
would bring into disrepute the reputa
nf ha laxx
abiding citizens. No law can be eff.
fectively enforced except with The
assistance and cooperation of the
law abiding element We have accord
inEly put into operation the neces
sary organization to cooperate witt
the public in the rigid enforcement Of
the prohibition law and az chief en-
forcement officer l appeal to every
law abiding citizen to give me hi
or her support.
CLOSE cooperation between fedora
and State, county and municipal Of
fcers is of the utmost Importance
Collectors have been instructed to ge
in touch with governors and mayors
in each State and request their CO
operation in urging upon sheriffs an'
all other local officers the vital neces
sity of their Immediately assuming
act.
I'VE expect unreserved cooperation
from those moral agencies which are 81
vitality interested in the proper admins
tra-ion of this law Such agencies In
clude churches, civic organizations, edu
cational societies, charitable and philan
thropic societies and other welfare bod
les.
1--WE undertake the task entrusted t
us with a sense Of assurance prompte
by the same abiding faith in the Amer
can people that enabled up to appeal t
them successfully in the enforcement o
the war revenue laws. The public ha
supported us so nobly In tax matter
that VIC are confident 1t will not fall t
respond in the enforcement of a meas
ure which, like the income tax. now
part of the constitution Of the Unite
States look forward 10 such enforce
ment of prohibition as will sustain tn
majesty of the law and the honor @
American citizens and American institu
tons"