Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-16
orcement Of prohibition is absolutely de.

There has been organized in the bureau Of
internal revenue an administrative agency for
the enforcement Of prohibition, whose activities
will reach all parts Of the United States and
its possessions. In each state there will be q
federal prohibition director. The country has
been divided into 10 units in charge Of which
will b ~ many federal supervising prohibition
agents Under these officers will be force
OF federal officers for the enforcement Of the
law. Successful administration however
Commissioner Roper admits, will depend large
~ upon the manner in which other than fed
eral agencies meet the situation. IN all COM
munities local officers are expected to take the
initiative This means that in every state, CITY,
town and hamlet in the United States, mayors,
district attorneys, sheriffs and policemen are
called upon to do their full share in the en-
forcenent Of the prohibition law. Not to do
ities, and 1t Is their purpose to bring to the
attention OF the abiding citizens the failure
OF local authorities to assume responsible for
prohibition enforcement.
By addresses. by appeals to civic and moral
organisations, by Informative material sent to
every paper In the country, and by actual ply
steal demonstration how man who violates
feel its penalties, the bureau Of internal rev.
enne IL impressing upon the American people
its earnest purpose thoroughly to enforce the
law.
The internal revenue officers are not 60
ing to have time to bother about the men who
make their own" IL . statement frequently
heard. but the bureau Of internal revenue de-
MES 1t. Recently there were arrested mem
bers of q concern advertising and selling form
ulas for making intoxicating liquor in the
home They were held under the section OF the
criminal code which provides a penalty of not
more than $4,000 or Imprisonment for ono
year or both. for conspiracy to defraud the
United States government. The prohibition
act forbids the manufacture of distilled, malt
or vfnous liquors until the conclusion of the
present war and thereafter until the termina-
ton Of rehabilitation" Persons manufactur-
ing in their homes for private consumption
such liquors are subject to the penalties un-
der these acts and are liable also to penalties
and taxes imposed by internal revenue laws,
Two or more persons who engage in the home
manufacture of intoxicants and who 80 by con-
spiracy defraud the government, would each
be subject to the $4,000 fine and Imprisonment,
as we'll rs to all other penalties The adver-
tisers and sellers Of recipes and ingredients
for home manufacture were held under that
section Of the criminal code which provides
that whoever directly commits any act con-
shutting an offense defined in any law Of the
United States, or aids, abets, counsels, COM
mands, induces or procures its commission, is
. principal"
The action Of the bureau Of internal rev.
enue in this case indicates clearly that its en-
forcement Of the prohibition laws will not be
confined to the prosecution of the n,oonshiner
who engages in the manufacture of liquors for
ly to the man who makes it in his kitchen for
his own use. and to the man who operates a
still with bootlegging intent.
The national prohibition act authorizes the
manufacture and sale on and after Jan. Is of
non-beverage alcohol for scientific and sacra-
mental purposes, for its use in certain alcohol
ic preparations for which there is a legitimate
demand. :
The bureau is now engaged in the prepara-
ton of regulations governing the manufacture
and sale OF such alcoholic preparations which
the act provides shall be unit for beverage
purposes" The word unit was carefully
chosen to meet the requirements Of the law.
The words incapable of being used for bever-
age purposes" were under consideration as ap-
piled to flavoring extracts in both committees
of congress, but we're stricken from the bill as
amended.
Engaged In the use and manufacture of
alcohol for non-beverage purposes are many
industries, and in justice to these the bureau
is giving careful consideration to the require
merits of this branch of trade. Proprietary
medicines. hair tonics and barber supplies, Ma
voring extracts and syrups all have their legit-
innate uses. and in the enforcement Of the pro-
hibtion laws it is not the intention of the bu-
reau Of internal revenue to impose upon the
manufacturers Of such preparations a hard
ship.
During the week OF Dec / there was held
in Washington series Of conferences between
bureau officials and representatives of these
Industries from all parts of the United States.
Unanimous assurances Of cooperation In the
enforcement Of the prohibition laws were
given, and in return the bureau officials stated
that in the drafting Of the regulations gov
erning the use Of alcohol for non-beverase
purposes. first consideration will be given man
rfacturers and dispensers thereof