The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-04-21
IF JUSTICE MAY
ENFORCE WAR-T TIME DRY LAW

WASHINGTON. April @n--Thc de-
rartmcnI of justice Is not av"rSr 10 ac-
ceptinE tho functions Of enforcing tho
war time rruhibltInn measure when II
goes into effect July |. il was learned
today. Consequently il is expected Il
proposal that ihc enforcement hr on
trusted to this agency will b" submitted
TO President Wilson ON his return from
Europe and that h" will h" urged 10
take this action under authority If the
Overman act, which permits him to
transfer duties from ono government &c
partnlent 10 another.
Discussion Of where tho power 10 en-
force prohibition may be lodged was
prompted here by the regent announce
mcnt Of Internal Revenue Commissioner
Rope that his bureau had not tho force
10 rolicc the nation adequately with re-
Spcct to prohibition violations after July
J. Attorney General Palmer has not
stated officially that hc will welcome
the additional duties or enforcing prohi-
hition, hut it is said that his advisors
in the department If justice have tolo
him the cessation Of war work has lett
a number nf secret agents available Tor
some other kind NJ work. and that they
could take on easily the liquor enforce
ment function.
anr definite intention "f giving the
work to thc department Of justic" could
not be learned. Indications were that he
would not take action until his return
from Europe
Since Commissioner Roper announced
a week ago that his force Of agents
probably would not be able 10 handle
the problems rf prohibition. because OF
insufIicisnrr Of numbers and lack or.
Specific authority. no action has neon
taken by tho revenue bureau TO prepare
for enforcement. Neither have th"f"
been any reports indicating whether tho
prcsidcrt was considering seriously sug-
CastionS said 10 have h"rn mad" 20 INN
BY high government officials that the
effectiveness Of wartime prohibition be
postponed franz July through dNr!ar-
ing the period Of d"m"biliZall"n ut an
end.
Nothing substantial stands imm"d-
ately in the way Of production ny "r"W
crs Of hccr containing ~ percent al
alcohol since III" revenue bureau has
decided 10 issue r"vcnH" stamps required
for regular beer IT, these brewers. TINS
decision is not Ia hc taken as indicating
i;;,li i,.1iiI;h" "f thr bureau. how
ever. it was explained today. Formally
tn" hur"nu still holds thai h"cr contain
ina. l.. OF one percent of alcohol IS in
tuXirating and cHnrut be- produced under
rhr presidents order forhddIng the
manufacture of Intoxicating" beverages
after last December |. This attitude is
hold in ahryanc". however. pending an
opinion from Attorney General rainier
which was sought after brewers ~ N""
York announced their belief i!!al ~. per
cent beer might 10 mad" under existing
laws and regulations. This hrer is now
hcinE marketed i'll %"w York md similar
action probably will be taken in other
communities sam TIL" issuance NJ
stamps by rcvcnu" collectors "aS an
proved hy the department "t Just
II it is finally hold hy IN" govern
mont that mans; rn"iurr nF beer win
more than !, uf on" rcrr"rt alcohol VIC
latrS EXISTING laws md regulations IN"
producers Of - r"rrcni' h""r will H.
liable for prosecution. officials maintain.