Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-06
PETERS CANNOT GIVE DATA
PROHIBITION COMMISSIONER
SAYS FACTS NOT AVAILABLE
Reiterntcs Claims Mndc by Mnchcn To
House COmmiitcc-Cnn Furn-
fish Some Figures.


TO furnish the General Assembly with
certain data concerning the activities
of. his department. told the House
fare substantially what Lewis III.
Machen. counsel for the prohibition
Department. told them Wednesday,
desired
ever. Informed the committee chat he
was able TO comply with the provisions
of resolution To be introduced in the
House by Delegate Norris OF L;tncas-
ter as TO the quantity OF whisky
turned over by the Prohibition De-
partment 10 Druggist IL. Mercer SHIELD,
of Richmond. for sale on physicians
prescriptions.
Gibson Resolution Demands.
The Gibson resolution calls foc 4
statement showing among other
connscated wholly by the department.
by local authorities and by joint ac-
ton the number OF prosecutions for
violations Of the Mapp law pressed TO
department, wholly Ny local 3uthori-
ties: and by Joint action.
The commissioner told that commit
tee that the Mapp law did not require
his department 10 Keep records show
hiH officers, and what had been con-
fisca,ed by local authorities
The fight" said COMMISSIONER
shifted from Var " on 'J prohibi,ion to
a war. on the Prohibition Commits
soner."
Gibson. pntron OF the resolution. as
Sured he commissioner but believe
The G issi Assembly is entitled TO-
formation desired by my resolution
Data Is Not Available Now.
The data desired under the resolu-
mittec. and cannot possibly be furn-
ished IN time for the present session.
Mr.. Peters was questioned by sew
cral members Of the committee, who
asked him 10 explain why lie found
himself not in position to reply 10
Major Gibson's resolution of inquiry.
The commissioner in reply, said that
this state Of affairs was due partly to
the fact that he had not anticipated
aeth an nquy n5o the records and
~ to the fact that, under the law
his department was not called on to
keep such data.
Such a condition. he said was due
in great degree, to the fact that the
reports of his inspectors and agents
many OF whom were men of compare
tive Ignorance in the keeping OF ac-
counts. were such that il was practi-
cally impossible for him TO keep
records OF nature desired under the
Gibson resolution. This explanation
did not appear satisfactory 10 a num-
Der OF the committeeman.
Dunford Would Take IIlumc.
Mr.. Machen was again present be-
fore the committee, hut had nothing
70 say l.. Il. punford, clerk in the
department. told the committee thar
If the report of Commissioner Peters
was no; as comprehensive rs was ic- /
t SireG he 'Dnn6ord1: Vas rssnonsibls
TO say that he 'Peters). assumed on
tire responsibility for the report, 4
which he regarded as q good one. ON
Stis, point there was no commcnt from
Che committeeman.
Major GIBSON nled with the commits
tee :; letter received ~ him frorn the
s.n ,f.-,-
:Hr the capture Of liquor. arrests OF
y'oia'o-s "a: the Mapp Ian and the con
hscztlo;i q AUTOMOBILES made in
Orange ay th- loca! authorities. He ,
received little encouragement 10 en-
fo!c- the ,!quor-Iaw regulations In
orange, n said, because o! the fact .
was ie:sr y! the State Department OF
Mayo .. Brown. OF Lynchburg. chair
man OF The committee. stated mat wha,
the committee desired vas a statement
q: the ability or inability OF the state
prohibition Department. TO furnish the
e .;n requested "a me Gibson resoiu
non. j. Hn!erstood, the comm!s
nittec 20 make mis- reply TO the Cen
era! Assembly IN writing.
Anticipate Norris Resolution.
Commissioner Peters told the com
in!ttee that he would ba unable u
furnish detailed reply TO tho rcs6-
luton 10 be introduced by Robert q.
Norris. or Lancaster, which asks for
figures showing Che amount OF WHISKY
turned over by the Prohibition Depaft-
ment 10 Druggist II. Mercer Shield. OF
flchmcnd. Tor sale on physicians pre-
scriptions.
Because Z. p. Buford. or Brunswlcll:
* Lindsay Gordon. OF Louisa; Thomas
l,oma% Hunter OF King George, ana
other patrona. OF the Gi!pin bill call
ing for ah5Itt.ton 'Gf the Prohibition
Department, Mere absent, hearing Oh
the measure, scheduled for ycs,ortiav
went over until next TUESDAY. when i,
VIII De made special aud CONTINUING
= order Tor the morning hour
~ rake +. lp"anc. of Isle Of Wight. Oh
!cSt"a TO further postponcrutnt of tb.
matter stating that he had ready "a
;nT0Guc". an amendment to the Gilrin
SNi: 1nc Deane bill. which, tho uarinn
declared, has forty-ihrcc patrons &c
uhucISloOi 70 provide for extension az
the life OF the Prohibition Darar,m.r.
uAi!! SeD'ember !, 1922. or eight and
haii months after tho General A.
SenIbiN o! l@22 Convcn"s. rho hin
contend patrons OF the Gilpln measure
means nothing moro or loss than "fIss
ing ne buck" 10 the next General As
sem1ly. -"
Major Gibson. Of cu!pcper intro.
duced bin. which, If il bccDr,.t ~, a,
VIII require the state Prohibition n,
Part mont 10 include in it's amman m
port d! data asked for I'm M. fn,s,,,
.eSo!uIon, which was reported fav5r.
AMY by The Committee on Nora 80,
Social Welfare '' '''H