New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
Coler Demands
Action to Halt
Liquor Sales
Commissioner Is.
sues Warming He Will
Uncover Real Facts I'm
less There Is Cleanup

Failure of Federal authorities to en-
force prohibition has aroused Bird S.
Coler, Commissioner of Public Wei
fare, who issued statement yester-
day, serving notice on the govern
ment's operatives that if they did not
make a cleanup of conditions within
the next month he would send out his
own inspectors "to uncover the real
facts"
Hospital wards in which patients
suffering from the effects Of alcohol
are treated are filing up rapidly and
the cases are alarming, it became
known through the Commissioners ac-
ton. This condition is attributed by
authorities to laxity in enforcing pro-
hibition laws.
"If there isn't better enforcement
Of the prohibition law within the next
thirty days" the Commissioner said,
Il am going to have my inspectors un-
cover the real facts. When we'll known
citizens violate the law, what is the
use of kicking against Bolshevsm
People are buying liquor and boasting
about it. The town is full of Speak
easies.' 1t is q serious thing to pass
laws and then permit their open viola
tion. Either the laws should not have
been passed or they should be en-
forced. Not only are people able to
get plenty of liquor, the price being
the only thing. in the way, but they
are getting worse liquor then they
got when the traffic was open and
regulated.
Alcoholic Wards Filling Up
"The result is our alcoholic wards
are filling up with people in very seri-
Gus condition. This is matter that
vitality affects public welfare, and this
department is justified in taking dras-
tic action"
Commissioner Coler gave out a
statement from DR.. NJ. S. Gregory, di-
rector Of Bellevue Hospital, showing
that the number Of admissions Of al
coholics is steadily increasing D-
rector Gregory said he thinks the in
crease is in proportion to the laxity of
the enforcement Of the prohibition
law. He called the commissioner at
tcntion to memorandum ven out
by Magistrate Brough, in which the
magistrate said that there were ar
fore the magistrates probation court
for violations of their parole; that
these men had kept their parole for
nearly year and were about to be dis
charged WITHIN short period.
Drink Causes Parole Violations
The magistrate said they all attribu
ted their misconduct and the breaking
of their parole to drinking, saying
they could procure liquor as easily as
before prohibition, the only difference
now being the price charged for it.
To Louis Mouquin jr., proprietor Of
restaurants in this city, goes the dis
tinction of being the first citizen to
be arrested for transporting liquor
from his city home to his country
residence Both Mouquin and his
chauffeur, George Walz, of 400 West
Fiftieth Street, we're charged by Pa
trolman Thomas J. Sullivan, of the
/ 73d Precinct. with transporting lo5
4 Thirty fourth Street, BROOKLYN. to the
/ Mououin summer home at Belle Har-
Dor, L. I.
/ Sullivan asked Walz to show his per
/ nit for moving the vermouth. which
he is alleged to have been unable to
produce, and when Mouquin came out
/ Of his home to see what the trouble
was he also was arrested. Both men
were held in $500 bail each when ar
raigned before United States Commits
/ s:oner McCabe in Brooklyn.
Three more Brooklyn liquor dealers
were taken yesterday by revenue
public nuisance, in that they per-
mitted LIQUOR to be sold on their prem
ises. They arc William King. 5402
Second Avenue; William Zaramba, q
| Bridge Street, and John Savillo, 253
/ Third Avenue. Each was held in ST.
coo bail by United States Commits
| sioner Hennessey.