The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-01-29
Internal Revenue Collector
Points Out Omissions Of Ne
vada Officials, Objects to
Criticism of Federal Depart
ment, and Reminds Mayor of
Reno That All State Peace
Officers Are Under Oath To
Support Dry Laws.

exceptions to statements made Thurs
day by Mayor Harry Stewart at the
Lions club meeting. in which the
Mayor is quoted as criticising dry en-
forcement agencies and efforts of the
Federal government.
In the statement issued last night
Mr.. Kelly terms the charges of the
Mayor as unfair and unjust, remind
ing the people that all the peace Off
GERS within the State are expected to
uphold Federal statutes as well as
those enacted by the State.
The following is the statement is
sued by Mr.. Kelly:
Statement by Collector Kelly
Resolutions by Women's Civic
organizations and recent utterances
of His Honor. the Mayor of Reno.
anent the failure to enforce the pro-
hibition laws invariably refer to the
attitude of the Government; that is
unfair. The Government is main
tanning a small force in the State of
Nevada-three men, to be exact
solely for the purpose of cooperating
with the local authorities, yet the
Chief of Police of the city. of Reno is
the only Nevada officer who has ever
sought, desired or appreciated their
cooperation.
LESS than a year ago efforts of
Federal officers to enforce the law in
Reno was publicly proclaimed as a
violation of the States sovereignty.
Does the sovereign State of Nevada
desire the National government to
enforce its laws? think not. II so,
we gladly accept the responsibility,
yet why criticize the attitude of the
Federal government?
Nevada has within her borders a
State constabulary, seventeen sheriffs
and large number of constables,
town marshals and city police, every
one of whom has taken an oath to
support the constitution and laws of
the United States and of the State of
Nevada. Are they doing it? Ap-
pearances say no, yet the prohibition
amendment was overwhelmingly
adopted in Nevada and stands as the
statute law of this State.
Again it should be borne In mind
Ethat the so-called underworld is not
the force encountered by officers who
diligently enforce the law.
1.-THE holes were cut In the floors
and rocks placed In the cellars Of
soft drink places upon the advice of
prominent members of the legal pro-
fession. Federal officers have for so
years been making inspections of
premises where taxable articles are
produced or. stored without opposi-
tion
To-day Internal Revenue officers
are making inspections of soft drink
parlors. They are discovering frauds
on the revenue and reporting offend
ers for prosecution, they meet with
no opposition, use no warrant other
than the authority vested in them by
the statutes, and this authority is
never questioned, except-now note
the difference-in cases where Illicit
spirits or wine is found, no objection
is raised to proceedings calculated to
secure the tax on ice cream or soda
water, but brandy or wine. o, no.
you must have warrant or the case
is ignored,
1.-The people will readily realize
how short-sighted the big distillers
have been in the past in not estab-
fishing living quarters in their places
of business. and denying admission to
the Governments representatives. In
this way they could have evaded
millions of dollars in taxes.
'"The tax on spirits is s6.40 per
gallon, and on wine from Ice to III
per gallon, this tax applies whether
produced on a ranch In the Truckee
meadows or in the biggest distiller-
les in Kentucky. and this tax can only
be secured to the Government by ex-
ercising the right of investigation al
any reasonable hour, the same right
asserted by the corporation that in
stalls a gas or electric light meter In
a home,
"The question naturally arises
do the people want law enforcement
Scrutinize the names Of men promi
nently spoken of as prospective ap
pointees to Federal positions. Not'
the names of men who at the las
! election were repudiated by the peo