The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-02
HART STILL RULES
AS DRY CHIEF HERE
Yellowley Sent to n. Y. as His
Aid, Director Informed at
Washington Conference.
WORK FOR 1000 AGENTS
Commissioners Told There Is
Little Hope for Speedy Clean
Up-Aid Promised.
WORK FOR 1000 AGENTS
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Sept. 1.
Handbags to dry law enforcement
in New York city, which cannot be
fully overcome by mere readjustnent
of official personnel within the New
York enforcement organization, were
thoroughly discussed to-day by Harold
L. Hart, State prohibition director for
New York, in a long conference with
Internal Revenue Commissioner David
H. Blair and Prohibition Commissioner
Roy A. Haynes.
Mr.. Hart came out of the confer
ence with definite assurance that ne
still is in undisputed control in all
matters relating to dry law work IN
New York. Recent orders detailing
special squads of inspectors to assist
Director Hart in reorganization plans.
it was officially said, were no longer 70
be interpreted as a move to supersede
the New York director in questions OF
administration.
The many problems relating TO pro-
hibition which still are bathing dry law
enforcers and will continue to harass
the New York organization regaroiess
OF the efforts made by the speciai
mobile force" assigned to New iorh'
were frankly dealt with by Mr.. Hart,
who plainly gave his superiors no
basis for hope tnat New York is to be
CLEANED up suddenly or by any means
within the bounds Of human devices.
wants More Pay for Agents.
Mr.. Hart asserted that ne needs 1000
dry law agents instead of the 22b Which
are allowed him at present out OF the
limited funds available from the last
appropriation Of Congress. Commission
er Blair was informed that. while some
,rnprovement may be effected in the
New York situation by read justments In
the force of men now detailed for duty
in that territory. requirements alone
cannot be expected to produce the
results which could be expected IL larger
forces OF agents could be employed.
difficulty now embarrassing Mr..
Hart and one which other State direc-
tors are experiencing. 1t was SAID. is
the low salaries paid TO dry law agents.
The present low scale of pay does not
attract the men best fitted to fulfil
the qualifications laid down by the In
ternal Revenue Bureau. a pledge OF
stronger support by the headquarters
organization here was made, but TINS
support 1t was declared. must neces-
sarily be limited. both as to addiuonal
personnel and funds which may be useo
in gathering evidence.
- tEaf would
unable to draw upon the enforcement
personnel in other parts OF the country
except at great risk OF weakening the
organizations from which such forces
might be diverted, even temporarily.
Denies Clash with YeIlowley.
Emphatic denial that he had clash
with Il. c. Yellowley. recently detailed TO
New York as an associate director. and
his star of special agents was made by
Mr.. Hart. In fact, he invited the
heartiest cooperation. II was under
stood the purpose OF Mr.. Harris visit
was TO make clear in the minds Of his
superiors that his jurisdiction over New
York prohibition matters must not be
subject to interference on this or other
scores. At the same time he took coca
sion to lay his record before Commits
sioners Blair and Haynes and to point
out numerous dangers OF the present
and future in New York enforcement
activities.
Among the problems discussed was
smuggling. Mr.. Hart said that he could
find good use for some additional United
States Coast Guard cutters in New York
waters. but he received no promise that
he could expect such additional aid from
the Federal sea patrol forces.