Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-11
REPORT FOR FIRST YEAR

|. Akl UAk AoA A.SAoA ! N"t
Fines, Taxes, Etc., In the State Last
1 Year Tatal $l,@S,977
FEDERAL OFFICIALS DID GOOD WORK
>; -, 60
Record for First Year Better Than
MAS Observation-Disclosures Paid
Heavy Toll. ..:,:r,,..-l
R.. c.. Merrick, chief Federal prohi-
bition enforcement officer for. South
Carolina, in n report made public to-
day, declared that total Of $1,36S,977
in fines, taxes and assessments were
collected and paid into the treasury of
the United States as proceeds from the
work of his force of sixteen men dur
ing the first year Of national prohibi-
ton, says the. Greenvllle Piedmont.
The total cost to the government of
operating the force in South Carolina
period is cQyered by the report. A
total of 1928 gallons of whiskey was
captured and destroyed. S37 persons ar
rested and &c automobiles and 10 other
vehicles. including 10 horses and
mules, were confiscated and sold. The
value of property destroyed came to-
S660,512. This with a force of sixteen
men, and without the loss Of a single
.life -.
In presenting the figures, which
were compiled by the treasury depart
ment, Mr. Merrick declared that pro-
hibition enforcement in this state was
not only success from a moral
standpoint but that it was actually
bringing revenue into the treasury,
which while it was not as large as the
revenue formerly derived from. the leg
itimate sale Of liquor, was nevertheless
relieving the honest taxpayers from
considerable burden. The figures
given out by Mr.. Merrick represent
only the work done in. South Carolina,
while for the entire Southern terri
tory, which comprise seven states, 1t
was shown that the total amount COL
lected and paid to the government in
fines and assessments was $7,3S1, 300,
and the cost for operation OF the
Southern department came to S50O.000
for the first year. Mr.. Merrick reiter
ated the statement made to the Pied
mont several weeks ago that South
Carolina led the south and that the
south led the nation in enforcing the
Volstead law Mr.. Merrick said that
the figures presented in the report was
the best possible answer to those who
were crying out through the press. and
in other ways against the large
amount appropriated by congress to
enforce the law.
Much of the property confiscated by
the officers was assessed at much less
than it's real valuation. said Mr.. Mer-
rick, who told of the capture Of three
large going ships,r which were
valued at very small figure In order
that the owners might put up. bond,
since it was the opinion that the own
ers were in no way responsible for the
liquor found aboard ships.
While prohibition enforcement is
not what it. might be, declared the Of
ficer. the record made for the first
year is much better than was antici-
pated, and is one of which every law
abiding citizen may be justly proud.
The liquor traffic and manufacture is
doomed he continued, and predicted
that within five years it would be
practically impossible to secure Whis-
key in any form without q government
permit. He declared that the worst
plague shop affecting this district was
Savannah, Georgia, territory from
which point it was declared that prac-
tically all OF the case goods, or liquors
bottled in bond came into South Car
olna. When the lid is effectively
placed. on the Savannah territory de-
clared Ar. Merrick, the problem in
South Carolina will be greatly simpli-
fed, since with large number Of men
concentrating on the Illicit manufac-
ture Of liquor in the mountains and
rural districts could soon bring it un-
der complete control.
Mr.. Merrick gave unstinted praise
to the state and county officials who
had assisted in the raids and prose-
cutions Of persons guilty of violation
of prohibition laws, and made espec-
ial mention, of, the valuable work be-
ing done by Sheriff Carlos a. Rector,
of Greenville county. His own force
of eighteen men. Mr.. Merrick said were
men of sterling character and sound
Judgment, and absolutely fearless in
the performance of their duty.
lid tn AMEPIrA