Evening star., 1921-01-16
DRY LAW HAS NOT
had A FAIR TRIAL,
ASSERTS WILLIAMS
Head of Internal Revenue
Bureau, Reviewing First
Year, Still Has Faith.

Reviewing conditions at the end of
the first year of constitutional pro-
hibition. Commissioner William NJ.
Williams of the bureau Of internal
revenue. in a statement issued last
night said that the Volstead act had
not yet had a fair trial. because when
it went into effect on January IT,
1890, the world was disturbed by
conditions Immediately following the
war. but he added that he had great
faith in the law abiding sense of the
american public. and that there was
a growing sentiment for enforcement
F of the law.
lon the whole I feel that the ac-
accomplishments of the prohibition en-
Iforcement forces are satisfactory,
the commissioner said.
THE courts it is believed. are pc
ginning to realize that only prison
sentences for violating the law Will
be sufficient. The bureau is now re-
|ceiving better cooperation from state
and local officials. and. after all. COM
|plete success Of national prohlbition,
unless a very large sum is appropri-
ate,l by Congress. depends on CO.
operation on the part of state, local
and municipal officers.
Has Faith in Public.
"It was never the purpose of Con-
3Eress to match with prohibition
kgent every policeman or other local
of11cial in the United States and its
Territories. That would be an un-
undertaking. Great faith
may be placed in the common sense
and fairness of the American people.
A resume of the activities of the
1ederal prohibition agents from Janu-
ary 16. 1920, to November 80, 1920,
shows the following results:
Illicit stills and distilleries seized
and destroyed. 1854; fermenters de-
|stroye,l. 50.44S: breweries seized, 20;
persons arrested and recommend
led for prosecution, 23.959: auto
mobiles seized, 1,021: spirits seized
land destroyed, 1860 gallons; spirits
seized but not destroyed, 16l,S34 gal
hons; taxes and penalties reported
tor assessment. S32.450,036: taxes and
penalties assessed, approximately,
AS the first year of national prohi-
.bition ended last night. Prohibition
Iofnmisioner Kramer declared the
american people were rapidly recov-
|ering from their "hang-over." He be-
Riered they have begun to taper on
their liquor drinking.
Although liquor-some of 1t good,
but much of it bad-still is obtaina-
bic in large quantities. the head or
The prohibition enforcement corps De-
aieves the first years work has
brought large measure of success.
He had expected it to be hardest. both
for the law enforcing staff and those
who were deprived of their beverages
In the future. the commissioner said.
enforcement of the law should be-
tome increasingly easier, while those
who used to put foot on the brass
tail should gradually become recon-
Filled to the saloonless era.
Records OF the prohibition bureau
show that fewer dealers are seeking
permits to engage legitimately in the
business of handling liquor next year.
Many of them. Mr.. Kramer said. knew
advance they would be refused be-
fkuse they had taken a chance with
HE law. There were more than TO-
|DH0 of the permits in sexistsnee in the
|pest year, but there will be perhaps
|nbt more than half as many next
Efar. The bureau has been busy Gull
fHg out the .undesirables'', for sew
|etal months and the new list will be
held to the strictest minfm1m, the
declared
During the first ten months OF. con-
stitutiona1 prohibition 35,56S,0o0 gaL-
pdns of distilled spirits were with
htawn. tax paid. from bonded ware
hbuses. On this basis it was off,
ftally estimated that Withdrawals for
lie year ending last night wouSd, ex-
|cted s43, 10000 gallons. VI