The New York herald., 1922-06-11
Restaurateurs Had Put Up
I, Equally Blank Charges
+ Against Hostelries.
SLEUTHS HAVE HARD JOBS
Could Enforce Volstead Act
!; Without Appeal to Harding
1 if Public Would Help.

Prohibition Director Ralph A. Day
last night asked the Hotel Asso-
citation of New York to name spe-
cific instances in it's charges that res
taurants here We're openly fragrant in
violating the Volstead act, and calling
upon President Harding, Secretary of
the Treasury Mellon ami National Pro-
hibition Commissioner Haynes to bring
about better enforcement of the dry
law.
/ Mr.. Day said that without doubt the
volstead act is not only being violated
by certain restaurants but some N.pf
the hotels are not observing the law
in its entirety. He said he wished the
Hotel Association would furnish in
formation of violations to him SO fur
ther efforts could be made by his rum
sleuths to better enforce the law than
can be done under the rather difficult
conditions which prevail.
Director Days statement is as fol-
lows:
Il am in receipt of the resolution
Opted by the Hotel Association in ref,
& nee TO the alleged violation of the
IL 9cnal prohibition act by restaurants
IN this city. While this resolution
charges the open and fragrant violation
by restaurants it is only general in its
terms, and no specific charge has ever
been made TO me by the Hotel Associa-
tion or any person connected with II,
nor have any definite names, places, in
formation or data been given.
my department has received COM
plants of the same general tenor
I against the hotels as the hotels have
+ now made against the restaurants.
welcome and invite any information
from any one at any time which may
be utilized as means to secure VIOLA
rions whether the person conducts a
hotel or restaurant or otherwise. 1t is
my intention to employ every available
means to enforce the law.
There are many criminal cases pend
ing now against restaurant proprietors
and employees, and also cases charging
violations In hotels in this city. There
are over 1000 equity or injunction pro-
ceedings pending in this district. many
epf which are against hotels and res
taurants.
liz AN effort has been made to have
these proceedings preferred and 1t Is
cxpected that several actions will be
acessfu, DEGREES will be obtained from
the United States Court closing UP
8 these places for one year. / am in
formed that a large number of these
cases will be reached during the fall
term of court and the closing UP of
humber of these places will have a de-
terrent and salutary effect.
"Some of the hotels and restaurants
are violating the law. Every effort is
being made to bring the violators be-
fore the bar of justice and in this con-
nection am anxious to secure the help
of the public generally and of associa-
tions and individuals If the Hotel AS
sociation has any specific information
1t should give the same to me at once
d The Society of Restaurateurs has con-
demned the action of the Hotel Asso-
citation. denouncing 1t az "actuated by
childishness or hysteria. The society
SAYS ii holds no brief for the all night
clubs and cabarets and expresses sym
Iathy with the hotel men for the
great injury done to their business by
the Volstead act" Like Director Day
the society calls upon the Hotel Asso-
c.ation to make specific charges.
Director Day already is Tightening up
on liquor selling drug stores. He said
twenty-three druggists were cited for
revocation of permits last week out os
fifty-fite Investigations. When II Is
found upon investigation that a drug
fist is not complying with the liquoi
laws revocation proceedings are immedi-
ately brought against him.