The New York herald., 1922-07-02
WILLIS WOULD PLUG
THE BOOTLEG LEAKS
Ohio Senator Introduces Bill
to Prevent False With
drawal of Liquor.
Special Disnatoh TO THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, d. c., July 1.

Senator Willis (Ohio) introduced a
bill to-day designed to stop the flow OF
liquor from Government warehouses into
bootleg channels through false with
drawal permits and from drug stores
on fake prescriptions.
The Ohio Senator thinks this il the
biggest leak in the Volstead law as it
stands and his measure is designed to
correct an abuse which he says is quite
widespread. The measure makes il a
penitentiary offense to counterfeit or
to be in any way concerned In the
wrongful use of forms used by the pro-
hibition authorities.
Bootleggers. Senator Willis said, are
using forged and counterfeit whisky
permits TO flood the country with
liquors which should be shut up in
bonded warehouses. Explaining this
practice, he declared:
The use by violators of the prohibit
ton laws of counterfeit withdrawal
forms and other Government forms
necessary in the work of the pro-
hibition unit has retarded enforcement
of national prohibition more than any
other cause.
Whatever liquor has been bootlegged
for a considerable time has been re-
leased by the distributors on counterfeit
Withdrawals or through outright rob-
berries. The masterminds of the bootleg
ger rings have been able to employ
skilled counterfeiters to counterfeit the
forms and the counterfeits in many in
stances have been very good limitations
of the genuine permits.
THE prohibition unit recently went
TO considerable trouble to have these
forms double watermarked one water
- TN~-A1 ry-rr
Department visible when the permit Is
held in a horizontal position and the
other watermark being the word 'prohi-
bition,' visible when the permit Is held
In a vertical position. These permits
were printed from an engraved plate on
sensitized and especially designed paper.
Notwithstanding the precautions
taken by the Government, however, the
major violators of the prohibition laws
have been able to effect excellent coun-
terfeits of withdrawal permits. The
counterfeiters have found 1t more prof
liable to counterfeit withdrawal permits
of whiskey than to counterfeit United
States currency; not only have they
found it more profitable from the none
tary standpoint, but in addition they
are immune from any punishment fol
counterfeiting withdrawal permits fol
liquor. while counterfeiting currency Is
penitentiary offense."
Punishment is fixed at from one t.
ten years Imprisonment and fine Of
$1,000 to $4,000 for whoever falsely
makes. alters, forges or counterfeits any
permit, physicians prescription blank:
for Intoxicating liquor. letter of con
firation or other form writing or docu
ments used or prescribed by the United
States under law or regulation in con
nection with the endorsements of thu
national prohibition act or any Law
supplemental or amendatory thereof Of
who advises aids. procures or assist!
in any way in such false making, alter
ing or counterfeiting thereof, or whit
knowingly uses possesses or is In an!
way connected with the use or posses
sion of such false, counterfeit or al
tered permit, blank. letter of confirma
ton. or other form, writing or docu
ment."