The Washington times., 1922-01-02
MOVE STARTED
FOR TRANSFER
Of DRY BUREAU
Conference Reported to Shift
Work From Treasury to Jus
tice Department.

The Prohibition Bureau will shorty
be placed under the Department Of
Justice, 1t was learned today. So sure
ire officials Of the Department of
Justice and the Prohibition Bureau
that the liquor enforcement branch of
the Government and the Department
o. Justice will be affiliated, 1t is said,
that a conference of officials Of both
branches Of the Government was held
Friday night.
The conference, which was held at
the Prohibition Bureau, was attended|
by several officials of the Department
of Justice, including William j. Burns
chief of the bureau Of investigation
Much. secrecy was maintained ana
watchmen were stationed In the hall
way outside the room where the con-
ference was being held, to see that
they were not interrupted. The con-
ference started shortly after o'clock
In the afternoon and lasted about three,
hours, It Is said.
Burns Alone Signs Register.
In every Government office a regis
ter is kept by the Waterman on the
comes in after office hours Is sup
posed to sign and then sign out
when they are leaving the building.
Chief Burns was the only Department
Of Justice official who signed the
register, the others being considered
as holding too high positions to be
compelled to sign the register.
Efforts to Learn what took place
at the conference have failed, every
official who was present either deny
ing a conference was held or saying
ieh lxy 0nnfidAY.
tiar' meetings Of Government Off,
Gals.
There has been a movement on foot
for many months to have the prohi-
bition bureau put under the Depart
ment of Justice, where II rightfully
belongs. II is said. Department OF JUS
tice, officials have held out against
this, because Of the feeling through
out the country against the prohibi-
ton law. The Internal Revenue Blu.
reau. of the Treasury Department. has
been Just as anxious to get rid OF the
prohibition bureau. A few months
ago the Internal Revenue Bureau
ceasAd handling publicity matter for
the prohibition bureau, and Sherman
Cuneo, of Ohio, was appointed chief
Of the publicity office.
Agitation In Congress.
Much agltatlOn mas Deen BoihS VII
in Congress ever since the law was
enacted, to transfer the prohibition
bureau to the Department OF Justice.
When the law was framed 1t was
strongly contended the Department OF
Justice was the proper place for the
prohibition bureau, as it was a law
enforcing branch Of the Government
The fact that the Internal Revenue
Bureau had for years been enforcing
liquor laws. however, prevailed, and
the prohibition office was placed in
the Internal Revenue Bureau and
many of the employees of the bureau,
who had experience in the liquor
business were transferred to the new
| branch Of the Government.
One of the principal reasons for
putting the prohibition bureau under
the Department of Justice is said to
be that the department is better able
10 direct the actions of United States
| district attorneys throughout the
country. In many cases. IL has been
charged the district attorneys In GER
tain sections were not giving proper
support to the prohibition officials. l.
the bureau is put under the Depart
ment Of Justice, they will have a
closer connection with the prohibition
enforcement agents. 1t is said, and
probably will give better support.