The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-11-27
BIG Trade
Barred IN
SECRET
PROBE
Agent Brought Here From An
other City Completes Report.
Officers Expect Arrests.

Startling disclosures relating 10
alleged slealxsy Of liquor and
alcohol from drug stores and
patent medicine establishments In
Washington are expected by pro-
Mbition officials to result from
q city-wide check-up of licensed
stores and stoiehouses in progress
today.
Arents WORKING from the office
Of Edrar ". Read, divisional dry
chief for the District Of Columbia,
are today engaged in probiny re-
ports that the Iinuor books in
warriors establishments through
out TIE city fail to show correct
balance.
Complete Report Soon,
The check-up. begun in secrecy
some days ago. Is now nearing COM
pletion. and fun report win soon
be In the hand Of Director Read.
One of Chief Reads first Inquiries
on reaching Washington 20 take
charge OF the local situatio1 was on
the subject Of medicinal and indus
trial alcohol. He was also deeply
interested IN regulation OF drug
store sales OF liquor on prescription,
early this month he instructed AS
order the Investigation at what he
considered the psychological mo
That momsnt came last week.
Evans Judged, and accordingly put
the prohibition machinery 70 FORK.
For several days the check-up has
BEEN the main work of the office
and minor affairs have gone by the
board.
Agent II. c. Packard. Who Il not
widely known among druggists, was
chosen 10 take charge OF the tnves-
tiration. His territory comprised
the entire District of Columbia, and
he worked on the .check-up to the
exclusion Of an other activities.
Hundreds Of Visits.
Il was estimated today that Pack.
ards visits to date have run wei
up into the hundreds.
The results Of his work thus far
have been closely guarded secret.
IL was intimated. however, that a.
4 consequences OF the check-up. re-
sfricfions on liquor and alcohol viii
be frightened and q number Of arrests
Until today. prohibition officials
! 1elt that any publicity about the IN
veatigation would defeat the pur-
pose Of the check-up.
sIt's ali right now" Evans said
today. sThe word has been passed
an ever the city and, II I'm not mis-
taken. certain persons are doing q
lot Of work on their books"
Evans said that In the ranks Of
those who are licensed to dispense
liduor and pure alcohol. q we'll
oreanized system of ''tipping-off" ex.
fstn. and 10 used to good advantage
whenever check-up Is to be made.
Loop Holes All Closed.
we've tried to find out whether
they use telephones or messengers
or Send around the word" said
EVnns, ''but we haven't met with
much success. II we were sure
they were us lg the telephones, we
might get the telephone company TO
cooperate with rs. As we don't
know. It would he foolish to ask
help from that quarter"
The inspection now under way 10
probably the most searching OF It's
kind made by the local prohibition
Office. ,,sg
ia View OF Commissioner Haynes
plan to strengthen the prohibition
units forces during 1928, the Wash.
fneton bureau has closed up all loop
holes In the. organization, according
20 officials, and II going TO the bot.
tom o. reports Of violations In the
LEGAL LIQUOR selling line.
This IL the first check-up Of drug
stores made by the divisional dry
offlcs, and agents engaged In the
work are anxious to make record
for themselves.
Heretofore. the work Of watching
drug stores and other liquor and
alcohol dispensaries has been done
by the local agents Of the Mary.