The New York herald., 1922-01-22
MILLIONS in ILLEGAL
RUM IMPORTS HERE
Government Has Traced and
Will Confiscate Every
Shipment.
EXPIRED PERMITS USED
Customs Officials and Dry Di-
rector Both Are Blamed
for Flow.
EXPIRED PERMITS USED

In the four months from the middle
OF last August to the middle of De
cember. according to Government
agents. there were Illegally imported
into New York more than $4,000 cases
Of whisky, wine and champagne. In
addition to thousands Of gallons Of
alcohol.
At current bootleg prices these ship
ments may be valued at about s5,o50,s
600. 1t was learned yesterday that
after an investigation in which these
figures were determined, recommen-
dalton was made to customs authori-
ties that these goods be checked up
and seizures made in every illegal
importation or entry"
The Prohibition Department In
Washington has been furnished with
detailed information concerning these
imports as the result of cooperation
between customs officials and John
d. Appleby. general prohibition agent
on the staff of E. c. Yellowley, acting
State director during most of the
period covered by the report. 1t was
said in prohibition headquarters that
local officials we're taking no action in
connection with the report.
Mr.. Applebys report. n copy of which
y. on file In tho. customs office of this
district. gives the total amount OF liquors
illegally imported as follows:
Grand total amount of whisky. alco-
hol and wine purchased from domestic
companies on importers permits. i'm
ported after expiration OF their permit
20 import either directly or in accord
ance with departmental letter of August
10. 1921:
whisky. cases. $1,000; whisky. bar
reis, 5: champagne. cases. 5.294; wine.
cases. 1864; wine. barrels. 1886
casks. Lis; quarters. 53s: octaves.
All; fifths. co. sixteenths. 100; alco-
hol. barrels. lis.
THE shortcomings or failure to stop
these importations," states the report,
does not lie solely at the door OF the
customs officials whose duty IL is to
permit entry of all goods under certain
regulations or their rejection where i'm
portation is not permissible. In nuner-
Gus Instances the prohibition director
Of New York has Q. KID the Importation
OF Illegal entries and permitted the
withdrawal OF whisky and wine and
alcohol on 1410's when the party making
the withdrawal had only an importers
permit.
THE prohibition department and the
customs department are now WORKING
in the closest manner possible and even
If future importations were TO be made
I am quite convinced that such irregu-
larities would occur In the future
The quantity OF liquor illegally i'm
ported at the New York port alone, as
will be seen by the above, will amount
to some $4,000. 900 Of liquor and wine at
retail prices; at all the other ports of
entry In the United States there should
be half as much more. II In my tudg-
ment and rcommendation that all these
importations should be checked up and
seizures made on every illegal importa-
tion or entry"
A considerable Increase In the clerical
force in prohibition headquarters is 20
follow the removal of the dry offices to
the Albermarle Building. Twenty-rourth
street and Broadway. In the past sixty
nine clerks have been allowed the New
York prohibition Office. although that
number has at times been exceeded. II
is expected small additions will be made
In upstate offices
80