The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-26

and operate as a check on the amounts of liquor allowed in basic permits.
 The inauguration of new methods Of which the preceding may serve as illustrations, has enabled the unit to effect increased efficiency In preven- tive enforcement and has simplkied its work.
 What might properly be designated as routine enforcement, involving everyday safeguards around the leEi- timate user, as well as repressive against the Illegal traffic, is vested largely, subject to minute super vision by the Washington headouar- ters, in the state directors. The di- reetors, of course, are subordinate to the prohibition commissioner, who, in turn is subordinate to the commis- sioner of internal revenue (his i'm mediate superior), the secretary of the treasury and the President. Subdivisions of Prohibition Unit.
 Major divisions of the prohibition unit at Washington include the office of counsel, the office of chief of the general prohibition agents, the per- init division, the audit division, the industrial alcohol and chemical di vision and the narcotic division, WAOSt dCliNlLA6Eg AS US hdul6 lulpAlSGg are concerned with the enforcement O. the narcotic law.
 The office of counsel has a two- fold function-it is charged with the interpretation of the prohibition laws and regulations (also the Harrison narcotic act), and 1t is concerned with the prosecution of criminal and civil cases arising from the operation of the laws it. interprets.
 It should not be inferred, how ever, that the office of counsel, or, indeed, any division of the prohibit tion unit, conducts the prosecution of cases in the courts. Such is not the case. The handling of cases, so far as the federal government is con cerned, is wholly the function of the department of justice. Prosecutions, civil and criminal, in the courts are conducted by the various United States attorneys under the direction of an assistant to the attorney gen eral, with headquarters at Washing ton The work of the prohibition unit is to secure the evidence, not to prosecute the violator.
 The chief of general prohibition agents Is in immediate charge of the mobile forces of agents already re- ferred to. Under his supervision and direction are IS divisional chiefs, each with an area comprising group of states. To the moDlle Iorce are assigned special cases of law violation, often requiring the highest form of detective skill and great personal hazard. Prohibition patrol boats also are under the operation or a special marine force attached to the office of chief of general prom bition agents.
 Duties of the permit division ln- 'clude the following.
 It issues permits for the leglu- mate use of intoxicating liquors, in cluding permits to transport or per- mits to prescribe which are Issued by directors.
 It passes upon all non-b beverage bonds given in cases of non-beVerage operating permits.
 It handles renewals of all basic n-beverage permits outstanding for one year.
 It establishes standards for medi- cal preparations, toilet preparations and extracts.
 It checks withdrawals of liquor so tLat the amounts authorized shall not be exceeded.
 The industrial alcohol and chemical division conducts the administra- ton of that part of the law relat- ing to industrial alcohol, makes the units chemical analysis and adminis- ters certain features of the internal revenue laws concerning bonded warehouses, storekeeper- -gauger as