The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21

CTS and joint responsibilities exist, which can best be exercised and dis charged by joint action.
 While certain classes of aliens, easily distinguishable,- have been ex- cluded from this country from a con siderable length of time a general policy of restrs ming immigration, broadly inclusive. has only recently been adopted. The new law admits approximately 350,0G0 aliens or about one-third O. the number com ing in annually under the old law before the war. On the other hand the number desiring tC enter is now much larger and attempts to evade the law has greatly increased. It is estimated by the department of labor that there is a seepage over the bordor and through the ports of about 100000 which is a considerable menace to the success of our immi- grafton policy. Such an influx of persons entering the country in vio- lation of the law cannot fail to at tract the attention of local police authorities along our borders and on our seacoasts who can be of very great assistance ir notifying the To- cal representatives of the department of labor, in order that such persons may be more readily excluded and deported.
 AssaiIs Drug Traffic.
 Another problem exists which is woT ,d-wide in some of its aspects. It is considered Of such importance to our own welfare that special rep resentativcs of this country attended when the League of Nations recent ly considered the regula tion of the traffic whece theii efforts met with large success.
 The narcotic laws and the laws of most of the state regulate the sale narcotic drugs. Their use except undsr the direction of com petent medical advice. is everywhere regarded as attended with grave danger, usually resulting in lamen- table disaster
 "The effective protection of the people from these results depends on our ability to prevent the snug gling and unlawful sale of such narcotics. Their use is in part per. haps due to physical disease and is part to lack of moral stamina but their abuse is almost wholly a result of violations of the law. If the law can be enforced. medical science would very soon rid the country of this menace This traffic Is carried on secretly and evasively. It can only be detacted and eradicated through a system of local inspectors and police. The national secret serv- flee and enforcement officers can cope with the smugglers and the whole salers, but the peddlers and retailers cannot successfully be suppressed without the assistance of state and municipal police.
 'eThe other problem which I wish to lay before you, is that of intoxicat- ing liquors. The eighteenth amend ment was proposed by the congress in 1917 and its ratification proclaimed d in January in 1919. 1t prohibits the manufacture, sale or transportation and the importation and exportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes and confers upon the con- gross and the several states concur rent power to enact enforcement leg l slation.
 This power was exercised by the Congress in the national prohibition act which was finally passed in Octo- Der. 1919 two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate present having voted in the affirmative. Sub- stantiaily all of the states have like wise passed enforcing acts under the authority of the eighteenth amend ment. In all the states there had long been laws regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors and in many of the states prohibition had already been adopted.
 States Not Relieved.
 Neither the amendment nor the prohibition act undertakes to relieve the states of their responsibility rela- tive to intoxicating liquors but or the other hand the amendment con- fers jurisdication upon them, and the prohibition act authorizes states and llocal prosecuting attorneys to bring injunction proceedings in any court having equity in the United States The national prohibition act puts it's enforcement on the collector of in- ternal revenue, his agents and inspec- tors. In accordance herewith, there Is an assistant commissioner in direct charge of prohibition enforcement and there are prohibition agents and