Evening star., 1923-06-03

4
! land, and the acts of Congress for its
J execution should be obeyed and en-
| forced. and 1 think in a police meas
ure of this kind the state govern
ments should cooperate with the fed
eral government In the aid OF law
enforcement, and that when q state
! has passed prohibition laws a repeal
OF them Is bad policy, as tending to
encourage disrespect for the federal
laws l would not be in favor of Il
sweeping repeal Of the prohibition
laws of Tennessee.
Senator Dial, democrat. South Caro-
lima, declared: 81 am very sorry Gov.
Smith signed the bill. / think it the
duty of all officials to support the
Constitution of the United States and
all laws passed thereunder. We all
ought to cooperate. No good can
come from drinking liquor
An attitude Of waiting was main
| tained today by the federal govern
ment toward the New York pro-
hibition enforcement situation result
ing from Gov. Smiths signature of
the New York enforcement law re-
pealer.
Commissioner Haynes and other Of
| fcfals remained silent. and it was in
dicated that determination of a policy
would await the outcome Of future
conferences in which President Hard
ing may have the deciding voice
A few prohibition agents form other
parts Of the country. it was indicated
at prohibition headquarters, may be sent
to New York, but officials privately con-
ceded that these could not fill a. hole in
the enforcement work as deep as COM
plete withdrawal of New York police
agencies would make. A complete with
drawal was not expected, however. by
government officials who believe the
New York state authorities. will follow,
to some extent at least. Governor
2 &Lra Nr~H-
be regarded as continuing applicable TO
/. 4 enforceable in New York.
Local courts and magistrates OF
New York, Department of Justice
officials also pointed out, are required
by general law as we'll as the Vol
Offenders brought before them, either
by imposing fines or sentences or
taking bail and binding over the
prisoners for action by the federal
grand jury. Repeal Of the Mullan-
Gage law, according to officers OF
the department. does not relieve New
York district and police court judges
and mayors from this duty imposed
by section 1,014 OF the revised
statutes, and also Incorporated in
the Volstead act. II was conceded,
however, that ono result would be
to increase prohibition cases before
federal grand juries and add to the
present congestion OF federal courts.
There were indications that the ad-
| ministratton would move slowly
toward announcement Of its ultimate
policy. How New York and especially
New York city behave themselves"
under the new order OF liquor affairs
Is expected to be an important factor
in making the decision. If an orgy Of
bootlegging and of open 'speakeasies"
should develop, government officials
are prepared to make a maximum eff
fort to sustain the federal constitu-
tion and laws.
No More Agents.
With only about $500 prohibition
and between 200 and ESQ already as
! signed to the New York district, re-
sponsible officials declare IL is impos-
stbl to transfer any considerable num-
ber to augment the New York forces
without serious neglect in enforcement
work throughout the remainder OF
the country. Such a policy, II was
said, might lead to serious increase
of rum running and border smuggling
in other states.
Right here in Washington, prohi-
bition agents have their hands full
row in an effort to prevent whole
sale rumrunning into the capital for
the Shriners conclave, which gets
into full swing next week. An aug
mented force Of prohibition agents
| Is watching roads and waterways
leading into the District Of Columbia
from Maryland and Virginia Over
nifty automobiles carrying liquor
were seized on these roads last
month.