Imperial Valley press., 1923-06-02
PRESIDENT WILL
DECIDE ON NEXT
MOVE ON BOOZE
Gov. Smiths Action is
Surprise to i. S.
Officials
SITUATION ACUTE
Other States May Follow
n. Y. With Serious
Results
SITUATION ACUTE
hy United Press Leased wire

WASHINGTON, June 9. The
administration s policy ON prohi-
bition enforcement in New York
State will be decided by President
Harding personally, other officials
Of the government said today.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
and Secretary Mellon nnder whose
jurisdiction Haynes comes, will put
1t directly up to the presidant to
decide how to meet the added bur-
den on federal enforcers, put there
by Governor Smith signing the re-
peal of the state enforcement code.
Until the president makes that
decision, Haynes and Mellon will
refuse to discuss the situation.
They could not discuss it without
indicating what they intend to do,
it was pointed out today.
Government Surprised
So far as known the governments
has no immediate plan of aetian.
Governor Smith s signing Of the re
pealer took officials here by sur-
prise. They had expected him 10
veto it.
It was expected that President.
Harding would direct Haynes ts.
mass every. available prohibition
agent in New York in demonstra~
tion of the government : determine.
ton to prove that it can enforce
the Volstead Law without state aid
If that becomes necessary.
.& The. effect on the personal and
political fortunes Of the two chief
figures in the controversy s rela.
lively small. Mr.. Hardina's poai-
ton as 100 per cent dry was well
known before he injected himself
into the New York situation. Gov
ernor Smith was equally well
known rs wet and while he haA
now eternany damned himself ~
democratic presidential candidate
with the dry element Of, his paftt,
his condemnation on that score NIL
scarcely be more emphatic tAaH II
would have been had he never beAa
called on to make the deciAioh h4
made yesterday on repeal OF STATE
enforcement. ~, MA
i'he great question Of state, ri9HtA
will extend fag beyond the pSAi
bition issue of the day. 4A
flg1res IN TaDcs
1t will figure also with respect ~
taxation of bonds, which Mills w.
come increasingly important n the
next administration and .coAgresa.
AS TO enforcement, the possipitit1ss
opened up by the preeedsnt Smith
has set are admittedly almost limit.
less. If other states follow NoW
York 5 example and throw nIpa tie
federal courts the entire burdea az
apholding the prohibition Iaw tAA
demand for modification OF that
law, to prevent tremendo1s IN.
creases in taxation to support 4
greatly expanded federal Judiciary,
is certain to occur.
This phase of Smiths actiAn ia
likely to be seized upon by ths vets
everywhere as the most effWtive
means Of breaking down the preseAf
enforcement law. The federal courts
are new swaniped with prohibitions
cases. If United States courts
We're saddled with the whole bufdea
OF such cases many Judges wotlld
have to be named. ~.
smiths action throws the wAsle
question OF prohibition enforcclnent
again into congress aud that lnosas
into politics. The issue is more
alive today than il has ever heeA,
coupled as il now is With tho great
question Of state's rights, which il
tho last few years haa beca eosiAs
TO the fore in congress and eise.
where with increasing menace "a
federal authority has broadsn ed 3aAd
grown. 4t