The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-05
TO PROBE
CAPITOL
SPREES
Read Has Phantom Agent
Tracing Supply, He Says,
Must BE Enormous.

Edgar N. Read. divisional pro-
hibition chief for the District,
wants TO know who supplied the
forbidden refreshments for the
farewell parties 1T the Capitol
and III the Senate and House
office buildings yesterday which
marked the adjournment of Con-
gress, he said today.
Indignant citizens telephoned
dry headquarters today that every
committee room was an oasis, and
that the tears of parting were
largely Of the prev olstead quail
ity.
phantom Agent on Job.
Members OF Congress. their cleri.
cal staffs, and friends who ''just
dropped i'm Joined in great a1co-
holic swan song, the enforcement
bureau was told.
Read declared today that liquor
parties on Capitol Hill, Of which
yesterdays soiree was only one in
many, have been the. object of
close investigation, and that efforts
now will be redoubled to learn the
source Of supply.
James Leroy Asher, the "phan.
tom agent" Of the Washington dry
force, has been actively engaged
in ferreting out the bootleggers who
ply their trade at the Capitol, and
q report from him is expected with.
in the next few days.
Looking For Source.
IT am trying my best to check
the Capitol liquor at its source of
supply said Mr.. Read. "This is
one of the most difficult jobs this
office ever tackled. The boot
leggers know they're being watched,
and they bring the liquor into the
office building, quart or two at a
time. They know their prospective
purchasers, and consequently it is
useless for an agent to ATTEMPT to
make a purchase. The actual sale
is accomplished in places to which
agents cannot possibly have entry.
IF one of these hip-pocket boot
leggers were arrested, we could
hold him only for illegal transporta.
ton, and the big game behind it all
isn't worth such action.
II don't care how high I go to
enforce the law, but I must have
time. If it's humanity possibly to
get the big bootleggers who are
operating here-and they are very
clever-my men will get them"
It is generally believed at pro-
hibition headquarters that the sup
plies for yesterdays sad adieux
were smuggled into Congressional
offices either under some sort of
camouflage or by the hip-pocket
bootleggers. in a period of more
than a week.
Higher officials in the prohibi-
ton unit. while indignant ut the
fragrant law violations at the
Capitol, were silent on the subject
Good Liquor Controlled.
1t was pointed out that the rela-
tons between influential individuals
in Congress and the dry bureau are
already strained by reason of the
latter's aggressive attitude in regard
to bootlegging. Enforcement Off
Gals believe 1t would be highly i'm
polite to state their personal views
on the quaint old customs observed
by the "wets", of Capitol Hill.
The impression persists in the pro-
hibition unit that the good liquor in
Washington is controlled by power
full syndicate of bootleggers, whose
activities extend into the District
from coast cities.
1t is Chief Reads avowed intention
to arrest the principals Of this ring,
who are said to be the agents for
wet" Congressman and others high
in official life here.
The plan of the prohibition office
in regard to this case, which has
consumed months Of preparation and
may take up more months until frui-
ton, is to hold the ringleaders on
charge Of conspiracy, in accordance
with the wishes of Federal Prohibit.
ton Commissioner Roy A. Haines.