Evening star., 1923-06-11
DRY ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED better
Results Obtained Are Salts.
factory; Haynes Says in
Summary of Activities.

A survey of dry" America was
laid before the public today by pro-
hibition headquarters. which gave out
summary of the annual reports of
state prohibition directors coincident
with an annual review repaired by
Commissioner Haynes himself.
Tightening up OF prohibition en-
forcement work. with increased re
suits in securing obedience to the
prohibition amendment and the Vol
stead act was reported generally, and
Commissioner Haynes declared the
national situation as whole mos.
satisfactory
Reduced Withdrawals OF spirituous
liquors was reported almost uniform
iy The state directors also, with
the striking exception of New York.
reported Increased cooperation by
local officials in enforcement work.
There was a wide disparity in the
however, some directors reporting
large increases, while others said in
creased law observance had resulted
in decreases in prosecutions. Many
states reported that substantial per-
centages Of the arrests were made
OF aliens or persons of foreign nation
ality.
Commissioner Haynes. referring to
the summary Of activities presented
in his review Of two years activities,
declared, Il believe the facts here
presented warrant a fair degree Of
satisfaction with accomplishments as
a. whole"
Many Problems Solved.
Many new enforcement problems
will crop up for years to come. the
commissioner said, but he declared
that many already had been solved.
He, asserted that his force was operat-
Ing at q maximum efficiency, under
limited appropriations by Congress.
and expressed a hope that increased
cooperation in enforcement work
by local authorities would leave the
federal forces free to deal principally
with the larger conspiracy cases. He
RETAINED from commenting directly
on the repeal OF the New York en-
torcement law. but said:
"One OF the chief present difficulties
is adverse public opinion to be COM
batted, and it fs to be found mainly
on the eastern seaboard. although
there are certain cities where local
conditions also make the problem
quite difficult. Cooperation in some
of the localities referred to, on the
part OF local authorities. is not what
It should be, and the press is not
favorable. Prohibition sentiment will
grow less r~pidly in those localities
because progress In enforcement will
be slow. 1t Is my observation that
prohibition is most popular where it
is most nearly enforced. It must be
clearly understood that public opin-
ion many times reflects the attitude
Of public officials quito as much, IL
not more than, the officials in their
conduct express the public wishes"
Work Ii Doubled.
The work of the prohibition unit
has more than doubled, Commissioner
Haynes reported, during his two
years in office. There now are $3.50
employees, including about $500 pro-
hibition agents. The entire unit has
been reorganized with new mobile
forces of agents. field supervisors and
To show concretely the results of
prohibition. the commissioner pre-
sented figures showing that whisky
Withdrawals, which had amounted to
1888, ,ooo gallons in 1890. dropped to
3,243,s45 in 1921 and to 1,s1s,sss In
notable improvement in control Of
withdrawal OF liquor for medicinal
purposes" through the new permit
system.
Normal commercial processes in the
use of industrial alcohol have not
been fnterfered with. the report said.
citing figures to show that 44.047.000
gallons were produced In the fiscal
year 1891, 41.691,000 in 1929 and 49,
$4,000 gallons from July l last to
plants qualified to produce Industrial
alcohol is seventy, the same as two
years ago.
Storage ConceAtrAted.
Storage OF bonded whisky is being
rapidly concentrated, eighty outlying 6
distiliery warehouses having been dis
continued upon removal of their con-
report said there were $4,000, 900 gal
Ions OF distilled spirits in bond July
In the federal courts alone, from
June. 1921, to March 81 last. there
were $3.50 criminal prohibition cases
43,s sos and 2.3i4 convictions secured
respectively, while fines imposed dur
ing the last fiscal year aggregated
smussiing Of liquor is one of the
principal difacultios Of enforcement
the commissioner said, noting tina,
the prohibition unit has very limited
facilities for combating this situa-
ton," but that the coast guard and
customs service had given very ex.
and forty motor boats were seized
during the fiscal year 1929.
| Many Drug Convictions.
A section Of the report devoted to
| enforcement of the Harrison mar
cotic drug law said the force OF 16a
tmen in the narcotic unit had secured
| 66 per cent moro convictions last year
| than during the previous year. Con.
victions in 1929 tosalled s.1os. com.
pared to 1853 in 1921.
Details OF the seixure OF thousands
of Stills and worms" and large guam
| titles Of mash, moonshine liquor and
beer. together with the. closing o
lwere related by the state directors
The Tennessee director declared thai
50 per cent OF prohibition violatort
now were "illiterate and disreputablt
| persons. whereas before the prohibi.
| ton laws became 80 effective moon
tsniners came from q class considered
honest and respectable In every other
respect"
tions in New York prepared priol
to repeal OF the Muilan-Gage state
| law, emphasized lack Of cooperation
Srnro yocal officials and slow proRres,