The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-27
SARTAIN TO MEET HIS| CHIEFS ON DRY ISSUE| IN WASHINGTON MAY IA
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but in this connection evidently has had misconception of his duties and the relationship he sustained to departmental instructions"
 MT. Austin created similar situa- tion during his tenure as chief of the state law enforcement squad, when he was discharged from office by Governor Kilby. He sustained subor- dinates in searching homes of repu- table Mobile citizens against orders of the governor.
 Austin Wednesday issued a state ment in which he, as private citizen, asked the resignation of Director Sar- tain. He said Thursday he would call mass meetings of citizens to discuss his findings regarding the depart ment.
 Special Agents Campbell and Brod- erick of the intelligence service are continuing their investigation of charges preferred against W. B. Ford, assistant to Judge Sartain: Agents ". B. Scale and John Wilson and Miss Leila Huey. stenographer in the prohibition enforcement department Other special agents are investigat- ing charges against John Thompson and II. w. Cox, agents suspended be- cause they are alleged to have ac- cepted bribes from Mobile bootleg gers, whom they are said to have pro- tected.
 O o O
 Haynes' Statement.
 MT. Haynes statement regarding the Austin resignation follows:
 Some weeks ago a complaint was lodged against couple of officials in the prohibition service In the state of Alabama. As Is customary, a pre- liminary investigation was ordered by Commissioner Haynes to see whether or not there was sufficient n xlror II gation by the intelligence unit of the bureau of internal revenue, which makes all personal Investigations
 General Agent Austin was as- signed to the work of this prelimi- nary investigation. His preliminary reports indicated sufficient grounds for thorough Investigation. As is customary, these reports were turned over to the special intelligence unit of the bureau of internal revenue with the request that thorough in- vestigation be made. MT. Austin was then assigned to the usual work of a prohibition agent. He was in no way called off from any duty because the pursuit of said duty was involving the personnel of the Alabama office.
 The function of the prohibition service is not to make personnel in vestigations-and having never de- veloped in preliminary examina ton cohu1tlon Wnlch seemed to jus tify a complete investigation, the usual procedure was adopted and the said preliminary report transmitted by usual method and the preliminary investigation made by the prohibition service mechanically was ended
 There is no Justification what ever for the suggestion that MT. Austin was called off from an inves- tigation because said investigation would reveal a situation displeasing to prohibition officials. The prohi- bition department has but one de- termination and aspiration. That is to keep the service on the highest possible plane of efficiency and free from even suggestion of irregularity.
 Whenever conditions warrant ex- haustive investigations result and 1t is desired that it be distinctly under stood that no one Is ever called off from the performance of an official duty"