The Washington times., 1923-12-04
DAUGHERTY To
EXTEND WAR
ON RUM
Urges Enlargement Of Coast
0uard-caIIs Smuggling
Nations Greatest Crime.
By KENNETH CLARK,
international News Service.

Rum running off American
coasts is the chief sore spot in
the Federal Governments efforts
to enforce the prohibition law,
Attorney General Harry M.
Daugherty declared today in his
annual report to Congress.
1.-THE liquor smuggling business
is the most gigantic criminal prob
lem the United States has ever
faced on the high seas" the re-
port said. "The amount of liquor
struggled into the United States
annually cannot be appropriated"
Figures Show Gravity.
Some idea of the gravity Of
liquor smuggling was cited in OIL.
ficial estimates taken at Nassau,
Bahamas, and Glasgow, Scotland.
Shipments from Nassau. for the
year 1922 and part OF 1928, were
estimated to have an approximate
value of $7,059, 294. Whiskey con-
engagements from Glasgow for
American consumption for the same
period were estimated at approx
mately 10000 gallons.
To more efficiently combat this
evil, the report urged the strength
ening OF the coast guard service.
1.-THE coast guard is the only
force having equipment to deal with
smuggling on the high seas, and
observation Is convincing that its
equipment is not sufficient to sup
press 1t along our long Atlantic
and Pacific coast lines" Daugherty
said.
Cases tanning Courts.
Congestion of court dockets also
hampers work of tightening the
dry lid, the report pointed out.
During the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1928, there were com.
menced 1889 more cases than
were instituted in the preceding
year.
Even during the past few months
the increase in the number of cases
filed is distinctly noticeable.
The average number of cases
disposed OF per month has increased
steadily in the three and one.half
disposed of in the fiscal year 1929
being 1895, while in the year ended
June 80, 1923, 1t was 1885,
In the last fiscal year, 49,021
criminal prosecutions and 400
civil cases arising under the dry law
were instituted. During the same
period there were disposed of 48.730
criminal and 2,670 civil cases. OF
the criminal cases 34,067 were con-.
victions and Ito were acquittals.
Fines Reach $5,832 ,S89.
Fines imposed during the year in
criminal cases amounted to $685.
3S9, while in civil cases judgments
aggregating $170,298 were secured.
InjunctiOns and the paddock
system have been used successfully
in wiping out liquor cases.
Daugherty urged notification by
Federal courts of sentences for dry
act violators, and the imposition of
increasingly substantial sentences
to check Bookkeeping.
Discussing the activities of the
department in prosecuting viola
tons of the antitrust laws. the re-
port said that while it is the pur-
pose Of the Department of Justice
not to interfere unnecessarily with
private business, "the Federal laws
must be enforced against whoever
may attempt to interpose artificial
restraints in any channel of inter-
state commerce."
1.-THE channels OF trade must be
kept free from manipulation and
| arbitrary control, and individuals
and the general public must be pro-
tected from the illegal practices to
which the business OF the country
Is from time to time subjected"
All possible speed is being made
by the department in the investi-
cation of alleged illegal and exces.
s1ve wartime contracts, the report
declared.
Hundreds Of these cases are now
under investigation, and many pro-
ceedings OF civil and criminal char
acter are ready to be instituted"
Daugherty reported. at will take
time to complete the work as it
should be completed in the interests
OF the Government and in fairness
to those who may be innocent of any
Wrongdoing, and who honestly served
the Government in the time of it's
greatest distress.
Special assistants having these
cases in charge have speeded dispo-
sltions of them In every way posi-
Die within the purview of the law
and legal practice"
Results of Actions.
AS a result Of these investigations.
$3,2S2,3l2 already has been collected
and paid into the Treasury, the re-
port said. Approximately 100 cases,
involving total of $64,237,156, not
including the Chemical Foundation
suit which alone involves 800, 000,-
900, are now pending in courts.
revenues of the department for
the year, including fines, collections
and judgments, were $16,3O6. 777.73;
expenditures, including investiga-
tons, salaries, special legal fees,
maintenance of prisoners, and SO
forth, were $22,374,955.21.