Evening star., 1923-09-14
.DAUGHERTY ruling
. SPURS DRY FORCES
IN RUM SHIP WAR
Prohibition, Customs and
Coast Guard Gird to
Tackle Job Alone.
NAVY SHOWS RELIEF
AT AVERTING NEW TASK
Haynes to Ask Boats in Part of
$1,0Oo,O00 for 1925
Enforcement.

With the Navy eliminated today
from the great American game of
catching the elusive bootlegger. other
branches of the government concerned
set their jaws and determined to warm
up the trail. and spend even more
energy in running him to his lair. Pro
hlbition, customs and coast guard will
pep up" following the ruling of At
torney General Daugherty yesterday
that the Navy could not be used TO
enforce prohibition.
Although there was no denying that
the Navy would have become a terror
had it's great force been unleashed,
there was no despair today among gov
ernment officials on account of the At
torney Generals opinion that the Navy
could not be so used without the orders
of Congress, or in an emergency
Maintaining their official COM
posure in awaiting orders for duty.
was an unfeigred sense of relief In
Navy circles. Naval officers them
selves, it was said, would not admit
having discussed at length the possi-
oility Of having to chase bootleggers.
they admitted that had the Navy
been ordered out, ii would have made
things warm for the rum runners.
But, since the decision had relieved
the Navy of further responsibility,
TOT the nonce, at least, ii was ad-
mitted in Navy circles that to have
set the Navy on the smuggler and
the illicit purveyor of contraband
drinkables. would have been to di-
vert 1t from its principal duty. Il
would have shunted the Navy oft
from the functions for which il was
designed.
Would HIVE Cut Pride.
It was strongly intimated. more
over among those close to the Navy
that to chase bootleggers would really
have cut the pride of the service
The prohibition unit admittedly is
disappointed at the decision There
had been q. hope on the part of dry
officials that the Attorney General
would hand down a general decision
on smuggling, enabling the President
TO call into. action any arm of the
Cling, not only of LIQUOR. but on
aliens. narcotics and other contra band.
Already plans are under way to
drive against the smuggling evil with
more force than ever. In fact II
was learned today that part of Pro-
hibition Commissioner Haynes re-
quest for an additional million dol
lars for 1925 enforcement OF prohibi-
ton is for boats.
The commissioner has hopes that
he may get substantial additional
funds to man and equip additional
speed boats to add to the dry
mosquito fleet of prohibition unit and
coast guard boats.
Funds In Doubt.
There is some doubt about the com.
missioner getting any more money.
The policy of economy and efficiency
of the administration has called for
a cut instead of an increase in the
estimates for 1925. Commissioner
Haynes request for $4,000, 900 already
has been pared to some degree by
the bureau of the budget, 1t was
learned today.
However. Mr.. Haynes will be given
the opportunity to appear before the
budget and go to bat for his extra
million. He will have the opportunity
to explain the expenditures of his en-
tire service, il was learned, and the
absolute necessity for that extra mill
lion dollars. If he can prove the ne
cessity' 1T was learned today. there
may be some consideration granted by
the bureau of the budget This
chance, however, is slim.
The coast guard. which, in addition
to all its other duties. was recently
called into service with the prohi-
abated energy. it was officially an
nounced today. With the funds {
hand it will even increase its zeal.
Coast Guard Makes Good.
That coast guard outfit has in real
ity been bringing results to an ex-
tent unknown to the general public.
Its numerous speedy small boats ply
the American shore The coast guard
boys, who are sailors par excellence
although called upon to do a Job
somewhat out of their line. have made.
good with a bang. according to all
officials in close touch with their
work. And they may be depended on
to do more. -.
The customs service. which under
the law has a responsibility against
contraband anyway, may be expected
to carry on.
Another feature which officials
charged with administration of the
Volstead act believe will facilitate
the continued drive against the SNUG.
gler is the fact that in the recent re-
organization of the Treasury Depart
ment all those branches of the Treas
enforcement were placed under direc-
ton of one assistant secretary. For
merly they were under different ones
Closer Co-Operation Seen.
The prohibition unit, the customs
and the coast guard are now all I'M
der direction of Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury Mckenzie Moss. This
allows of closer cooperation.
How far this cooperation has been
worked out in actual administration has
not come to light. With the Navy out o.
the way, 1t may be increased. f
Smuggling, Prohibition Commits.
sioner Haynes said today, Is not 50
bad as it was. There has been az
Improvement, he thinks. since the
notorious days when the rum fleets
hovered off New York and off Nor
folk, Va. Opponents of the. dry regime
do not agree with this view.
Delivering ia. President Coolidge a
formal opinion asked last spring by
the late President Harding, Attorney
General Daugherty held that the naval
establishment could be used as an
enforcement agency only, by special
authorization from Congress, or In
al emergency which made civil pro-
cesses impotent. At the present time.
he declared further, there is no such
national emergency in the situation
calling for the employment of war
ships to make the dry laws effective
Two questions were submitted
originally by President Harding
whether the executive had power to
use the naval forces in enforcing pro-
I,s he oh af