Evening star., 1924-12-19
HOLDS RUM TRADE
FLOUR|SHES HERE
Jones Tells House Committee
Enforcement Not Up to Of
ficiaIs' Hopes.

Bootlegging is fiourishing in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and the enforcement
of the prohibition law Is not what Fed
eral authorities are anxious it should
be. according to testimony given by
James E. Jones. assistant prohibition
commissioner, in reply to questions
when the budget for prohibition enforce
ment was being discussed before the
House appropriations committee.
Mr. Jones had told the committee that
in 1924 there were 43.428 cases and
some $4,000 arrests. He said this in
ciuded some cases In the District Of Co.
lumbia, but that he did not have rec
ord of the number.
When asked by Representative Ware
of Pennsylvania if the law is being rea-
sonably well enforced Mr.. Jones replied
mot as well as we would like to have
it. We are making a great many ar
rests in cabarets and restaurants and
running down bootleggers. There are
quite number Of petty bootleggers in
the District"
Describes Petty Dealer.
He could not say how many boot
leggers, and explained that by petty
bootleggers" he meant those who deal
in half pints and pints.
Representative Ware asked, rs the
District Attorney of Washington an
aggressive and fearless law enforcing
officer?''
Mr. Jones replied. "The assistant dis
trict attorneys who handle prohibition
cases have been doing their best, l
think"
Representative Ware then called at
tention that according to newspaper
reports David A. Hart, assistant
United States district attorney in
charge of prosecution of prohibition
cases, said that there are 5000 boot
leggers peddling booze in Washing
ton. Mr.. Jones said he thought Mr..
Hart had repudiated that statement.
Representative Ware commented that
'1t Is conceded that 5000 cases have
been in the Police Court. The records
show that 5000 cases have been in
the Police Court and II you make a
reduction of 40 per cent there would
still be 5000 cases" Mr.. Jones re-
piled that some of these men get into
the courts in the course of the year
a great many times. 'I do not be-
lieve we will ever be able to enforce
this law by imposing fines" he said.
II do not think you will be able to
enforce it until the courts impose
prison sentences generally. I do not
think you can enforce 1t with fines"
Representative Ware said the point
he wished to bring out was that If it
is true that a United States district
attorney appointed by the President
cannot enforce the law in the District
OF Columbia, with the prohibition
unit in complete cooperation with
him, how is it to be hoped that the
law will be enforced throughout the
rest of the country, as you get far
ther from the seat of power?"
Mr.. Jones answer was that in a
great many places there have been
fewer arrests on a per capita basis
than in Washington. This is a cos
mopolitan city" he said, and I will
admit that there is more drinking in
Washington than in some other cities
in the country. This law is not be-
ing enforced 100 per cent now. 1t
was revolutionary in its character;
it changed the habits of millions of
people and 1t is impossible to make
IL 100 per cent effective in a year or
two. 1 think 1t would be enforced
very quickly if the judges would i'm
pose prison sentences on bootleggers
rather than fines"