Evening star., 1924-02-28
DECLARES LEAGUE
PICKS DRY AGENTS
Tinkham Attacks Efforts to
Control Enforcement
~zs
by Patronage.

CElaFSc8 tnaL Lie A4il!-Cd4tlo4L
Lea que is engaged in q, systematic
attempt to control the prohibition
unit were laid before the House com
mittee on the civil service today b.
Representative George Fl. Tinkhar.
republican, Massachusetts.
Speaking for his bill, which would
place all prohibition enforcement en-
ployes under the civil service, Rep
resentative Tinkila1n declared that.
such employees had been exempted
from the civil service by section &c
Of the Volstead act, which had been
inserted in the law. he charged, b.
Legislative bribery
Challenged by Representative Wood
rum of Virginia AZ to what he meant
by bribery" Mr.. Tinkham explained
that he would show by documentary
evidence that the Anti-Saloon League
had been told that the only way the
Velstead act could be passed was by
exempting the personnel Of the pro
hibition unit from civil service and
handing 1t to members of Congress
as patronage
He had fought section SO and voted
against it, Mr.. Tinkham declared
Calls Act Immoral.
IF it is true said Mr. Tinkhar.
that section 3S had 70 be put in the
Volstead act in order to get It passed
that was immoral. If the exemption
from civil service was made In order
that members OF Congress might hay.
patronage, l say that is immoral"
You don't mean TO insinuatc, q"
you," said Representative Woodrun..
that members OF Congress were.
bribed to pass the Nolstead act?''
Responding, Mr.. Tinktam said he
did not mean there had been i'm
proper motives on the part of mem:
bers OF Congress" but on the part y
ton SO. There Is no reason" saic
. the MASSACHUSETTS, representative
why that section should have beer
included in the bill"
The Anti-Saloon League was
charged with "ulterior purpose by
Mr.. Tinkham. and with having II
mind the prospect that they could
control the prohibition bureau"
Asked by Representative Cellec OF
New York if he did not believe the
Anti-Saloon League was trying to
control the prohibition unit through
out the country, Mr.. Tinkham replied;
"I do" Representative Celler de
clared he knew such was the case In
his own state of New York
wide control of the prohibition ef.-
forcement appointments was taken
by Representative Smith of Idaho
who said there was no anti-saloor
Idaho, and that most OF the appoint
ments had been made upon recon
mendatfous OF Senator Borah. Rep
resentative Hudson Of Michigan saio
appointments in Michigan had bee.
made in opposition 20 the league.
Admitting that he believed in the
enforcement OF all laws on the sta--
ute books. but declaring he did not
believe in the Eoistead act, as i
stands at present, nor methods of
appointing agents, Mr.. Tinkham as
sailed the attitude of Col. L. c. Vel
lowly, chief Of general agents, con-
cerning appointments.
Letter OF YeIIowIey.
A letter from Col. Yellowly 70 L.
vision chiefs throughout the country
was read by Mr.. Tinkham, as evl-
dence that the prohibition unit was
submitting generally TO the dictates
of the Antf-Saloon League.
In his letter, Col. Yellowly. DIS
cussing how positions in the uni.
should be secured, suggested that the
applicant secure congressional in
dorsement and Endorsement from the
Anti-Saloon League.
t Attacking such d policy. Mr.. Tink
ham wanted TO know what right has
an official of the government To refe.
to private organization or corps-
ration, which has paid officers, recon
mendations for appointments? I'll.
Anti-Saloon League Is largely q see
tartan oraaniZation.
In the state of Massachusetts. Mr..
Tinkhanl said, he was prepared TO
show by documentary evidence thar
the prohibition unit had been In the
practice of submitting all recomInen-
dations for prohibition appointments
to the Anti-Saloon League.
Representative Johnson of Texas
inquired if there was any more ir
regularity involved. In submitting
such recommendati6ps to the Anti
Saloon League than there was in tn
Veterans Bureau. for instance, re-
ferring applications for positions ts
the American Legion:
A letter would be introduced later
Mr.. Tinkham said. from William.
Dudley Foulke. president of the Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League
to S. E. Nicholson. secretary OF the
Anti-Saloon League, in which tho
subject of section SO would he shown
UP as considered necessary to the
passage OF the Voistead act
Mr.. Foulke, in a statement mad
ing today, denounced the Anti
Saloon League for its consent 10 the
inclusion in the Volstead act OF the
provision excepting the prohibition
field force from civil service require
ments.
THE service has been filed BIZ con
gressional patronage" said M.
Foulke's statement, with political
employees Who have greatly demorai
lied it and have flindered the enforce
nent of the law. and added greatly
to the waste. biackmail and other
scandals which have made the name
of prohibition agent bT-word.
Mr. Foulke also called upon the
committee on civil service to inVes-
tieate the shooting of Senator Greene
of Vermont In recent hattie between
bootleggers and prohibition agents.