The Washington times., 1925-09-25
MORT: WAY
Be ASKED
LATER
Officials Say Ten Times Sum
Would Be Needed to Dry
Up Whole Country
By ROBERT S. THoRNBURGH

By ROBERT S. THQRNBURGH
Congress will be asked to ap-
propriate about $30,OOo,OOO to en-
force prohibition and narcotic laws
for the year ending June 80, 1927.
This was made known at the
Treasury today in connection with
the completion of hearings on the
prohibition budget. Eleven million
dollars was fixed specifically for
administration of the Volstead
Act. a similar amount to that ex-
pended in 1926 and 1926.
Huge Sum Is Needed
Approximately> 100000 more
will be sought for law enforcement
activities of the Coast Guard, while
several million dollars will be added
to the Department OF Justice
budget for operations incident 70
dry enforcement.
There is a possibility that an adj
ditional appropriation to make per-
nanent the Atlantic coast rum
patrol will be authorized by Budget
Director H. NJ. Lord.
Officials frankly admitted that 1t
would require ten times the PROM.
bition appropriation to actually dry
up United States.
In view of the Presidents econ
omy program and the plans laid
for a $3.50 ,000, 900 tax cut in the
next Congress the ''dry" budget
win be kept within the 1925 figure.
General L. c. Andrews and other
prohibition officials, appeared before
the budget committee which IS
making study of dry appropria-
tons.
1t was understood they pointed
out that the situation may still
be regarded as serious with a wide
spread sentiment in many commu-
mites opposed to rigid enforcement.
Waiting on Andrews.
The budget committee was inform
ed that an exact estimate on the
appropriation required cannot be
fixed until the new dry machine is
completely reorganized.
Andrews has not yet determined
the number of agents that viii be
required. There are yet some
salary questions to be settled.
He pointed OUT however, that with
the same amount OF money as was
spent for prohibition enforcement
In 1926-$11, 900 600 - the reorgan-
tory results than has the old dry
unit.
A Capitalization Of responsibility
for enforcement in each OF the
twenty-four administrators, has re-
moved the divided authority of the
old system, where both State di-
rectors and divisional chiefs shared
the job of keeping the country
dry.
An iron blockade of the coasts and
international borders will reduce the
work of the interior dry forces and
will permit some reduction Of the
personnel. according to officials.
An effort will be made to keep
prohibition expenses below the esti-
mated appropriations that the diff
ference may be turned in as saw
ings and converted into tax reduc-
ton.
The new dry unit has been in
action nearly a month. Officials
said that already an excellent psy-
Geological reaction was felt.
1.-The public recognizes that the
Government is in earnest, and re-
gardless Of sentiment toward the
Volstead act the people are begin
ming to hold the law more serious
ly," one optimistic official said.
They insist that although there is
evidence of a reorganization of the
rum smugglers for an attack on
the North Atlantic coast during the
fall the "rummies" are simply
taking wild gambling chance Of
landing liquor.
Officials think the smugglers are
Of the outlaw variety, and that
they are not backed up by an or.
ganized rum trust.