Evening star., 1925-06-24
DISTRICT DRY UNIT
T0BE TRANSFERRED
Will Become Part of Balti-
more Zone-Luckett
Doomed for Leader.

Federal prohibition enforcement
headquarters for the City of Wash
ington will be moved from this city
to Baltimore, under the wholesale re
organization of the prohibition unit.
to be put into effect August /. 4
special group" may be assigned to
the Capital, to operate under Balti-
more.
Instead of six different State and
divisional chiefs administering the
Volstead act for Uncle Sam in the
District of Columbia and neiShboring
States, one administrators" will be
selected. to sit at Baltimore. He will
supplant all State directors in his
district and the authority of two
divisional chiefs. located at Wash
ington and Salisbury, n. c.
These developments assumed major
Importance locally today in Field
Marshal" Lincoln c. Andrews whole
sale reorganization of the prohibition
unit.
District Head Not Chosen.
Whether Harry NJ. Luckett. chief
of the fourth division, with offices at
prohibition headquarters, Seventh ana
3 streets southwest, Will be named
administrator for the new sixth dis
trict with headquarters at Baltimore.
or whether one of the several State
directors or another person from the
outside may be picked, remained a
question which Mr.. Andrews indicated
had not been settled.
The selection of the administrators
however, Mr.. Andrews said, Is one
duty and privilege which has person
ally devolved upon himself as assist
ant secretary of the Treasury in
charge of prohibition enforcement
matters for the Government. In Sc
lecting the % administrators in the
United States and l each for Porto
Rico and Hawaii, Mr.. Andrews said
he would have the advice of prohibi-
ton officials who have been in charge
of the machine for years.
Many Face Demotion.
The uncertainty as to personnel ap-
pointments in the local field, which
loomed today as one OF the most inter
estinE features until it is settled In
August, permeateS the entire national
prohibition situation. There are 5l
so-called State directors and 19 divi-
sional chiefs, making total of 20
men in administratie positions today,
who will be supplanted by total of
"a administrators" Even If Mr.. An
drews should pick all of his admins
traitors from the ranks Of those chiefs
now in command it would mean that
ONLY "a Of them could be picked, leav-
ing 46, either to be denoted or dis
missed.
1t is not the intention of Mr.. An
drews, however, he indicated yester-
day, to cut down the morale of the
prohibition forces, but rather to i'm
prove it, through the retention and
promotion, If possible, of deserving.
faithful and efficient employees. 1t
would be premature" said Mr.. An
drews, to predict that any one will be
dismissed.
There were some indications that
the force as whole might be smaller
under the new system. The official
statement of Secretary of the Treas
ury Mellon yesterday mentioned a
smaller force of higher qualifica-
tions." Mr.. Andrews has asked Con-
troller General McCarl for a ruling as
to whether higher salaries may be
paid the prohibition forces. The size
of the new prohibition machine, how
ever, Mr.. Andrews indicated, has not
been set.
The possibilities of picking an ad-
ministrator for the post at Baltimore
to administer the sixth district, in
cluding Washington, point first, in
ing posts under the present prohibi-
tion system in parts of that new dis
trict.
Luckett Well Known.
The best known of these officials
in Washington is Harry NJ. Luckett.
chief of the fourth division, general
prohibition agents. Mr.. Luckett has
been on duty in the fourth division
since April, 1922. He was named act
ing chief of the division July ], 1923
and chief October l, 1928. Luckett
| is a native Washingtonian, and prior
| to his entrance into the prohibition
| unit was assistant treasurer Of the
| Shipping Board. He is understood to
| be considered by prohibition officials
an excellent administrator, and his
| friends already have started quiet
/ campaign to get for him, if possible
| appointment to the new post at Balti
| more.
The old fourth division, which Luck
EFT now administers, is different from
| the new sixth division, which cor
| responds. as do all the other new divi
| sions, with judicial districts. The
| fourth division at the present time in.
cludes Maryland, Delaware, District of
| Columbia, West Virginia and these
| counties of Virginia: Frederick Clark
| Loudoun. Fairfax, Prince William
| Continued on Page 4, Column ~