The Washington times., 1925-08-08
CAMPAIGN
C()RKED'
COAST
But Officials Say Efficiency
viii Soon End Unless Con-
gress Provides More Money
BY ROBERT S. THORNBURGH

U
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH
The biggest prohibition show
down since the eighteenth. amend
nent was adopted will take place
when Congress meets in December.
Congress must decide either to
transform the coast guards tenn
porary rum fleet into a regular
police function of the United
States or to abandon naval war
fare against rum row.
IF the rum blockade continues
funds must be appropriated that
will change the aspect of the
liquor patrol from a hastily or
ganized and temporarily equipped
organization into permanent law
enforcement arm of the Govern
ment, it was learned from official
sources today.
Closing Long Study.
A continued campaign under a
temporary appropriations act is
considered impossible by the Ad-
nlinistration authorities.
The Government today was
drawing to close a study of the
results of four months conflict
with rum smugglers off the East
ern coast with a view to deter
mining the necessary steps to cope
with coastal lawlessness in years
to come.
The far-reaching prohibition re-
organization launched by General
L. c. Andrews, dry car, is aimed
specifically at corking up the big
sources of supply of liquors.
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon
has stated frequently that snug
gled liquor is among the the prin-
cipal supplies.
The naval battle against Rum
Row, according to the appropri-
atoms act a temporary measure.
has proven that it is possible to
stop activities or smugglers, Of
ficia1s said. One third of the
More Money Essential
Dry leaders now declare that to
show its good faith the Admin
istration must come. forward with
a program for organizing a. perma-
nent prohibition patrol surrounding
the American coast line,
Unless Congress appropriates
from $4,000, 900 to 100000 for
Atlantic ocean work. The Coast
Guards activities against rum
smuggIer's will come to a stop
June 80, 1926.
The 1924 appropriation gave
S13, 900 900 to the Coast Guard Tor
new equipment and $10,0OO,OOO Tor
the first years operation.
Officials said that the rum drive
was made a success only by throw.
ing all coast guard equipment ana
men against the rum row, at
time when boats were needed Tor
navigation protection.
Already equipment is being with
drawn from the rum sectors for
navigation protection.
Virtually all cutters will spend
most of their time during The WIN
ter in life and ship saving. the reg
ular function of the Coast Guard.
Rum Trust Activity
The Northeastern rum sector and
waters off Florida and in the Gulf
during the winter VIII Uc hcio ny
the destroyer fleet and such smaller
craft as can be spared from life
saving.
Officials decline to express an
opinion whether the reduced forces
will be sufficient to keep rum out.
The Government has learned that
the Rum Trust is already palnning
a rehabilitation of the New York
rum fleet if the patrol is weakened
materially. Intelligence agents Of
the smugglers have accurate in
formation on the money available
for maintaining the blockade.
Strong pressure is expected to be
brought on Congress by shipping
interests urging that either the
rum patrol be abandoned during
the winter or sufficient facilities be
given the Coast Guard to handle
both the anti-smuggling and naviga
ton protection jobs.
Funds for building a number of
new cutters will be asked Of Con-
gress. 1t was learned that the
Coast Guard needs ten new cutters
available for eithr anti-rum or navi-
cation protection service. Cutters
cost approximately 5000, 900.