Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-17
HAYNES TO RETIRE
IN REORGANIZATION
PLAN FOR DRY UNIT
Successor May Be Picked
Outside Enforcement Circles
to Give New Impetus.
DRIVE ON BIG VIOLATOR
OF LAW CONTEMPLATED
Coolidge Declared Opposed to Jail
ing All Offenders-Industrial
Alcohol Large Problem.

The sixth year of national prohi-
bition has been ushered In with
auguries of changes in both the per
sonnel and methods of the Federal
enforcement corps.
Roy A. Haynes, field marshal Of en-
forcement since early in the Harding
administration, seems likely to be
repla ced by some one who heretofore
has viewed the Governments prohi-
bition activities from a distance, and
who will bring to the service enforce
ment opinions of hil own.
Go AfteP Zig Offenders.
Meantime. 1t has been revealed at
the White House in the most author
ftative manner that President Cool
idge would like to see Federal agents
give their major attention to boot
Ieggers and not to hip pocket TASKS.
and does not favor a 'hill reported by
the House judiciary committee max
Ing II mandatory for courts to i'm
pose Jail sentences on those convicted
of breaking the Volstead act.
At the same time it was implied, but
not stated specifically, that the admin
istration might look with favor on the
Cramton bill removing the prohibition
unit from the Internal Revenue Bureau
and making 1t an independent bureau
itself under the Treasury Department
Haynes Is Storm Center.
Consumers of Industrial alcohol. ap-
pearing before committees Of Congress,
have in some cases opposed the Cram
ton bill if prohibition enforcement is to
remain as it is and Mr. Haynes is to
have control over the release of alcohol
for industrial purposes. The Anti
Saloon League has indorsed the bill,
and at the same time has defended re
peatedly the methods Of Mr.. Haynes.
1t appeared likely today that the
present prohibition commissioner
might remain on the job pending
passage of the Cramton bill, but
would be expected to step out in the
course of the reorganization that
would be put into effect. His sue
cessor has not been selected. -
Degrees of Guilt stated.
The possible import of the White
House pronouncement regarding en-
forcement remains a matter of con-
lecture, since officials are not willing
just now to enlarge upon it.
The Presidents views came out in
connection with the bill TO make jail
sentences mandatory for prohibition
violators. Mr.. Coolidge believes such
a
burden of punishment and that the
courts should use discretion. He is
convinced that degrees of guilt and
of punishment should be taken into
account @nd that the possession of
liquor in a pocket flask for personal
use should not be considered as
serious an offense as its possession
for sale.
One suggestion which has been
enlargement of the policy Of attack
ing Illicit liquor distribution at its
source rather than at its ultimate
destination, contemplates a concen
tration of prohibition enforcement
agents against the bootlegger.
coupled with a rigid system of
checking industrial alcohol releases
under corps of expert chemists.
Alcohol Leaks into Gin.
The assertion that a large part of
the alcohol released goes into syn
thetis gin and other Illegal drinks
has been made repeatedly before the
committees of Congress, but whether
the President will accept recon-
mendations to place releases under
scientific supervision remains to be
seen.
Should he do so, it is probable that
some one experienced in general law
enforcement will be placed in charge
of the other branch of prohibition
enforcement, which will conduct a
war on bootleggers. Arthur Woods,
former police commissioner of New
York City, has been suggested for the
job.
The Anti-SaIoon Leagues support
of the policies of Mr. Haynes led to
much speculation today as to the
leagues probable attitude toward
any move to replace him and revise
enforcement methods. 1t is under
stood that "A move to oust the COM
missioner was started several months
ago, but that his friends came to his
defense in such force that the PreSi-
dent decided to defer action pending
the working out of legislation along
the line of the Cramton bill.
FLASKS NOT CoNDoNED.