Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18

ALIuOuBu ZIG dAtlllt4StEAtkOAS PAV-
hibition enforcement arm did not get
from Congress all that 1t asked dur
ing the past session, sufficient funds
were appropriated for increasing the
drive against rum to an extent that
is expected to be felt throughout
the country. as soon as the new pro-
gram swings into action. Both
friends and enemies of prohibition
are waiting with keen interest to see
results.
Preliminary plans are well under
way for adding many more men and
ships. New treaties have been con-
cluded within the past few months,
and Gen. Lincoln c. Andrews, chief
of the United States dry forces Is
now in London negotiating for bet
ter understanding with Great Britain
over the problem Of smuggling.
Already the Coast Guard mas tignt'
ened up on its grip along the shore,
until II is estimated by officials in
charge here from reports at hand
that not per cent Of the illicit
LIQUOR in the country today Is actually
smuggled stuff. This is a much
smaller percentage, ofilcials admit,
than was available q few short months
ago. The decrease in genuine SNUG
Pled liquor Is due, 1t Is said. not only
to the Coast Guard but to the
customs border patrol, which IL keep
ing a closer watch along the Cana
dian and Mexican borders.
Much Alcohol Converted.
Offlcials here, who have their eyes
omen. no longer pretend that cond1-
lions are fine in the United States as
regards prohibition, and that all is
beautiful and rosy as to the future
outlook. They admit that liquor Is
obtainAble and that much Is still md
ing its way into the bootleg market
through diversion of industrial alco-
hol principally. Moonshine and SNUG
gled goods, they believe. have been
curtailed. and the diverted alconol
supply somewhat cut on. They are
fighting to cut all supplies stil
further.
prohibition Enforcement Admins
traitor Mills of New York, when here
for a conference recently, admitted
that the diverted alcohol supply In
New York State alone amounted ap'
nroximately to 100000 gallons g.
month. This was finding its way into
bootIeg channels, he believed, esti-
mating that there were $4,000 speak
easies" In New York. City alone. he
believed rum row is substantially out
of the picture as a ,provider OF aiconol
now, whereas II had been Dig PROD
lem in the past.
tim administrators, has been dele
gated authority to name the new pro-
hibitIon agents and inspectors VINO
wifi he appointed under the appro-
priation Of 1856, 760 in the second
deficiency bill. This appropriation, IT
Is estimated, win throw 500 additiona!
men. including $40 inspectors OF all
classes Of permitteeS using alcohol,
into the fight. New appointees are
finally approved here.
Licensees to Be Watched.
Although little emphasis has been
placed on the permissive phase OF the
work in what public announcement
has been made, it Is understood tnal'
as a matter of fact. the adminlstra-
fion means to bear down hard on this
,ohase in order to stop the diversion of
industrial alcohol. The 318 inspectors
viii be added to the force already at
work, in looking into all classes OF
permittees, including alcohol plants,
manufacturers of soaps and toilet
articles, denaturing plants, drug
stores and physicians.
Another appropriation which indi'
rectly will be used to aid prohlbition
IL 81. 600. 900 for the Coast Guard,
which iB to be spent for the construc-
tion OF three large cruising cutters.
These boats are actually for increas.
| ing facilities for the Coast Guard g
| original Job of protecting life and
property at sea. However, they VIII
release other ships for rum chasing,
and win increase property ana me
protection.
deficiency bill last FAN, 80 new lOO'
foot patrol boats are under con-
structior1. and will be completed be.
| fore long. It is believed, to be thrown
into the rum battle on shore.
Planes Also Being Built.
Three seaplanes also are under con.
Il strlIctior1. from the same appropria.
| tioi, III the first deficiency bill. and
within six weeks, 1t is estimated, will
he launched of the New England
coast for action.
IN making several appropriations tc
strengthen the enforcement arm Of
| the Government during the past year
| congress did not, however. enact any
of the proposals put forward Dya tns
administration during the past, ses
sion bf Tightening up restrictions y
| the Volstead act itself, ana ~ oInei
laws which are used in the enforce
ment OF the eighteenth amendment
The Green Smoot bill for reorganiza
ton Of the Treasury. which was moi
classed strictly as prohibition bill
| being designed more for improvine
1 s.,,.si,y - ,s,1 f,,iafrafive features inside
the Treasury Department, passed the
| House. but failed to reach a vote u
the senate. This bill would have. es
| tablished Bureau Of Prohibition and
4 Bureau Of, Customs, with 9. commits
| sioner In charge OF each. Several sug
| gastions for more stringent clauses ir
| ti1e yolstead act; and others which
were finally proposed to be included
Into one Measure known as the Con
bin, did not even reach q vote