Evening star., 1926-04-21

alcohol control law, which requires
State, as we'll as a Federal, permit for
producers and denaturers OF alcohol.
This law goes into effect on April 20.
With II huge scandals which have
marked the alcohol business in Penn
syIvania will disappear.
Mr.. Bernstein told the committee
that he had been United States at
torney In Cleveland for three years
He said that during the fiscal year
from July I, 1924, TO July /, 1925,
there had been S14 liquor cases in the
Federal court, involving 1922 defend
ants, and there had been 733 convic-
tions and acquittals. Since July l..
1925, up to the present, he said there
have been S31 cases. He said that
the use of the paddock was being In
creased with considerable effect on
the liquor traffic.
In reply 10 a question as TO how
the liquor laws could be best enforced,
Mr.. Bersteen said:
BY jail sentences" He added that
OF the persons convicted in the Fed
eral courts in northern Ohio, between
81 and 60 per cent had been sent 70
Jail. Fines he said, mean nothing to
the bootleggers.
Cites Alcohol Case.
He said that some Of the liquor
cases were conspiracy cases with
which his Office had had to deal. He
mentioned particularly the Superior
Industrial alcohol case, with It's
qualifications in a dozen or more
States, which he declared to be the
biggest liquor conspiracy case yet at
tackled by the Government.
He was asked if he believed trial
by jury in liquor cases should be
done away with.
No" replied the witness. He said
that II the community believed that
the officers intended to enforce the
law, the law would be supported.
Mr.. Bernstein said that the number
Of alien-born violators Of the prohibi-
tion laws in Cleveland ran way
above" 60 per cent of the entire num-
ber arrested and brought into the Fed.
eral courts.
Have the politicians ever attempt
ed to interfere with you in dealing
with these liquor cases?" Senator Goff
asked.
Interference Was Stopped.
"Not any. more" replied Mr. Bern
steen, with the light Of battle in his
eye. They stopped pretty soon after
L got INTO ONCE.
He was asked about the conduct Of
his office before he was appointed, but
insisted he had nothing to say against
his predecessor, who was a Democrat.
He himself Is a Republican.
Fines Pay for Enforcement.
Mr.. Bernstein said that the fines
collected for violations of the liquor
laws more than paid for the enforce
ment of the law in his district, and
that he thought they would do so the
country over, If the law were en-
forced.
DO you receive full cooperation
from the Federal prohibition agents
in your district"
The witness said he did, adding,
however, that it must be remembered
that in the past he indicted both Re
publican and Democratic prohibition
agents. He said there are not enough
agents and the salaries paid are not
high enough.
Mr.. Bernstein said that he thought
the law should be strengthened so as
permit the issue Of a search warrant
on the presumption Of possession of
! illegal LIQUOR in homes. AT present.
! he said, q warrant cannot be obtained
unless there is evidence Of a sale of
| liquor on the premises. In public
places, however, search warrants are
| issued where it IS known that liquor
| is possessed.
do you think that bootlegging will
ever cease" asked Senator Golf.
when it becomes Improbable, "
was the reply.
Questioned by Goldman.
Julien Goldman, attorney for the
'wets," cross-eXamined Mr.. Bern
steen, asking him what he meant
when he assumed that the perTnis-
sion to sell and use light wines and
beer would increase law violations.
| Mr.. Bernstein replied that it would
! cause the establishment of places
| where such beverages were to be sold
| and that advantage would be taken
| Of them to sell hard liquors.
Mr.. Goldman pointed out that the
proposal was to sell for home con
| sumption only, at respectable" gro
| Gerry stores.
| Mr.. Bernstein, however, said thai
| under the present law respectable
restaurants are not supposed to per
nit the sale Of liquor. He would
| not change his view as to light wines
and beer sales.
/ ISL IL d 11CL lIidL YOU Ct1ll OQS
liquor anywhere today? demanded
Mr.. Goldman.
Not in Cleveland" was the reply
You would have an awful Job buying
liquor in Cleveland at any place."
! s. l.. Strivings of CASTLE, n. Y.
head of the State Grange anC
representing the National Grange, ap
peared to oppose modification Of the
Volstead act. He said that the grange
had always stood for temperance ir
it's 60 years Of existence.
Mr.. Strivings said that railroads and
other employers of labor would not
give jobs to men who drank. He said
: that the sale of beer had been per
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