Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-27
MELLON PUTSBAN
ON "SPEAKEAS|ES,"
OR ILLEGAL TRAPS
Prohibition Agents Must
Stay Within Law in Methods
of Enforcement.
OVERZEAL0US OFFICERS
BLAMED BY SECRETARY
Blelaski in New York Says He Will
Drop Such Practices, But
Sees Good Effect.

NO more operation of "speakeasies''
or similar illegal practices for the pur.
pose of catching alleged violators OF
the prohibition laws will be permitted.
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon said
today.
Declaring that he had been surprised
when he first learned of the establish.
ment operated in New York City by
the Government agents, Secretary
Mellon said the report of Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Andrews
and Commissioner of Internal Reve.
nue. Blair sent to the Senate concern
ing the operations of the New York
speakeasy" constituted a warming to
the entire prohibition force.
The Treasury. officially, has always
been opposed to the use of such illegal
methods Of procedure which would
reflect upon the Federal forces, Secre-
tary Mellon indicated, and so far as
he knew, the Bridge Whist Club in
New York, operated as q means of
getting evidence against violators of
the law, was running without the
sanction of any of the higher officials
of the department.
Some Agents Go Too Far.
Some overzealous agent might be
induced to. so to too great lengths in
attempts to get evidence. Mr.. Mellon
said, but a careful check would now
be kept to see that no more such IL
legal practices were resOrted to.
No disciplinary measures will be
taken against the agents in question,
Secretary Mellon indicated today. as
the men were doing what they sup
posed was their duty.
The Treasury has always been on
guard against dangers that lurk in
enforcement Of prohibition, it was dis
closed by the head of the department,
who said that many proposals of an
undesirable nature had been turned
down in the past. Several persons,
for instance, he said, had urged the
use of wire tapping. But this prac-
tice, clearly Illegal, had been banned
by the Treasury. and one operator
caught using 1t. in defiance OF ofderss
had been dismissed.
Bielaski Explains Club.
In New York City, A. Bruce Bic
s3ski, the prohibition agent who takes
the responsibility for having auth0-
rized the club, yesterday explained in
court some of the methods of operation
of the Bridge Whist Club, but added in
an interview outside the court, that he
was definitely through with that kind
of operation.
THE Bridge Whist Club he said.
proved very helpful TO us in our
work Through it we obtained infor-
nation about most of the big liquor
syndicates. 1 would not approve OF
that method of prohibition enforce
ment again, however, nor did / ever
approve it, except in this one case,
made necessary. L believe. by the
wide-open situation that existed in
this district"
Tie club. Mr.. Bielaski said. was not
his idea, but he would accept respon-
sibility." The place had been oper-
ated by an undercover man by the
name of Ralph w. Bickle, Bielaski
said. but the speakeasy had never re-
turned a profit.
u. s. Auditors Check Up.
Testifying in a suit before Federal
Judge Winslow in New York to GUST
Mrs. Augusta Berman as lessee Of
the entire building where the Bridge
Whist Club was located, Bielaski yes
terday declared that Maj. Walton
Green. former chief prohibition inves-
tigator in Washington, had been in
formed of the operation of the place.
and that Government auditors had
been there and gone over the matter.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Andrews has provided for the opening
in Washington before long of a
training school for prohibition inspec-
tors. Attendance will be limited to
specialists connected with the alcohol
and brewery squads. James Cooper
Waddell, supervisor OF alcohol and
brewery control, will be in charge.