Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27

Saloon League purpose, or other pur
pose. Besides, it was explained, the
rigid provisions of the civil service
| law soon will clamp down on the en-
tire personnel in the prohibition blu
reau, with the single exception of the
commissioner himself.
Friends of the Anti-Saloon League
have been hailing the Haynes appoint
ment as a distinct victory for theil
forces, while from certain wet sources
have come wry comments that Haynes
would be a good commissioner because
he would soon fail.
But the Anti-Saloon League has
made no boasts whatever about how
many appointees it hopes to put intt
the bureau under Haynes, and has
now, as always. championed the prin
ciple of civil service as providing g
better qualified group of agents. fur
Their removed from the exigencies OF
political pressure in their appoint
ment.
While giving out no official pro
nouncement, Haynes, it is understood
has let it be known that he contem
plates no sensational shake-up in the
prohibition bureau.
The man who was gradually stripped
of virtually all administrative author
ity under the reorganized prohibition
machine of Gen. Andrews, but has
now been returned to power of a sort
is believed to be on trial in this new
job, else Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon. conservative that he is, would
have named him outright, with the
full powers of prohibition commits
sioner.
Developments Awaited.
Mr.. Mellon made it plain that the
appointment was acting" saying that
he wished to have absolutely a free
hand when he returned from Europe.
1t is believed he is waiting not only
for the situation to boil up. disclosing
the public reaction to the appointment
but also to simmer down. when ii
may be easier for him either to cut
off the acting" from Mr.. Haynes
title or displace him in the commits
sionership with another.
There was some comment going the
rounds yesterday that perhaps Secre.
tary Mellon named Haynes as GEES
ture, to satisfy the ambition of Haynes
for the job, and to mollify the Anti
Saloon League, with the intention of
allowing Haynes later more gracefully
to step down and out by the resigna.
ton route. All hands We're agreed
however that Mr.. Mellon had left the
matter high in the air and had sue.
ceeded in yelling behind a. thick mist
Of uncertainty his real motives.
The actual transfer to take place
next Friday will be more or less per-
functory. 1t may result in the auto
matte dismissal of a number of ad-
ministrative officers and agents in
the field, but very little change is
expected in the headquarters Office
here in Washington.
Machinery Set i'm Motion.
The actual machinery of the trans,
fer is being started by prohibition ad.
ministrators in the field. making
recommendation to Washington of
persons desired to be kept on the rolls
of the new Prohibition Bureau, effec-
tive April ].
Any undesirab les, or any who are
thought not to be able to pass the
civil service tests, will not be recon-
mended. Automatically they will be
left out in the cold. Those who are
reappointed will be covered with a
blanket temporary civil service stand
ing, which will hold only until ex-
aminations may be taken, and a civil
service priority list established. The
in six months.
The Civil Service Commission is
busily engaged in preparing examina-
tons to be taken. 1t is expected the
examinations for the higher ups, in
Guiding the assistant commissioner,
two deputy commissioners. one chief
clerk, a chief counsel and others, will
be given first.
The machinery of functioning to en-.
force the prohibition law will undergo
no violent reaction on April l, accord
ing to the best indications. The au.
thority will be delegated from the
Secretary OF the Treasury on down
the line, extending much OF it on out
into the field, where the prohibition
administrators already in their official
capacity will carry on.
Big Upset Unlikely.
The civil service examinations may
make some change in the personnel
but so far there have been no indica
lions that the Treasury plans a big
upset in the form of the organization
such as was made by Gen. Andrews
when he came into power.
The question of Gen. Andrews
rumored resignation bobs up contin
ually in all discussion of the i'm
|
Mellon and Gen. Andrews have EN-
phatically denied these rumors. Gen
Andrews has grimly smiled and said
that the Haynes appointment was
| satisfactory to him. and he would
| carry on without reservations. Gen
Andrews has had long training as a
soldier.
He will take up another burden TO
morrow when he confers with repre-
! sentatives of all interests affected by
| the problem of replenishment of the
supply of medicinal liquor. Failure
| OF the whisky bill, which would have
| set up a quasi-Government organiza
| ton, left the Treasury with tho
urgent necessity Of setting up some
kind of plan for making new
whisky. No program has been work
ed out, Gen. Andrews recently stated
but all interests will be asked to pre-
| sent their ideas.
| 1t Is the hope of the Treasury, how
ever, that some kind OF voluntary ar
! rangement may be made whereby the
distillers themselves will orga nize int
a group with which the Government
may deal satisfactorily and effectively
| 0
The length of the face is usual,