The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-10
DRY Gar TO
CHASE CROOKS
OUT OF Jobs
Prohibition Bureau Cleanup
to Rid Department of
Grating Agents.
L0WMAN FLAYS AIDS
General Investigation Will
Follow Order Issued
by Mellon.
BY JOSEPH S. WASNEY


WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-Th'
United States dry service is to b,
rid Of what its chief fatty CALI
Crooks
Assistant Secretary of Treasury
Lowman's charges that the service
is rampant with bribery" is being
followed today by the most sensa-
tional housekeeping in prohibition
history.
Secretary of Treasury Mellor
himself has given the order to free
the organization of grafters. The
intelligence unit of the internal rev.
enue bureau is investigating the en-
tire dry personnel, from administra-
tors down.
Hire Outside SIeuths
A special treasury decision has
been issued to allow internal revenue
sleuths to work within the prohibit
ton bureau. Lowman and Mellon
it was said, believe the investigation
and spy work should be done by de-
tectives not connected with prohi-
bition work.
Lowman's declaration that, there
sre many wolves in sleeps cloth
ing. We are after them. A lot of
them have lately been let out all
over the country; will cause par
ticular resentment.
1t is believed here as it appar-
emily includes many recent dis
missalS in New York State, New Jer-
sey and Michigan. At the time
these dismissals, various reasons
were assigned by Lowman. But no
definite charges of bribery or
crookedness had been made before.
Scores Are Fired
Since Lowrnan assumed Office,
off1cially, Aug. /, he has devoted his
attention to Kidding thee prohibition
enforcement personnel of undesira-
bles. Scores have felt the power
of his dismissal orders.
Asked whether actual proof of bri-
berry or crookedness had been found
in the dismissals, the assistant sec
retry stated that concrete evidence
was not needed.
"All I need is a suspicion that a
dry agent is crooked and out he
goes" Lowman declared. st can
dismiss them if don't like the color
of their hair or the way they tie
their neckties. If our investigators
think man is not on the level, I'll
find the way to dismiss him with
out the actual proof of his crooked
ness being revealed"
Special Sleuths Active
Special investigators, appointed
by Lowman, have been active dur
ing the last six weeks, carrying on
their work from coast to coast. AS
result, Lowman declared he found
bribery and crookedness rampant
in the service in all parts of the
country and not confined to par
ocular localities.
Approximately 200 men have been
dismissed from the service during
Lowman's short tenure of Office.
Twenty-four were let out at one
time in New York and twenty in
Buffalo. Other disnissals have ia
ken place throughout the country.
Roy @. Lyle, northwestern dry
administrator, summoned here for
a conference regarding charges Of
lax administration in his territory,
was ordered to return to Seattle to
resume his work.
When Lyle was first called to
Washington, Lowman informed
newspaper men that Lyle probably
would be discharged. Today he said
he would continue his regular work,
awaiting outcome Of the civil service
examinations, which will govern all
administrators after Oct. /.
Those close to official circles re-
gard Lowman's spectacular state
ment as a marker to the end of his
Treasury Department career.
The dry chief was summoned late
Friday to the Office of Secretary
Mellon. He was closeted with the
secretary for more than half hour.
Both refused to disclose the nature
Of the conference.