New Britain herald., 1929-08-01
Jones Five and Ten" Law Proves Worth, Officials Believe, Though
 No Maximum Penalties Imposed
Survey of Country Shows Judges Use Moderation In Administration of Statute-Few Cases
 Found In Connecticut.

l Copyright, 1929. By United Press) Washington, Aug. 1 (UP)-The Jones five and ten" prohibition | penalties are being imposed with | moderation, according to informa- ton from federal prosecuting offi- cials gathered by the United Press today from many sections of the | country.
 While these reports are not abso- lutely all inclusive, they do not show q single instance in which the | maximum penalty of five years in- prisonment and a fine of S10.000 has been imposed. Petty offenders have been given light sentences on the whole, in accordance with the dis cretion allowed judges by the pro- visions of the law.
 Federal Prosecutors Satisfied l. After five months experience with this law, which vets declared was too extreme, federal prosecuting of fcers in many sections have ex- pressed themselves as satisfied witt it, some declaring it to be helpful in obtaining better enforcement.
 Soon after the law was passed they were advised by Mrs. Ma bel Walker Willebrandt, then assistant attorney general. to seek maximum Jones law penalties only against large scale commercial violators and rot against petty offenders. Re ports of prosecutions and sentences imposed indicate these directions have been followed on the whole in the first five months operation of the new penalties.
 That is the way it was intended" :" said Senator Wesley Jones, repn. Washington, one of the authors of measure. Senator Jones, at Emer- gency hospital recovering from an operation, said today it was never intended the extreme penalties should be usd against small of- lenders.
 "These penalties" he said, "were intended for the large commercial violators and I think they have been effective"
 Assistant Secretary of Treasury Seymour bowman took the same view: "The Jones law was only in- tended for major violations and not for minor or occasional Violators. ] think congress very wisely increased the penalties in proportion to the magnitude of the crime in the case of larger bootleggers."
 Doran Says Results Uncertain
 Prohibition Commissioner James s. Doran said it is too early to form definite opinion as to what extent he Jones law is aiding in enforcement.
 However, I think it is having a effect and is beneficial" he said Few cases have been tried as dis trict attorneys are using it only in large cases involving commercial bootlegsers."
 Reports showed that in some sec tions juries were quick to convict while in others difficulty was en- countered. In several localities there were no prosecutions, officials hold ing the law in reserve for large con- mercial cases.
 Reports on the operation of the Jones law penalties in various local ities were received by the United Press today as follows:
 Denver: 26 indictments, 13 con- victions, one acquittal, 12 pending. |. S. District Attorney Ivor o. Wing ren-''it restraints the small fellow from taking a 'falp for big operat- ors and is eliminating a lot of the big dealers.'
 Portland, Ore: |. s. Attorney George Neuner-"The Jones act has reduced the number of boopeggers It has discouraged those working on a large scale.'