The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-06
Booze Runners Hold Inside
Track in Buying Back
Seized Ships.
THREATS HALT BIDDING
Outsiders Are Warned Off
When Boats Are Put on
Auction Block.
BY LYLE c. WILSON
United Press staff Correspondent


WASHINGTON, March 6.-Rum-
running vessels seized by enforce
ment officers are being returned to
the liquor racket through a loop
hole in federal law which the treas
ury department hopes to plug, AS
sistant Secretary LOwman told the
United Press today.
He said the problem should be
brought before congress and the
Wickersham law enforcement COM
mission.
Hundreds Of vessels, LoWman con-
tinued, have been seized along the
Canadian border, only to find their
way back to the rum-running bust
ness because the law provides such
craft, if sold must be sold to the
highest bidder. Rum runners are
free to bid.
FLORIDA rum runners, he said, Or
gained racket on the basis of this
provision. They fixed the maximum
bid for a seized small boat at SO
and the maximum for larger YES
sells at $50. Any person daring to
bid higher, thereby causing the rum
runner to spend more to regain his
craft, would be intimidated and pos
sibly injured, as a warning against
Abulling the seized rum boat market
Trouble Is Caused
International complications arise
from this situation, the United
Press was informed Many ocean,
going craft flying foreign flags in
the liquor trade have been seized
and sold. time and again.
Six foreign flag vessels which, the
United Press was informed. we're
recorded as rum runners which had
been seized and sold back to their
former owners or agents were listed
as follows:
Federal ship. now the L'Aquila.
which has sailed under five flags
and four names.
Vinces, Canadian, seized March
IA, 1927, and again Sept. 20, 1929.
Amaranth, English, seized Sept.
II. 1927, and again Dec. 8. 1929,
under the name Mary Mother Eliza
beth.
Charles Edward, English seized
Nov. 10, 1927, sold and returned TO
smuggling trade until laid up.
M. Pulido, British, seized Aug %,
1923, sold to a man connected in
some way with former owner, and
returned to smuggling trade.
Jupie, British, seized Aug. 16, 1929,
sold and returned to smuggling
trade.
ROwboatS Are Sunk
officials said this was only q
partial list of larger foreign vessels
which have played tag with enforce
ment efforts Under a provision
permitting the government to use
seized vessels, some are being kept
out of smuggler'S hands, Lowman
said, and in the case of rowbOats in
the vicinity of Detroit, he said en-
forcement officials were smashing
@the hulls and permitting them to
sink.
This constant turnover OF seized
vessels into the hands of rum snug
glerS is a serious detriment to en-
forcement," Lowman told the United
Press. 1T would be very desirable
to change the law, but the depart
ment of justice has been reluctant
to agree.
Il believe congress should be in
formed of this situation. as well as
the WickerSham committee"
Customs officers said the law
authorized collectors Of ports to dis
pose of vessels at less than $1,000
More costly craft must be handled
in federal courts and subsequent
sales are by court officers. In either
case, the United Press was informed.
the selling officer must let the YES
sci go to the highest bidder.