The Washington times., 1931-01-20

FOllOWlng Lne hearings De1Or
the Senate committee, it is point
ed out Congress passed the bureau
Of prohibition act, agains
reorganizing the enforcement
agency, creating the positions o
Commissioners of Customs and o
Prohibition. The same act pre-
vided for eventually taking EN-
ployes under the civil service. I
is pointed out that in 1927 whel
examinations were given those al
ready in the force, ii per cent re
ceived passing marks and SO pc,
cent failed.
The report points out:
"The turnover in the higher
administrative posts averaged
29.37 per cent per annum dur
ing the period of IL years, the
peak being 58.75 per cent in
1926. The turnover in the en-
fOrcement branch during the
years 1920 to 1880 averaged
1918 per cent. The effect of
the application of the civil SER
vice laws marked a reduction,
but in 1880, the turnover was
still too high, being 22.7S per
cent.
Zone of the most unpleasant
aspects of the problem of pro-
hibitiOn enforcement which re-
lateS directly to the matter of
organization and personnel
arises out of the charge of
bribery and corruption. A gen.
eral charge of this character
against any organization is
easily made but difficult of
proof. 1t is obviously unjust
to those in the organization
who are not only honest but
are diligent and patriotic in
the discharge of their public
duties Yet to the extent that
these conditions have existed
or may now exist they con-
stitute important factors in the
problem of prohibition enforce
ment and are vital cOnSidera-
tiOns as affecting the Govern
ment generally.
1904 Dismissed
From statements furnished,
it appears that from the be-
ginning of national prohibition
to June 30, 1880, there were II,
972 appointments to the pro-
hibitiOn service, 1882 separa-
tiOns from the service without
prejudice, 1904 diSmiSSalS. for
cause. These figures apply only
to the prohibition organization
and do not include customs
Coast Guard and other agencies
directly or indirectly concerned
with the enforcement of the
prohibition laws. The grounds
for these dismiSSals for cause,
include bribery, extOrtiOn, theft,
violation of the national pro-
hibitiOn act, Justification of rec
Ords, conspiracy forgery, per-
jury and other causes which
constitute a stigma upon the
record of the emplOye."
Giving table showing dis
missals nually, the report
states:
"These figures do not, of
course, represent the total delin-
quencieS of the character named
which actually occurred. They
only show those which are actu-
ally discovered and admitted or
proved to such an extent to JUS
tify dismissal. What proportion
of the total they really repre-
sent it is impossible to say.
Bribery and similar OffenSeS are
from their nature extremely
difficult of discovery and proof"
Cooperation Difficult
Speaking of the Prohibition Bu-
reau, the Coast Guard, the Border
Patrol and the Customs Bureau
the report says:
"CO-OperatiOn between all the
forces above referred to would
have been difficult at best.
Each of the forces, other than
prohibition, has duties to per-
form q a different nature than
seizing liquor or apprehending
smugglers of intoxicants. Eff
fective cooperation is only pos
sibIe where there is mutual re-
spect and confidence. The
older services have no such feel
ings for the newer.
0nynn ~ the VnnSf iTnnOFt3nt