The Washington times., 1933-03-24
BIC V|OLATORS
To GET CHIEF
ATTENTION
"MinnoWs" and Speakeasies
Will Be Left Largely
To Local Police

A "rule of reason" was laid
down today by Attorney General
Homer s. Cummings as the yard
stick by which prohibition en-
forcement is to be measured in
the new administration.
So long as the Eighteenth
Amendment remains in the Con-
stitution, the Administration will
make a sincere effort to enforce
its provisions, but the hard-boiled
methods Of other years are out.
Big Game to Be Goal
The Prohibition Bureau, under
the direction of Amos W. w.
Woodcock, will continue it's quest
of "big" violators and leave to
local officers and local public SEN
timent the job Of dealing with the
"minnows" and SpeakeaSieS.
In applying the so-called rule Of
reason to the newly legalized beer
industry, the Attorney General
made it known that:
/. Newspapers may accept ad-
vertising of the new 80 bever-
age before the effective date Of
its manufacture and sale. The
Postoffice Department has been
notified not to bar any publica-
ton because it carries beer ad-
VertiSementS.
2. A study has been begun to
determine how many men are
now serving time in Federal
prisons for violations of the Vol
stead act affecting beer. If they
can be segregated, Considera-
ton will be given to their re-
lease.
8. Brewers may proceed fully
with their plans and prepara-
tionS for the unloosing of the
Niagara of beer at one minute
past midnight, April 6, local
time.
Urged to Be Discreet
Regarding the advertising of
beer, the Attorney General said
it would be discreet for the ad-
Vertisements to carry the effec-
tive date, April Z, so as to avoid
even the appearance of promot-
ing an illegal beverage which is
prohibited under Section II of the
Volstead act.
This section prohibits the mails
TO- publications which advertise
an illegal beverage, that is, any
containing more than one-hah
Of per cent alcohol. Cummings
said:
But Section 9 Of the new
act permits the advertising of
legal beverages of not to ex-
ceed 3.2 alcohol. after the ef-
fective date. An advertisement,
therefore, which merely antici-
pStes the sale of beer on April
2 could hardly be construed as
promoting the illegal sale of a
beverage. I suggest, however,
that such advertisements should
indicate the date on which
sales legally can be made"
The Attorney Generals informal
ruling was apparently made to end
the confusion that cropped up in
some bone-dry States as to
whether to permit publications
carrying beer advertisements to
enter their borders.
Local Time Effective
Local time everywhere is to be
observed as the effective date of
the new law. That cleared up
another controversial point as to
whether the Pacific Coast would
not gain three hours of drinking
time over the Atlantic Coast.
Cummings said:
'"The West coast had few
hours grace when the VOlstead
act went into effect, so mat
terS are evened up"
What changes are to be made,
If any, in the prohibition en-
forcement personnel have not
been decided, Cummings indi.
Gated. Colonel Woodcock is to
continue in his post for the
present, but it is expected that
sooner or later he will be sup
planted.
DR.. j. M. Doran, chief of the
Bureau Of Industrial Alcohol, and
chief enforcem 3nt officer prior
to the transfer of enforcement
to the Department of Justice,
probably will continue. Doran
has been in the Treasury for
many years. He Is not regarded
as a prohibition product, but
rather. a carnaY officer