The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-08
Lack OF FUNDS TO ]
PURCHASE EVIDENCE
IS seen AS REASON
New System Will Leave States
to Deal With Problem Of
Retail Sale
wooococK IS vHwoRRIED
Says Change Will Enable Fed
oral Men to Concentrate
on Big Shots

washington. March 6.-(ReHence.
forth the federal government win
concentrate almost entirely" on liq-
uor manufacturers and trausporters
to enforce prohibition. leaving speak
easy prosecutions to the states.
AS announced Wednesday by Amos
w. W. Woodcock, enforcement direc-
tor, the new plan puts into immed>
late effect the restrictions laid down
by congress to apply after July first.
This means no more overlapping or
purchase Of liquor Is evidence for con-
sumption by agents.
Woodcock placed the decision on
the grounds Of economy, necessitated
by the huge cuts In enforcement funds
made by the last congress. The or
ders were dated March 3, the day be-
fore the Roosevelt administration
took office.
How the new setup will affect states
having no local enforcement acts re-
mains to be seen. Woodcock SAID
complaints against speakeasies here
after would be referred to local au-
thorities," in the main, and predicted
much more effective attacks on the
sources of supply as q result.
Restrictions on activities Of prohi-
bition agents were written into the
supply bill for the justice department
by congress ut the recent session..
In addition the amount for pro.
fibition enforcement was reduced
from SO ,25O, 900 for the present fiscal
year to $8.440,00o for the 12-mo11tn
period beginning July l.
Wire Tapping Taboo
In passing the bill, the house also
adopted amendments by Represen-
tative Tinkham CRep., Mass.), pre-
venting wire tapping and preventing
the use Of federal funds for the pur.
chase Of liquor for consumption by
agents for the purpose of obtaining
evidence.
"The great bulk Of complaints
which reach this office and reach
the field offices are In regard to
.speakeasies." Woodcock said In q
statement.
I'm the future the officials Of this
bureau must refer such complaints,
in the main, to the local authorities
It is to make this fact clear that this
statement Is made.
Since the bureau will concentrate
It's attention upon the source OF sup
ply In the future. 1t should Be much
more effective against them.
IA very careful study will be made
Of the operation under the new plan
and I have no doubt that the bureau
should prove itself equal to meet THU
new situation.
"While 1t will not operate very ef.
fectively against speakeasies them.
selves. 1t should operate much more
effectively in the future than in thu
past upon the sources Of supply 81
such speakeasies. ],
Distributes Responsibility
III the local authorities care to Is.
sumo their share Of responsibility 4
would seem that the restrictions con.
gress has, in its wisdom, placed II
the law, will effect fairer distribu'
ton Of responsibility than has beer
possible under mere administrative
action.
1.-THE new plan Of operation ak
will enable us to reduce the fore,
after July to conform to the smaller
B appropriation without 80 much loo
to enforcement.
II confidently believe this burea,
can Be made to operate more eff
GENTLY under the new plan than tn
old"
III, When the enforcement funds leg
lslation was before the house, It als1
adopted an amendment by Tarve
(Dem., Gal. preventing the paymen
y n funds to informers for evidence.
Later the senate modified the Ian
guage to make 1t possible for agent
% purchase liquor for evidence wlael
specifically ordered by the prohibit
Hon director, but stipulated that l
oould not be consumed.
Congress also reduced the bulge
estimates for prohibition enforce
peuf ~ several hundred thousan'
dollars.