"Police Business"

Out of one pocket the U. S. citizenry pays for Prohibition, out of another for bootleg liquor. Next year the enforcement funds will be some 37 millions--$13,500,000 for the Prohibition Bureau, $14,686,798 for the Coast Guard, $9,000,000 for the Department of Justice. The House passed on the first two items last week.

How much the smugglers and their customers spend is a matter for guesswork. But Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, U. S. Assistant Attorney-General, was able to put a figure, in her annual report, on at least one item--$18,883,541 worth (Canadian value) of Canadian whiskies exported to the U. S. in 1928. Previous years: 1925, 10.7 millions; 1926, 15.4 millions; 1927, 17.1 millions.

The Ways & Means Committee of the House asked Prohibition Commissioner Doran how far his $13,500,000 enforcement allotment would go. "It is a matter of policy," he replied. "If Congress wants to embark in the police business it will take $300,000,000 a year and a system of United States courts covering the land."

Three hundred millions is about the total sum spent on enforcement since Prohibition became the law.

According to Dr. Doran and his men, smuggling by sea has been suppressed to one-eighth or one-fifth of what it used to be when Rum Rows twinkled off the coasts at Christmas time. According to Mrs. Willebrandt, the Canadian traffic "continues to be unsolved." It is on that front that the Prohibiters will work hardest next year. A step projected is to revise the U. S.-Canadian anti-smuggling treaty, which now provides only that Canada shall advise the U. S. of liquor clearances from her ports. Perhaps Canada will be induced to declare it illegal for her liquor-men to sell to U. S. customers.

A step taken last week was the indictment, by the Federal Grand Jury in Buffalo of 30 Canadian distillers and their agents, including Board-Chairman Harry C. Hatch of the Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts distillery, Canada's largest. The offense charged: conspiracy-to-smuggle. The significance: none, unless Distiller Hatch & friends set foot in the U. S. Under the present treaty they cannot be extradited.