A STRONG INDICTMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 October 1925, Page 3

A STRONG INDICTMENT

GREAT KSUCRI M I N A 1 ,S BREEDS CORRUPTION (By (lordan Battle, live years .Assistant District .Attorney. N \ ) "la the lirst place, Prohibition has undoubtedly added to the 'frimes of one country a large and formidable category of offences, either directly or indirectly caused or oceasioned by the i iiacl■ment and enforcementof the Prohibition measure..'.. "Tbe boot logger aid the rum-runner have I 'become ionspietiotis figures in our national life. The assistance of the chancelleries and of the legislatures of foreign nations its well as of our own have been called in.to recpii.-dlion to enforce tips legislation. Treaties have heen enacted, statutes have heeii passed, depart metit'al regnlat ions innumei able nave been promulgated, all to the end that irallie in it toxica ting licpinrs should ec ase. “Peejory ain’t eorriiption are com--1.1011 in tne court's where it is nought In enforce these statutes. Beeentlv a United Slab's Commissioner of wide experience in the enforcement- of the Volstead Act in New York City resigned his ofiiee aid stated in his- letter of resignation that when he entered upon his odietal duties iie found the Federal court iumse tin: cleanest building in the city and at the time of his resignation it- was the foulest.’ 'Undoubtedly, this presents' one of tin; most serious aspeeta of this subject. No one can deny that tin l attempt to enforce these laws has brought widespread corruption into the

miles if the Federal service. Hitherto there had been lith; or rut corrpution in •in's service. The widespread venality that has permeated the Prohibition serviee. must sooner or later affect the other governmental depariinents. Cnrruptioii is like a cancer that constantlv mows and spreads. Up to the present time 'lie appointments in the Prohibition pram li have been political spoil's, with the rcniili that many of the appointees have been of the most unworthy diameter. It would afford a great measure of relief if most of these appointments were placed under the Civil Si rvirr rules. Then, in addition to the i rimes. which are created by the law itself and those which have arisen in i idi iu.ally in the enforcement of the law. there has heen probably an. increase in tlie use of narcotics, and therefore a gria'.er \ chime of crime in connect ion with that unlawful traffic. "It must, he conceded, therefore, liv I'Vcn tiie most ardent Prohibitionist- lliai with the ei'i'ietmerit and eiiforcenient of these laws there has come a very great iuerea.e in the number of crimes.”

"In conclusion. 1 repeat- that tlie most dangerous feature of the present situation in to my mind the official corruption which now forms such a scandal in tlie enforcement of 11 1 esc laws." —The North .American Review, 1925. Prohibit ion breeds more criminals every day. It is impossible for any I’lo-liibiticn law: contempt for one law bade to contempt for till laws. Under Continuance crime in New Zealand is rapidly decroadner. Strike out the two 1 fit tom lines. (Advt.)