LIQUOR SCANDALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 5

LIQUOR SCANDALS.

BANKERS AS BOOTLEGGERS. STATE OFFICIAL CHARGED. SOLD PERMITS FOR MONEY. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received May 30, 9.25 p.m. Washington, May 29. Gaston Means told the Daugherty Committee of the Senate that he received from Jess Smith in 1922 certain documents, purporting to show that Mr. A. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury) agreed to issue a batch of whisky withdrawals permits in return for money which he would apply to meet a deficit of the Republican national committee. Means alleged that a man named Rex Sheldon was to receive the permits and pay the money- He added that Senator Bursum and Mr. Fred. Upham (treasurer of the Republican committee), went to Mr. Mellon’s office in regard to the matter. Means declared that the enforcement of prohibition would be child’s play if the big interests did not interfere and encourage smuggling and rum running. Means said the biggest bootleggers are the powerful bankers, of which the prime movers are the New York, Chatham and Phoenix Bank, and various banks in which a million were interested. ! T gathered evidence leading to the very top, but the department refused to prosecute,” added Means. Discussing the Dempsey-Carpentier film case, Means said: “I got sufficient evidence and asked Crim to secure an injunction to stop the inter-State ship-ment-of films, but Crim shook his head, caying: “I do not want to undertake too much.” TREATY WITH DENMARK. CURBING OF SMUGGLING. Received May 30. 11.10 p.m. Washington, May 30. A treaty has been signed with Denmark similar to that with Britain for (he purpose of curbing liquor smuggling, [t now goes to the Senate for ratification-