January 30, 1931, marked a bleak day for Prohibition in Washington, D.C. Prohibition Director Amos W. Woodcock painted a dismal picture of enforcement efforts in the nation’s capital, stating that the city’s observance of the dry law was ‘far less satisfactory’ than in many other cities. Woodcock blamed the influx of tourists, who each year descend upon the city in large numbers from out of town. ‘Most persons have a tendency to depart from their normal habits of law observance and much drinking is done by visitors,’ Woodcock lamented.
Since the prohibition unit was transferred from the Treasury to the Justice Department on July 1, 1930, a staggering 1,001 individuals have been arrested for violating the dry law. While 863 convictions have been secured, the financial toll has been significant, with a total of $10,534.20 in fines collected and 48,957 days of jail sentences meted out.
A closer look at the numbers reveals a patchwork enforcement system, with the number of federal dry agents working in Washington fluctuating from day to day. Men are sent from the district headquarters in Richmond and Baltimore, with a total of 20 agents on duty under the watchful eye of the deputy in charge. These agents not only keep tabs on the city’s watering holes but also cover five counties in southern Maryland.
As the city’s reputation as a haven for bootleggers and partygoers continues to grow, the Prohibition Bureau faces a daunting task in bringing the city’s drinking habits under control. Woodcock’s words serve as a stark reminder that, in the nation’s capital, the dry law remains a distant dream.
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Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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