The Bureau of Prohibition (or Prohibition Unit) was the United States federal law enforcement agency with the responsibility of investigating the possession, distribution, consumption, and trafficking of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in the United States of America during the Prohibition era. The enumerated enforcement powers of this organization were vested in the Volstead Act. Federal prohibition agents of the Bureau were commonly referred to by members of the public and the press of the day as "prohis," or "dry agents." In the sparsely populated areas of the American west, agents were sometimes called "Prohibition Cowboys."
History
Volstead Act and formation in the Department of the Treasury
Prohibition Unit
The Prohibition Unit was formed to enforce the National Prohibition Act of 1919 (Volstead Act) which enforced the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution regarding the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. When it was first established in 1920, it was a unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The commissioner of Internal Revenue, Daniel C. Roper, strenuously objected to absorbing the responsibilities of managing a prohibition organization, as he believed they were beyond the scope and mandate of his Bureau which had primarily been responsible for investigating tax violations. The new bureau would consist of a commissioner of prohibition, an assistant commissioner, two deputy commissioners, a chief clerk, and their staffs.
Transfer to the Department of Justice
On July 1, 1930, the Prohibition Bureau was transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Mission
thumb|right|300px|Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol, c. 1921The Bureau of Prohibition's main function was to stop the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Agents were often paid low wages, and the Bureau was notorious for allowing many uncertified people to become agents. Doing so strengthened the bureau, as they were able to hire agents in greater numbers. First time offenders were now expected to serve a maximum of five years and a $10,000 fine as opposed to the previous six months and $1,000 fine. This strengthened animosity toward Prohibition agents, as many of them (such as Major Maurice Campbell, Prohibition administrator of New York City), were already hated for their raids on popular clubs frequented by New York City's elite.
Repeal of Prohibition and dissolution
In December 1933, once repeal became a reality and the only federal laws regarding alcoholic beverages were limited to their taxation, the ABU was removed from the FBI and the DOJ and returned to Treasury, where it became the Alcohol Tax Unit, ultimately evolving into the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).
Leadership and organization
Directors of Prohibition, Internal Revenue
Prior to the 1st of April 1927, the chief duties for leadership of prohibition enforcement and investigation were vested in the director of the Prohibition Unit.
- James E. Jones
Commissioners
After April 1927, with the elevation of the Prohibition Unit to the Bureau of Prohibition, the chief administrator of the organization was the commissioner of prohibition.
- Acting Prohibition Commissioner Roy Asa Haynes
- Prohibition Commissioner James M. Doran
- Prohibition Commissioner Henry W. Anderson
District headquarters offices
Source:
In the summer of 1925, the 48 state enforcement districts were abolished and replaced with 22 federal prohibition districts, closely aligned with the federal judicial districts. This number would grow by 1929 to 27 districts.
Offices not seen above:
- Twenty-Third District, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Twenty-Fourth District, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Narcotics Division
thumb|Narcotics agents and inspectors would sometimes be classed as working for the "Prohibition Service"
With the establishment of the Prohibition Unit in 1920, leadership established a Narcotics Division