Evening star., 1924-05-05
WHEELER TESTIFIES
IN D. C. DRY HEARING
Mrs. Willebrandt Also Gives Views
on Use of Guns in Rum
Running in Capital.
FORMER ASKS JAIL TERMS
Favors More Rigorous Punishment
for Offenders.

Wayne B. Wheeler, executive of
the Anti-Saloon League, and Mrs
Mabel Walker Wi1lebrandt, assistant
attorney general, were the principal
witnesses today before the House
District committee investigating law
enforcement in the District of Co
lumbia, particularly with regard to
the use of dangerous weapons and
violations of the prohibition law.
Mr.. Wheeler said that evidence
which he had placed before the Dis
trict committee shows that the Dis
trict of Columbia like some other
judicial districts. is not using the
power it has under the national pro-
hibition act. Up to January !, 1928.
there were no injunctions granted
against liquor violators in Washing
ton. he said. Since that time thirty
seven temporary injunctions have
been granted, but none has been
made permanent.
Discussing the conspiracy law,
which he said has been used with
tremendous effect in Indiana, Ohio,
west Virginia and New York, Mr.
wheeler pointed out that this has
been used sparingly in the District
of Columbia. Three cases only have
PROSE- was entered; in the next case
the indictment was quashed, and in
the third case demurrer was sus-
tanned.
Says Fines Smaller Here.
The average fines in prohibition
cases throughout the country in 1928
were s170, while in the District of
Columbia the average was $7943, he
said.
In regard to Jail sentences for boot
Logging, Mr.. Wheeler finds that in
the District they were few and far
between" The Jail sentence is the most
effective means to stop bootleggers, Mr..
Wheeler said
IN discussing the subject of second
Offenders, Mr.. Wheeler told the in
VeStlgatlng committee that books
show that from January l, 1928, to
March 20, 1924, 363 persons were ar
rested In the District, charged with
second offenses against the prohibi-
tion act.
974 Arrests Made
The total number of arrests from
July ], 1923, to March !, 1924 was
"a. Thus, for period slightly in
excess OF one.year. Mr.. Wheeler finds
more than one-third of thase ar
The evident inadequacy of the penal
Ties Is the cause of many of these
second offenders, he said. OF the
total number of second offenders
twenty-four cases have been docketed
IN the supreme Court of the District
and only one tried. who, after con-
viction. was paroled, Mr.. Wheeler en-
phasized.
The average amount of forfeited
bonds in $50 cases reported for the
year ending June 80, 1928, was slight
ly over $21, he said.
Representative Thomas L Blanton,
democrat Texas, proposed four
amendments. one of which should
make serious penalty for giving a
raise name or address. The second
would Increase the amount of col
lateral and in case of forfeiture. a
bench warrant would issue. The
third proposal was for re-enactme mt
OF the Sheppard law for the District
or Columbia. The fourth proposal
was TO provide jail sentence in ad-
dition to a fine.
Mr.. Wheeler recommended making
the use of the smoke screen by per-
sons transporting liquor d felony. He
said it should be made a very seri-
Gus offense for any one engaged in
violation of the liquor law to be
found with deadly weapons in his
possession.
Sees Shooting Reduced.
Mr.. Wheeler said that such legis-
lative safeguards will reduce the
amount of shooting
Representative Rathbone, Republi-
can, Illinois, chairman of the sub
committee conducting the investi-
cation. was instructed to get from
the Attorney General an opinion as
to whether the Sheppard act is still
in force IN the District He said
that the police are not attempting TO
enforce ii or the ground that it
was superseded by the prohibition act.
Mrs. Williebrandt told the inveSti-
eating committee that there was
very limited judicial equipment in
law or this kind. All such cases
go through the United States at
torney's office, which is already over
burdened. she said.
Mrs. Willebrandt urged that the
Police Courts should have jurisdiction
in minor cases, but pointed out that
even these courts are now far behind
in their work
Mrs. Willebrandt also recommend
ed that the number of judges should
be increased
Representative Blanton questioned
Mrs. Willebrandt regarding some of
the statements made by Mr.. Wheeler
First, in regard to the fact that to
January /, 1928. no injunctions had
been granted for liquor violations
Mrs. Willebrandt said joint RESPONSE
bility rests with the United States at
torney's office and the prohibition
agents. She said that the injunction
is the most effective instrument for
reducing the number of violations.
Tells of Procedure.
Representative Blanton then re-
called Mr.. Wheeler's statement that
since January 1, 1928, thirty-seven in
junction cases have been introduced.
none of which have been carried to
conclusion. He asked, who is re-
sponsible.
Mrs. Willebrandt explained the nee
essary procedure, that first an in
junction order must be issued and that
then it is necessary to obtain a sec
ond offense before closing the case.
The conspiracy section is the most
powerful feature of the law in en-
forcing prohibition. Mrs Willebrandt
said, but that the United States at
torney must have evidence.
She advised the committee that the
average fine and Jail penalty in the
District is very low. The average
has been broken down, she said, by
the fact that the police courts are
not given jurisdiction. Bench war
rants should always be issued. The
general practice of allowing forfeit
ure of collateral should be changed,
Mrs. Willebrandt said.