Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17
BY WILL =. KENNEDY.

I~ REATION Of il separate bu-
reau In which will be placed
all responsibility for enforce
ment Of the national prohibi-
tion and narcotic laws will probably
be one OF the outstanding results OF
the hearings recently concluded be-
fore the Joint committee on reorgani-
zatton of the administrative branch
Of the government and further hear
inss soon to be held before the House
Judiciary committee.
One of the principal reasons for
this reorganization of the prohibition
enforcement service through separate
legislation is to place 1t under civil
service. and thereby rid 1t Of It's most
dangerous characteristic at present
the fact that it is honeycombed by
political influence.
This was brought out in the direct
testimony of Secretary Mellon. Attor-
ney General Daugherty. Assistant At
torney General Holland and Wayne B.
Wheeler. general counsel and legisla-
tive superintendent of the Anti-Sa-
loon League of America. at the reor-
Eanizatton hearings. and emphasized
in questions asked by Senator James
W. Wadsworth, ir. and Representa-
tive r. Walton Moore Of Virginia
members of the reorganization COM
mittee.
Proposed Changes in Law.
With the national prohibition act
In force for. four years, various pro-
posals for change in the admins
tration of the law have been made
conspicuous among them the follow
ing:
That the entire subject Of prohibit
ton enforcement be transferred to
the Department of Justice, by Repre-
sentative John Philip Hill of Mary
land.
That an independent bureau be
created for enforcement of prohibi-
ton. to be administered by a COM
missioner. subject to the control of
the President. which legislation was
introduced by Senator Ernst of Ken
tuchy and Representative VIII +.
Wood of Indiana. =
That a bureau of prohibition be es-
taniished In the Treasury Depart
under civil service. by Representative
Louis G. Cramton Of Michigan
Secretary Mellon and Wayne 3.
Wheeler have both given positive
Endorsement OF the last-named pro-
gHnization committee indicated their
inclination also to support 1t.
Secretary Mellon stated before the
reorganization committee that he did
not know that there would be any ad-
vantage in transferring the prohibi-
ton bureau to the Department of
Justice. Attorney General. Daugherty
stated that while he did not person
ally wish the transfer. it would seem
to be the logical thing to do. As
SiStant Attorney General Holland
said:
II do not want to see it come over,
I, as we are having trouble enough of
our own, but from the standpoint of
the government there must be some
synchronism. There is a. lack of CO.
operation at this time in certain juris-
dtcttons between the office of the
United States attorneys and the pro-
hibitfon enforcement officers"
DR.. Clarence True Wilson, repre-
Sentfng the Methodist Board of Tenn
perance. while stating that that Or
Sani2a ton prefers an Independent bu-
reau, X is ready to support the Cram
ton measure as a step in the right
direction.
Dissatisfaction Revealed.
The very fact that these measures
have been introduced in Congress by
members opposed AS we'll as those
who favor the policy of prohibition
makes it clear that dissatisfaction
with the present system exists. The
present distribution of authority for