Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-22

Issue Brought Up by Representa-
tive Tucker, an Avowed
Enemy of Rum.
In the first showdown on prohibit
finn this session. House drys today
swept aside by vote of $50 to Il
proposal to restrict the use Of funds
for the purchase of liquor as evidence.
The proposal was in the form of
an appropriation bill amendment
and would have prohibited resort to
fraud. deceit or falsehood' in the
use of any of the S250.000 set aside
by the bill for buying evidence.
The amendment was offered by
Representative Tucker, = Democrat,
Virginia, a dry, and was defeated by
rising vote so that the attitude of
individual members was not placed
on record.
Drys Give Cheer
As opponents of the proposal rose,
Representative Blanton. Democrat,
Texas. gave loud cheer, and the
drys applauded.
WAYNE 3. Wheeler of the Anti
Saloon League watched from a seat
il the gallery directly opposite the
Sneakers chair
Among those opposing the amend
ment Representative Barkley, Demo
crat. Kentucky, declared it had been
a recognized practice that in order
to detect crime and to ascertain its
nature a disguise frequently must be
used
representative Schafer, Republican.
Wisconsin, asked if he approved of
officers using disguises in labor dis
turbances, and the Kentucky member
replying he did if the law had been
violated.
Describing the amendment as IAN
insidious" attempt to undermine the
voIstead act, Representative Lineberg-
er. Republican, California, urged
members ito look at the tokers' it
contained He declared Congress
might as we'll repeal the Volstead act
and the eighteenth amendment as ap-
prove the proposal.
Legitimate Practices.
Representative Hill, Democrat, Ala
hama said that fraud. deceit and
falsehood" were recognized as legiti-
mate practices in enforcing the law,
have been recognized since the exist
ence of law and always would be nee
essary in it's enforcement. Fraud and
deceit are practiced by the bootlegEer.
he asserted, and as the bootlegger does
not give liquor away It is necessary
for an agent to misrepresent himself
to procure evidence.
DO bootleggers even fool you on
the half a pint they SELF" Mr.. Hill
was asked. He replied he was not
familiar with that condition, but as
sumed that it was true.
An amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Black. Democrat. of New
York to limit the use of enforcement
funds to cases not involving beer con-
tanning 2.75 of alcohol or less, was
thrown out on point of order.
A point of order made by Repre-
sentative Hill, Republican. of Mary
land against provision authorizing
$4,000 for repairs to Coast Guard YES
sells was sustained.
Onslaught by Drys.
Present methods of prohibition en-
forcement which have been under at
tack from wet Senator'S and Repre-
Congress convened. today became the
.ta"get for an onslaught from the dry
side of the House.
Urging an appropriation bill amend
ment to prohibit the practice of fraud.
deceit and falsehood" IN procuring
evidence of Nolstead act violation.
Representative Tucker. Democrat Vir-
einia. declared the present practice of
prohibition agents were based upon
in1n hot llp
tinee"
Although he had been dry through
out the long prohibition controversy,
Representative Tucker said he real
lied that some of the things now be
inc done in enforcing the law did
more harm than good. He referred
particularly to the case in which a
prohibition agent spent nearly $1,000,
partly for purchase of liquor, secur-
ing evidence against two employees at
the Mayf1ower Hotel here.
One of Many Gases.
The Mayflower case isn't the only
star in the heavens" he continued
ut is just one of many"
such things are happening in
every community of the country. 1t
isn't right. 1t hasn't an American
tinCe to it.
wondering what has happened to the
youth of the country since the war
Incidents like the Mayhower case are
going on and they are responsible for
shaping tf1e character of the young
1T isn't a question of what YOU
think Of prohibition. It IS a question
of whether lying, stealing and cheat
ir= are necessary TO enforce the
laws.
The Virginia Representative said
he did not blame the agents them.
selves so much as their superiors. who
ordered them to make out cases by
the practice of deception.
Opposed BY Madden.
The Tucker amendment was opposed
Sv Chairman Madden of the appropri-
ations COMMITTEES. and Representative
Byrns of Tennessee, ranking Democrat
on the committee, asked that the bill
he passed as it came from their COM
mittee, including a S250.000 item for
purchase of evidence.
Nr. Madden said he voted against
the eighteenth amendment. but since
prohibition was law he wanted TO en-
force il.
IF people are opposed to prohibi-
ton" he. said, the manly thing to do
Is 10 repeal the law. If you adopt this
amendment you won't have to repeal
il YOU will just make it unenforce-
able"
He didn't approve the tactics pur-
sued by the prohibition agent at the
I---.I.,,a5 or pace Column II