Evening star., 1926-04-06
PROBLEMS Of RUM
WAR REVEALED BY
ANDREWS |NPROBE
Enforcement Chief Submits
to Running Fire of Questions
in Senate Inquiry.
THINKS LAW CHANGES
WOULD AID CLEANUP
Edge Defends Constitutionality of
Move for Referendum on
Whole Liquor Issue.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The difficulties of prohibition en-
forcement were laid bare by Gen. Lin
coin G. Andrews Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury, at the Senate prohi-
bition investigation today.
Under a running fire of questions
from Senator Reed of Missouri, q
member Of the committee, and Julien
Goldman, attorney for the antiprohi-
bitionists. Gen Andrews told the com
mittee how split whisky is made
and sold through some drug stores,
how enormous quantities of alcohol.
denatured for industrial uses, is re-
natured and finds it's way into the
bootleg business; how many of the
enforcement agents are subjected TO
great temptation, and how some of
them have fallen.
Gen. Andrews told the committee
he believed that with certain changes
in the law recommended by him. arJ
perhaps some other amendments, il
would be possible to bring many OF
these abuses to an end.
Would Amend Law.
In view of the decision Of the Cir
cult Court of Appeals in New York
yesterday, Gen. Andrews said he
thought he should ask Congress for
an amendment to the law specifically
giving the department power to re-
view permits for the denaturing of
alcohol for industrial purposes annu-
ally
Senator Reed sought to pin Gen.
Andrews TO a statement that he wish
ed to deny the renewal of a permit
which he believed should not be re
newed, but for which denial he had
not sufficient evidence to uphold his
position in court.
Gen. Andrews insisted that what he
wished was an administrative" au-
thority, to be used with discretion and
taking into consideration the needs of
the business.
The Missouri Senator. however, de
Clared that 1t was an arbitrary"
power and would be so exercised.
Gen. Andrews. replying TO a ques.
ton by Senator Reed as TO the prob
able percentage of seizures by the Gov
ernment of liquor smuggied into this
country, said that he did not believe
that per cent Of the total amount
brought in had been seized.
says 14dF &c EOtCc NAtdA.
He insisted, however, that with an
increase In the number of agents
along the Canadian and Mexican bor-
ders it would be possible TO prevent
the smuggling Of liquor ''in CONNER
cial quantities"
Prior to the testimony Of Gen. An
drews, Senator Edge of New Jersey
made a statement to the committee.
unfolding the constitutionality of his
bill proposing a national referendum
on the modification of the Folstead
act, and Mr.. Goldman submitted to the
committee requests for subpoenaS for
a number of witnesses from Boston.
New York and Florida. which pre-
viously had been denied. Chairman
Means announced that the committee
would take the requests under advise
ment.
George Brennan, candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Senator In
Illinois on a wet" platform, and
group of Chicago officials are expect
ed here today or tomorrow to take the
stand in support of modification of the
prohibition laws.
Others whom Mr.. Goldman asked the
committee to summon were: NJ. 3.
Wellborn, governor of the Federal Re
serve Bank of Atlanta, Ga, who re
Gently wrote to Representative Up.
shaw of Georgia describing conditions
as extremely wet" in that State; Mrs.
Viola Anglin, deputy chief probation
officer. Magistrates Court, New York;
Sheriff Bob Baker of Palm Beach; Ro-
land Cory of Key West, sheriff o.
Monroe County, Fla. and 7. Pope
Shepherd Of Chattanooga. Tenn.
Senator Reed moved that the con-
mittee subpoena the witnesses desired
by Mr.. Goldman. His motion will be
acted on later by the committee in eX-
ecutive session.
Senator Edge called the attention
of the committee to the fact that the
Democratic national convention i'll
1924 had adopted as part of the party
platform q plank calling for a nation
al referendum on whether the United
States should go into the League of
Nations, and with what reservations
if any. Senator Walsh of Montana
Il member of the Senate committee.
he said, had presided over that con
vention.
with such precedent for congress
sional action" said Senator Edge, 81
am sure it will he quite unnecessary
for me to furnish further authority.
You think said Senator Reed
that 1t is impossible that the Demo
cratic convention could be wrons
about the constitutionality Of such
proposal"
Means Rejects Premise.
You can't expect me to accept
such an argument" commented
Chairman Means. a Republican.
"I am sufficiently broad to accept
it," said Senator Edge.
Mr.. Goldman asked the committee
to subpoena Mrs. Eva V. White of
Boston, saying:
"I am informed that Mrs. White.
who is the manager of the Elizabeth
Peabody Settlement House, situated
in Boston, can testify as to the in.
furious effect which has been brought
about by prohibition upon the poor
people of the district in which the
Elizabeth Peabody House is situated.
That she has had Is years experience
in the district nine years before pro
hibition and six years since. That she
will state that neighborhood dances
have had to be abandoned on account
of the hip-pocket TASKS filled with
liquor brought by boys to these dances
and disseminated by them. She can
also testify to the fact that many
families previously in very poor cir
cumstances have become faily well
to do as the result of having gone
into the bootlegging business on
small scale. That conditions through