Evening star., 1926-04-21

BY the Associated Press.
Stormy scenes and some startling
revelations regarding dry law enforce
ment marked the session yesterday
afternoon of the Senate prohibition
committee.
AS the drys approached the con-
clusion Of the presentation of their
case, there was q frequent outcrop-
ping of an 1lnder-surface bitterness,
with Senator Reed, Democrat, Mis-
souri,, the one wet on the committee
Of five, standing as the central figure
In the controversy.
Outvoted continuously by his dry
colleagues, Senator Reed took to the
Senate floor his fight for postpone
ment of the hearings until after the
vote today on the Italian debt set
tlement, but without avail.
returning then to the committee
room, the Missourian again faced
protests by those in charge of the
case for the drys against consuming
or time with cross-eXamination Of
their witnesses and finally objections
were raised by members OF the com
nittee to certain lines Of inquiry.
Holds Down Two Jobs.
Senator Reed then was cross-ques-
tioning Frederick G. Baird, prohibition
administrator for the Western Penn
sylvania district, who disclosed that
while now on the Federal pay roll at
$500 a month, he still is drawing his
regular salary as traffic director OF
the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad,
a subsidiary of the United states
Steel Corporation. Mr.. Baird said he
had been recommended for the
Federal position by Judge Ebert II.
Gary, chairman of the board OF the
Steel Corporation, who had been re-
quested by Government officials 10
make recommendations at the time
the prohibition force was reorganiZed.
Both Baird and Edwin A. olsen,
United States district attorney at Chi
cago, testified to increased efficiency
| in the enforcement of the Volstead act
within their respective districts, but
Mr.. Olsen brought an lndlctment
against the municipal authorities Oh
| Chicago and Cook County for what
he charged to be their failure to en-
force the Illinois State dry statute.
/ Baird appeared in the nature OF
Surprise" witness at the request OF
Senator Reed, Republican, PennsyI
yanta. and was on the stand for TWO
| hours.
| Taking the stand to refute state
ments made by DIR. Samuel Harden
| Church, president Of Carnegie insu
! tute. Mr.. Baird had not concluded
| his direct statement when the noon
recess hour was reached. Explaining
that he wanted time to prepare an
| address on the Italian debt, Senator
Reed moved adjournment, but CHAIR
| man Harreld and Senator Con, Re,
| publican, West Virginia, outvoted
| him.
Takes Fight TO Floor.
Senator Reed then took his fight
| TO the Senate floor, where a brief, but
fiery debate developed. Senator Bruce
Democrat, Maryland. accused the
committee of discourteouS treatment
of Senator Reed and declared he die
not expect any measure of justice
| from the committee, constituted as
it is"
| This broNght protest from Senator
Walsh, Democrat Montana, a mem
Der of the committee, and Senator
Bruce asked why he should have any
confidence in the committee when
majority had opposed any hearing:
at all on the modification bills.
This aroused the ire of Chairman
Harreld, who arose to a point o
personal privilege, and remarked tha
Senator Bruce's declarations ha(
shown that "all the fanatics are no
on the dry side"
For a moment the proceedings go
beyond the control of Vice Presiden
Dawes, but as order was restored
Senator Edge, Republican, New Jer
sey. another of the vets, offered 6
resolution directing the committee tC
lpostpone its hearings until tomorrow
| Senator Walsh objected to immediate
consideration and the resolution went
| over.
| When the prohibition committee re
assembled an hour later Senator ReeC
was on hand to croSS-eXaInine Admin