New Britain herald., 1926-03-08

Washington, March s (P) Conf dent that the government will obtain the upper hand on the sources or bootleg liquor, Assistant Secretary Andrews of the treasury, in charge of prohibition enforcement, today began mapping out campaign against wine and beer through the establishment of a mobile squad to give particular attention to those beverages.
 TAe machinery 10 he set up will be in addition to that announced last week, aimed at checking the il. liclt diversion of industrial alcohol through separate enforcement squad.
 All BrcWcries Now Open
 Creation of tax on cereal bey- erages by the new revenue law opens all breweries in the country 10 Inspection by internal revenue agents and with this as 8 Wedge, Mir An drews is optimistic that inc can con trol future supplies of beer.
 Urgent requests for public hear lngs on the whole subject of prohi. bition were presented today to the senate judiciary committee by Sena- tors Edge, republican, Senator Ed wards, democrat, New Jersey, and Bruce, democrat Maryland. They are authors of proposals for moJif- cation Of the liquor law.
 Borah's Proposal
 Senator Borah, republican, Idaho, has proposed that the measures be reported back to the senate unfay- orably and the vote in the commit tee must first come on that proposi- tion.
 Senator Edge said he had thous. 2n1s ot letters from every state in tAe union urging action by congress 10 end what he described as deplor- able conditions resulting from the attempt to enforce prohibition.
 T am sure none Of you take the position that this is not an issue ; nator Edge sail. It is a big and vital issue. Refcreudums are being taken all over the country.
 BuCltncr Is Quoted
 Federal enforcement officials like District Attorney Buckn4r, are dis. cussjng the matter. Mir. Buckncr aays we are too conservative 10 en- force the law and too ignorant of the actual facts 10 undertake to modify it.
 T would like to have Mr. Buck ner come here and tell us what he means by that declaration"
 Senator HarrGld, republican, Ok. lahoma, wanted to know who it vas expected that the law could be en- forced when "Mr. Andrews (assist- ant secretary Of the treasury in charge of prohibitionl appoints one man who has been indicted for per jury and another who has been in- dlcted for murder"
 Offers Amendment
 Senator Bruce told the committee that public opinion is moving so fact on this question that il is not for me to offer an to the eighteenth 1 His amendment would | provide prohibition for those states, | that desired it with the government l in,oNicants in those | places where the people voted l 8 sainst prohibition.
 There is no moral sanction be- i, hind the law" ho said, ii has moi ! been enforced and in my judgment . T. never will be enforced"
 New oath Suggested
 Assistant Secretary AndrrVS said i, It would he helpful if public officials V ould take q special oath to obey th" prohibition law. i
 He rofraincd, however, from cont ! nenting on the necessity for such i action, advocated recently by num- , oer of women's organizations
 No Decision Reached. |
 After a discussion Of two hours | the senato committee adjourned . without deciding whether public | hearings should bc held on pending | bills to modify inc prohibition law.
 Questions directed by a majority ! o' the committee indicated that they | hearings and al one point . s nator Edge, republican. New Jer- | scy, who has pending a modification ! declared that it appeared 1 fiat opponents of open meetings were afraid the vets might mako | o-t a good case.