Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-28
v. c. I. j. DRY FUND
HANDLING OUTLINED
William B. Wright Tells Sen
ate Primary Probers He Gets
$4,000 and Expenses.
the Associated Press.


More information about the s130,o00
dry law enforcement fund of the
Pennsylvania Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union was sought today By
the Senate campaign funds commit.
tee. e.
William B. Wright, deputy attorney
general of the State, was the first
witness. Chairman Reed first called
for George ". Woodruff, the State
Attorney General. but Wright report
ed that he had been unable to locate
him. He went to the Harvard Yale
boat race last Saturday, the deputy
said, and had not returned to Harris
burg.
"You don't think he get i'll that
scull and kept going asked Reed
with a smile.
Attending Class Reunion.
Wright explained that Woodruff
went back for reunion.
II hope he has not suffered a re-
lapse. said Reed.
Wright, whose home is in Baltimore.
said he undertook dry law enforce
ment work in Pennsylvania in Fehru-
ary, 1928. at the request of Gov.
Pinchot, and that he received $4,000
year and expenses. This year, Wright
said. his salary was increased to
$4,000, but the only expenses allowed
were travelling and telephone and
telegraph expenses.
The witness said that up to August
], 1928, his salary was paid out Of
State appropriations, but that since
it had come out of the W. c. T. L.
fund.
Succeeded by Miller.
John n English was employed as
assistant to Wright from August to
December. 1923, and was paid out of
the special dry fund. Walter +. Mil
Ter, formerly connected with the De
partment of Justice here, succeeded
him
Wright was taken over list Of the
assistants who, have served with him
from time to time, and the amounts
of their salaries. Asked what COM
mission he held, Wright replied:
II was not commissioned. | was
special counsel to the governor"
did you take any pledge?" asked
Reed. 1T has been said here that the
governor exacted a pledge from Off.
GERS to uphold the Constitution. his
administration and the eighteenth
amendment"
Il took no pledge Of that kind"
"You have heard of such a pedge?"
mo, sir, l have not
Two Aides Commissioned.
OF the half dozen assistants named
by Wright, only Louis E. Graham and
William knauer were commissioned.
They were made special deputy at
torneys general.
who had charge under the gov
ernor of enforcing the prohibition
laws?" Reed asked.
II suppose the attorney general, but
practically it was enforced out of this
fund -
YOU had charge of legal enforce
ment?"
Yes"
Reed wanted the names of other
employees, but Wright said he had one
"under-cover" man whose name he
would disclose in executive session.
This committee does not believe in
government under cover, Reed
said
II don't either" Wright replied.
"This man was with me in the war,
and he goes around getting the facts
as to where Improvements in condi-
tions should be made"
Had 12 Assistants.
There were IL of these assistants,
the witness said. including Lawrence
nj. Knox, at SITS month and ex.
penses; j. j. Benkus, at S. a day and
travelling expenses, and J. A. Tatro.
who got $3.50 salary a month and ex.
penses and went after "the denatured
alcohol bootleg aristocracy in Phila.
delphia." Wright also hired two Bos.
ton policemen for special work.
The "under-cover" man was desig-
mated as "Mr, *" He joined up in
August, 1923. at $500 a month and ex-
penses, including the purchase price
of liquor he might find it necessary
to buy. His salary was increased to
$3.50 the first of this year. He had
Continued on Page 3, Column A.