New Britain herald., 1926-04-08
Buckner Tells Senate Liquor Committee Petty Cases Should Be Handled Without Trial By Jury.
Other Evidence Introduced Today Shows Appalling Growth of Crime and Corruption Since Pro- hibition Was Voted.

Washington, April 8 LPj-Federal District Attorney Bucllner. of New York, told the senate liquor commit tee today that enforcement of tn. prohibition law in New York is i'm possible unless officials are permit, ted to handle petty cases without 1 trial by jury.
 "l can't enforce the prohibitions law, which is essentially a polio, law said the district attoruey. without the right Of police court trial
 "If We are to enforce this la,, under jury trial, l should have B. federal judges in my district alone.
 Then you want to abolish thr ! constitutional right or a jury trialo" asked Senator Reed, democrat, Mis. ! souri.
 "l won't answer that with the word constitutional in it." Buckner replied.
 | " NAAt 'iiT ! lSllA ol IulN illul
 T say petty offences should b, tried in police courts"
 Perhaps We ought to abolish every Anglo Saxon right to prevent somebody from selling q glass 0. beer" retorted Reed
 Defends Previous story
 Recalled to the stand by the wots. who have been allotted all of this week to present their case, the New York district attorney also reiterar- cd and defended his assertion of yesterday that 60 million gallons of alcohol, is being diverted annually l 10 the bootleg trade. and rrcountcd at length the difficulties standing in the way of enforcement ot prohibit ton in New York city.
 At the same time the committee put into its record statement hy George Brennan. the Illinois demo cratic leader. describing the prohi- 1 bition situation in Chicago and say ing that "prayers 10 be shielded from the blight Of Volsteadism should be said every day in every American home where there are those Of immature age"
 The drys will be given all Of next week to reply to the case presented by the vets to argue against any modification of the law. Questioned what remedy would be . applied aside from repeal Of the dry law, District Attorney Buckner suE- gested that the law might be modi- fled AS bait for New York state to enact laws for dry law enforce ment
 General Andrews has said that the federal government must depend on the states 10 assist in enforce ment," Buckner said. New York i state has declined to cooperate. Then it's logical to ask congress 10 amend the law in the hope that the state will grab the bait"
 Drys Take Notes
 Ruckner again was summoned 10 the witness stand by the vets as they went Into the fourth day Of the week Of hearings accorded them by the senate liquor commit tee. His testimony was followed closely by dry leaders, who took copious notes in preparation for their turn before the committee next week.
 Buckner was questioned sharply { about his statement yesterday that sixty million gallons oe alcohol are | diverted annually to the bootleg trade. making e business of a valuc Of $500, 100000.
 How do you arrive at that fc ure?" asked Chairman Means ''It that Is accurate. I would li,, 10 know"
 Explains Statements Buckner said governmeut statis ties showed c1.oooo0O gallons oe alcohol withdrawn Tor industrial purposes during the fiscal year ended June 2o. 1920, and SS.OcO.- ooo gallons in 1923.
 "A careful study by one Of my assistants Of the cs.timate use Of 1 alcohol in industry" he added. shows that the increase for 1egi- innate purposes was 1,o0o0OO gal Ions year. That leaves 62.Oo0,Onn 1 gallons, I let 2.0oo.0OO go for legj- innate purposes and get 6.Oo0.oon ! gallons"
 But S7o00.ooo gallons wera withdrawn for auti-freeze alone" protested Means.
 1 Tt was withdrawn for that pur- pose, but not used for that pur- 1 pose" replied Buckner.
 1S.60O, 900 Gallons Saved
 The district attorney said the alcohol squad organized by Gem eral Andrews in September had stopped diversions in New York and Philadelphia alone totalling 16.- foo,o00 gallons
 Before Buckner took the stand. Julien Goldman. counsel for inc vets, placed in the record otfciat 1 statements of sperjal committed of Cook county and Chicago show- . ing conditions in that county and city under prohibition.