Evening star., 1928-12-09
Prohibition Unit Will Be Re-
queSted to Frame Measure
for National Capital.
DISTRICT POLICE FIND
HANDS TIED BY LAW
Subcommittee Plans to Hold Fur
ther Conferences With D. c.
Civic Leaders.

The Gibson subcommittee, which in
executive conference yesterday with Dr.
James M Doran, Federal prohibition
commissioner, discussed the advisable
ity of having new dry act for the
District of Columbia, will invite the
Prohibition Enforcement Bureau to
draft such a measure which Mr.. Glib
son will at an early date introduce
in the House.
DR.. Doran informed the committee
that approximately one-seventh Of all
cases nolle pressed in the United States
were from the District of Columbia.
There were 1920 cases nolle pressed
during the fiscal year 1928 in this city,
as compared to 416 nolle pressed In
1927. The total of 1890 for the last
year exceeds the total cases nolle
pressed not only for every other city
in the country but also for every other
prohibition district.
In the conference yesterday Chair
man Gibson with Representative Gill
bert, the ranking minority member,
and Representative Bowman of West
Virginia, sought information as to how
the State enforcement laws are work
ing, how the paddock law operates, and
other features to guide them In recon-
mending a more efficient prohibition
enforcement system for the National
Capital.
Plan Further Conference.
In asking the Prohibition Bureau to
draft law for the District, the Glib
son subcommittee feels it will not only
get the benefit of the best practical
experience in the several States, but,
even more important. will be able to
get law which will effect the best
possible cooperation between the local
and Federal enforcement agents.
Tuesday or Wednesday a further
conference will be held on this subject,
at which time the Gibson subcommittee
will seek the advice of Sergt. George
| o. Little and Sergt. o. J. Letterman,
| in charge of the special enforcement
| squads in the Capital
The Gibson subcommittee was In
| formed that members Of the Metro
politan police force and even Mai.
Edwin B. HeSse, superintendent, have
no authority to serve warrants on vio-
lators of the Volstead act or to con-
duct raids. Only some 20 members of
the force, who are members Of the
special liquor and vice squads, have
such authority.
Chairman Gibson has extended an
invitation to Harry N. Douthitt, former
executive officer Of the Citizens Serv-
ice Association. composed of volunteer
prohibition workers, to testify before
the subcommittee as to what he knows
about the illicit liquor traffic in the
District. Mr.. Douthitt was previously
quoted before the committee as max
ing sensational statements regarding
| the number of places in the Capital
where liquor could be bought, and the
committee Is desirous of checking up
| on such statements.
Follows Hesse Recommendations.
| Mr.. Gibsons proposal is in line with
recommendations Mai Edwin B. Hesse,
| superintendent of police, has been max
| ing for the last two years.
Maj. HesSe declared last night he has
| repeatedly requested that his policemen
be empowered to act as prohibition
| agents. and that adequate funds for
this purpose be appropriated. Some
| obstacle always has blocked his path
| until now, however. when he thinks the
prospects are bright for obtaining
| legislation which would permit him to
| rigidly enforce the law here.
'As for paddock proceedings" Mai.
Hesse said, IF we could get law under
which paddock would automatically
| issue upon obtaining a conviction in g
| liquor case. it would do more than, per-
haps, anything else to deter persons
from selling liquor. Under the present
legal procedure it is almost impossible
to persuade the courts to issue such an
| injunction. 1t is necessary to go into
equity and present again all the evi-
dence in the case, and then the chances
are that the court will decide there Is
insufficient evidence of nuisance for
| it to grant the bill"
| Several weeks ago Chairman Gibson
conferred with Maj. HeSSe. They dis
cuSSed the advisability Of a gambling
| law which would carry with it auto
| matte paddock proceedings. Maj. HesSe
has long urged such a measure and
Representative Gibson promised to in
troduce in the House or have introduced
a bill containing that provision.
Commissioner Doran'S report yeSter-
| day indicated that although the Fed
| eral agents in the District made more
| arrests and seizures of liquor during
the past year than in the year preced-.
| ing, the total for the Washington po-
| lice showed a decrease.