Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-10
ROVER REMINDS
LEAGUE OF DUTIES
Report to Anti-SaIoon
League Cites Facts in Han
ding Liquor Complaints.

Reminded by United States Attorney
Leo A. Rover that his office does not
make prohibition cases but prosecutes
cases laid before it by the Police De-
partment and the prohibition unit, the
Antl-Salloon League of the District of
Columbia last night at its annual meet
ing declared common sense" requires
that all policemen be empowered to en-
force the prohibition laws
The league reaffirmed this position in
lengthy resolutions formally adopted at
a meeting in the Friends Meeting House
at Thirteenth and Irving streets, at
which President and Mrs. Hoover wor.-
ship. The resolutions Endorsed the
PRESIDENTS declaration on law enforce
ment in his message to Congress, APP
proved his recommendations for changes
in enforcement machinery and express
ed full sympathy" with his wish to
make the District a model for law
enforcement in the Nation.
Wilson Is Reelected.
The resolutions, submitted by Charles
5. Easterling were adopted unanimously
after the League elected Andrew Wilson
its president for the twenty-first time.
Among those who voted for the express
sion was DR.. Augustus Taber Murray,
minister of the church.
In reporting to the League Mr.. Rover
said he made no claim that the record
of his Office was commendable, but was
interested in presenting facts, His Of
nee has prosecuted rs cases under the
Jones-Stalker law, he said, and obtained
convictions in IS.
In some of these cases there have
been more than one defendant" he
said. There has been only ! clear
acquittal in the 76 cases. 1 have two
assistants at Police Court who give their
full time to the prosecution of LIQUOR
cases. Assisting them are two fuIl-time
clerks. They are able, honest men, and
II there has been any delay in handling
! cases, theirs is not the responsibility
The records of prosecutions in Police
Court speak for themselves. I can say
that the outlook in that phase OF en-
| forcement is promising.
Regarding padlocks-there are two
assistants before the Supreme Court
who handle such matters exclusively
| To date about so paddock cases have
| been instituted and not one lost. In &
, hundred cases the desired results have
been obtained without resorting to pad
| lock proceedings. Owners of property
| where violations have occurred have
been notified and with the splendid CO.
! operation of the Washington Real Es'
tate Board occurrences of the violations
have been guarded against.
Rum Drivers Convicted.
I'VE have made the experiment o.
! having the driver Of the convoy car,
| the man who looks out for the machine
| actually carrying liquor, indicted In two
| cases and in both convictions were OBJ
| tanned.
Since I assumed the Office of United
States attorney" Mr.. Rover said, y
have frequently conferred with officer;
of the prohibition unit and the Police
Department to bring about more effec'
tive cooperation and coordination II
law enforcement work.
Il make no claim that that RECORD
is creditable. They are the facts. l d.
not believe in sensational enforcement
believe in enforcing the law in season
and out Of season, sanely and efec'
lively, and shall continue to do so"
Mr.. Rover's statement that his ofict
does not make cases and his reference
to the Police Department led to dis
cussion of the machinery of prohibition
enforcement. 1t was pointed out tina
only about 40 policemen are empowered
to enforce the prohibition laws ant
this number was held to be inadequate.
Addressing the league upon taking
ONCE as president, Mr.. Wilson expressed
IIle opinion JndL law enforcement COIl
ditions in Washington and the Distric
are better today than year ago. "OI
the whole" he said, the work Of thu
Metropolitan Police Department in tina
period has been commendable and ef
fectiye."
Have Confidence in DOran.
The resolutions adopted expresse,
confidence in DR.. James M. Dorar
commissioner of prohibition. I'VE re
joice," the document set forth, "tha
the matter Of law enforcement, and es
pecially the enforcement of the Fedora
prohibition laws, had so large a plac
| in the last annual message of the Pres
] ident Of our Republic
Our Atlantic and Great Lakes sea
boards have been almost, some of then
entirely, rid of alcoholic smuggleri
! whose boosted proves was a shoI
while ago head;ined in the newspaper
I'VE are in full sympathy with tn
President in his efforts to secure tn
transfer to the Department Of .Justic
rs