Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
Next Move of President to
Effect Enforcement Is
Watched in Capital.
INQUIRY PERSONNEL!
CAUSES SPECULATION
Inclusion of Federal Judge Urged,
With Members of Congress
Being Opposed.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Enforcement of the prohibition laws
and of all laws has leaped into the
limelight as real and immediate issue
with the advent of the Hoover admin
istration.
Official Washington is awaiting ap-
pointment of the Hoover national COM
mission to investigate the system of
Federal jurisprudence, including meth
DDS of enforcing the eighteenth amend
ment. Particularly is it watching for
some follow-up of the Presidents dec
laraticn in his inaugural address that
he proposed to enforce the laws. in
Guiding the prohibition laws, to the
extent Of his abilities.
The maES up of the national commits
sion would SAclude in its personnel at
least one Feasral judge of wide expert
ence, if t1fo recommendations of one
Republican leader, whose advice the
President may seek regarding appoint
ment Of the commission, is carried out.
it was learned last night The opinion
was expressed that such a judge, having
had wide experience in the enforcement
of the law and with its procedure, would
be of Invaluable aid to the commission,
not only in making its investigation,
but also in formulating its recommen-
dations for improvement in law en-
forcement.
While it is expected that the COM
mission will include in its membership
outstanding members of the American
bar, the view is expressed that it should
by no means be confined to members of
the legal fraternity.
Would Exclude Congressman.
1t would be mistake. in the opinion
of some leaders, to place on the COM
mission members of Congress. 1t is ex-
pected that legislation will be necessary
to carry into effect the proposals Of
the commission after It has submitted
them to the President. Members of
Congress, furthermore, are at present
divided into two campS-dry and wet
and their appointment to the commits
sion necessarily would tend to give it
bias one way or the other.
In this connection. it may be said
on the authority of DR.. F. Scott Nc
Bride, general superintendent of the
Anti-Saloon League of America, that
the league is not putting forward any
candidates for appointment to the COM
mission. DR.. Mcbride made it clear
yesterday that he believed the Presi-
dent should have a free hand in ap-
pointing the commission, and that it
would be better from every angle not to
have included on the commission rep
resentatives of any organization either
for or against prohibition. He added,
however, that If the league officials are
asked for information regarding ap-
pointees, it would provide that infor-
nation, although it would recommend
no one.
He said emphatically that the league
was ready to back President Hoover in
his effort to bring about enforcement
of all the laws, including prohibition.
He said that already. due to the inau-
gural address of President Hoover and
the recent enactment into law of the
JoneS-Stalker bill providing increased
penalties for dry law violations, the
atmosphere was changing both IN
Washington and in other parts of the
country. He indicated that he had had
reports from several sections showing
that things were beginning to tighten
up in the matter of prohibition enforce
ment.
Will Not Oppose Transfer.
DR.. Mcbride said that the league was
ready to go along with President
Hooyer'S program for law enforcement
as it should be developed. He declared
there would be no fight on the part of
the league against transfer of the pro-
hibition unit from the Treasury Depart
ment to the Department of Justice. If
the President determined finally that
this should be done to bring about more
efficient law enforcement. He added.
however, that the league saw reasons
why it seemed better to retain the pro-
hibition unit in the Treasury Depart
ment, where, he said. it is now func-
tioning well under direction of DR..
Doran. Federal prohibition director. He
said, however that if the unit is to be
transferred. it should be transferred
bodily to the Department. OF Justice as
it is, and not divided up. Furthermore,
it was his opinion that the unit should
constitute an important division in the
Department of Justice. directly under
the Attorney General. 1t is likely that
such a transfer of the prohibition unit
would require legislation by Congress.
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