The Indianapolis times., 1929-12-26
MOVES TO AID
enforcement
OF DRY LAWS
Treasury Prepares Plan for
Consideration of
Congress.
UNITY PATROL AGENCIES
Pact With Canada Is Goal;
Suggestions Come as
Criticism Answer.
UNIFY PATROL AGENCIES
By United Press

By United Press
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Plans
for more effective enforcement of
the Volstead act are being prepared
by the treasury for submission to
congress, Undersecretary Mills said
today.
The announcement came after
Attorney General Mitchell and Pro-
hibition Commissioner Doran both
had issued statements taking issue
sharply with charge by Senator
Borah CRep., Ida) that prohibi-
ton could not be enforced success
fully under the present dry person
mel.
The treasury's plans, Mills said.
call for unification of the border
patrol agencies and for limiting the
ports of entry on both the Cana
dian and Mexican borders. He said
an agreement with Canada would
be necessary to accomplish this.
Designate Roads
Instead of permitting persons to
enter the United States from Can
ada at any point on the interna-
tional boundary as we now do"
Mills said, I'VE should designate
certain roads for entry purposes
and prohibit persons from crossing
the border at any other point. Per-
sons now are required to report at
the nearest customs house, but we
have to maintain large patrol to
see that they do So"
Mills said he felt that the joint
congressional committee which
President Hoover asked congress to
appoint some months ago would be
the logical agency to which the
treasury should present its ideas on
prohibition enforcement. The
treaSury's plans, he added, practical
~ are completed and only await
the committees selection for pres
,, entation.
Charges Of indifference and ineffi-
cheney among prohibition law en-
forcement officers, brought by con-
gressional drys, notably SSenator
Rorah, were answered in counter
statement issued here Wednesday
night by Attorney General Mitchell.
II can not for the honor of hun
dreds of devoted public servants
allow TO pass without protest,
wholesale charge of Indifference to
prohibition enforcement which has
been ieveled against United States
attorneys, marshals and other
officers of the department of justice
and appearing in the press this
morning" Mitchell said.
His statement clearly was aimed
ut the one issued Wednesday by
Borah, in which the senator de-
clared that with the present per-
sonnel. nothing will be accom-
pl1shed."
Men of Integrity
"These men generally are known
In their own communities as men Of
itegrity and courage, doing their
best to enforce the law he said.
"There have been weak spots; we
have been working hard 10 elini-
nate them.
Prohibition Commissioner Doran
likewise defended his dry agents
and observed in statement that
Senator Borah's charge 'is most un-
fortunate and bound to have dis
heartening effect upon the morale
of the service"
Admitting that the enforcement
organization had its weak spots,
Doran said, ITO say that prohibition
can not be enforced with the pres
ent personnel comes perilously near
to saying it can not be enforced at
all"
Borai lunched with President
Hoover today. 1t is known the
President is much concerned over
the present attack on the prohihi-
ton enforcement situation and it is
thought he wished to get Boraf1's
views first hand.