Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-29
LAW ENFORCEMENT
GROUP ORGANIZED
Executive Session Called to
Survey Field Ahead of
Commission.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
found to be unenforceable, the COM
mission would nave the courage to re-
port this finding to the President.
In laying down lines for the warfare
against criminals. "scofflaws" and all
ether enemies of good order in the
! community the commission is expected
| to begin with a study Of all available
reports on the subject promu, gated to
! date by Federal, State ep@ private
, agencies.
The commissions own T. Il inveSti-
CATION probably will be effected through
committees assigned to specific phases
of the general inquiry. Highly special
ICED inquiries may be made by investi-
gators employed for the purpose. A
fund of $250000 is available for such
Investigations.
Will Form Groups.
Under such an arrangement for di-
viding the work of the commission it
seems likely that a special group will
be designated to go into the prohibition
question. Just as groups may be assign
ed to study gang warfare and other
forms Of ''racketeering.
1t is plain, however, that neither
President Hoover nor members OF the
commission consider prohibition the
only ma jor law enforcement problem re-
curing intensive study. On the other
hand, the inquiry into the dry laws
and their enforcement will be wholly
incidental to the general survey.
THE attitude of the American people
toward law is not bounded by prohibit
ton" Mr.. Wickersham said after the
meeting at the White House yesterday
afternoon. Reporters who pressed him
to define the scope of the commits
sion's powers with regard to recon-
mendations on prohibition were told
that it was intellectually possible" for
the commission to find the dry laws
unenforceable, but highly improbable. -
To Hear Both Sides.
Mr.. Wickersham will not permit his
commission to resolve itself into an
arbiter between the vets and drys.
Both sides of the prohibition contro-
versy will be permitted to submit data
in connection with the inquiry and
will be assured of impartial conSidera-
ton, the chairman said.
The commission win not go about
its work hastily, it was explained. To
complete the inquiry may require two
years, during which time numerous
hearings may be held Mr.. Wicker
sham indicated that the hearings will
be closed to the public. Statements
probably wiz be issued from time to
time regarolhg progress of the cam
paign, he said.
In addressing the commission at the
White House meeting yesterday PreSi-
dent Hoover declared that the Ameri-
can people are deeply concerned over
the alarming disobedience of law, the
abuses in law enforcement and the
growth Of organized crime. which has
spread to every field of evil-doing and
in every part Of our country"
The President said the problem is
not confined to the enforcement and
obedience of one law or the laws of the
Federal and State governments sepa-
ratcly, but lis partly the attitude to-
ward all law"
Hopes for Accuracy.
"It is my hope" he said, that the
commission shall secure an accurate de-
termination of fact and cause, following
them with constructive, courageous con-
illusions which will bring public under
standing and command public support
of its solutions"
Chairman Wickersham replied that
the members of the commission ARE
under no illusions as to the difficulty
of our task" and they know there is
no short cut to the millennium"
But" he added, 1--WE have confidence
in the fundamental honesty and right
mindedness of the American people and
their readiness to support sound meth
DDS of reform when the existence of
evils is exposed and practical methods
for their eradication submitted TO pop
ular judgment"
Members of the commission, in adj
dition to Chairman Wickersham and
Mr.. Baker, are: Frank J. Loesch, vice
president of the Chicago Crime Com
mission; Roscoe Pound. dean of Har-
ward Law School: Judge William I.
Grub of Alabama; Judge Monte M.
Lemann of Louisiana: Judge William S.
Kenyon of Ohio; Kenneth r. Mackin-
tosh, former chief justice of Washing
ton State Supreme Court: Judge Paul
j. Mccormick of California; Henry W.
Anderson of Virginia, United States
| member of Mexican claims commission
| 1924-26, and Miss Ada L. Comstock,
president Of Radcliffe College.